Services and Questions

Services/Questions

Q. What is a notary public?

A. A notary public is a public servant appointed by the California Secretary of State to be an impartial witness in the signing of important documents and to administer oaths and affirmations. Notaries help protect the public from fraud and whose notary actions during the notary process guarantee that certain minimum required standards have been met. Notaries must pass an examination given by the State and pass a background check

Q. Does a document need to be signed in the notary's presence?

A. Not necessarily. A document requiring an acknowledgment does not need to be signed in front of the notary. The signer must confirm to the notary that he/she did freely sign the document. A jurat, on the other hand, does need to be signed before the notary. A jurat will contain the wording "subscribed and sworn to before me.” When in doubt, wait and sign the document before the notary.

Q. Why do documents require notarization?

A. To prevent fraud a notary public will ensure that the signer of a document is who they claim to be.

Q. Does notarization guarantee that the document is correct, true or legal?

A. No. A notary public must verify the identity of the signer but is not responsible for the contents of the document. Signers of the document are responsible for the contents; in the case of a jurat, signers swear or affirm to the truthfulness of the document.

Q. Can a document that contains blank spaces be notarized?

A. No. The document should be completed before notarization. The signer or notary may line through areas that are blank; this will prevent fraudulent information from being entered on the documents at a later time.

Q. Can a fax or photocopy be notarized?

A. Yes, if the document has an original signature. Copied or faxed signatures cannot be notarized so please check your documents.

Q. What identification is required for notarization?

A. Each signer must present at least one of the forms of ID listed below. The ID must be current or, if expired, have been issued within the last 5 years; contain the signer's photograph, personal description, and signature; and bear a serial or other identifying number (Civil Code, Section 1185).

· Driver's License or non-driver's ID card issued by a state.

· U.S. passport (physical description not required).

· U.S. Military Identification Card that contains all required elements stated above. The Common Access Card, CAC, is not acceptable.

· Driver's License issued in Mexico or Canada.

· Foreign passport that has been stamped by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

· Inmate ID Issued by the California Department of Corrections.

Unacceptable forms of Identification include:

· Matricula Consular Card

· Social Security Card

· Temporary Driver's License

· Driver's License without photograph

Q. Can a document be notarized when the signer does not have proper identification?

A. If the identification of a signer cannot be based on proper I.D., a notary may rely on the oath of a personally known credible identifying witness or two credible identifying witnesses that are unknown to the notary.

Examples of documents that may require notarization:

· Legal Documents

· Adoption Dossier

· Permission to Travel

· Power of Attorney

· Immigration (I 134)

· Real Estate Documents

· Loan Documents

· Corporate Documents

Examples of documents that may require authentication:

· Financial Documents

· Medical Documents

· Deeds

· Affidavits

· Advanced Health Care Directive

Please Note:

¨ Proof of identification is required of each signer.

¨ Parties signing must understand what they are signing and do so of their own free will.

¨ We can not explain the documents. If you have questions please find out the answer before we arrive.

¨ If witnesses are required please have them present when notary arrives.

NOTICE: 1-2callNOTARY IS NOT licensed to practice law in the state of California. 1-2callNOTARY IS NOT PERMITTED TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. 1-2callNOTARY IS NOT PERMITTED TO PREPARE, DRAFT OR SELECT ANY LEGAL DOCUMENTS.

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