Nocturnal Notary is OPEN! We are here to service you and are taking precautionary measures such as sanitizing notary journals, pens & ink pads, performing notaries in an outdoor environment, and practicing safe social distancing with our clients. We are also performing all notaries in personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks and gloves, and limiting touch points of Identification Cards and Passports. The health and safety of our customers is our top priority, and we are doing everything we can to follow the CDC guidelines and recommendations.
Please call, text or message us for a quote to schedule an appointment! In order to get something notarized, you will need to bring a government-issued photo identification card (ID). The most common forms of acceptable ID are a driver’s license (any state), passport (any country), U.S. military ID card, senior ID card, inmate ID card that is issued by the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, or employee ID card issued by an agency or office of the State of California.
If no ID is available for the person signing, the notary can be performed using two credible witnesses. These two credible witnesses must personally know the signer and can “vouch” for the person’s identity. Both credible witnesses will need to present valid ID to the notary and sign the notary’s journal. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding what to bring to your notary appointment. Acknowledgement and jurat certificates are the most common forms used when notarizing a document. Many people wonder which one they should use when getting their documents notarized. Most of the time, the document will specify which certificate needs to be used. If there is no specification, hopefully this blog post will help you decipher between the two. The safest bet is to contact the originator of the document and find out which certificate is acceptable. However, if you are unsure, you can always contact us for more information so we can better explain your options. It is important to figure out which form is required for each specific document, but it is critical to note that California notaries are NOT allowed to determine which certificate should be used.
An acknowledgment is used to identify the signer of the document. This form is used to confirm that the person did indeed sign the document and appear in front of the notary. In some instances, the document may be pre-signed. Check out my previous blog for more information on this. A jurat is used when the person signing is swearing or affirming the contents of the document they are signing. A notary agent will administer an oath to the person signing, and the signer must swear to the statements by giving an oral affirmation. The date is an extremely important part of performing a notary act. As a notary, it is my job to ensure that the date reflect the date on which the signer personally appeared before me. This is particularly important when administering an oath or affirmation. If the document has been previously signed, I will have the individual re-sign the document next to the original signature. However, when it comes to an acknowledgment, the rules may be different…. An acknowledgment basically states that the person signing has voluntarily signed the document without coercion, duress, stress, etc. This means that technically, the document could have been previously signed before meeting the notary. As long as the individual has personally appeared in front of the notary on that specific date and time, and can ‘acknowledge’ that it is indeed their signature, the signature can be a day, a week, a month, or even years prior to the date of the notarial act. So what is the best guarantee? If you are unsure about when it is or isn’t okay to sign before meeting the notary, the best bet is just to wait and sign in the presence of the public official. It is also important to note that backdating is illegal, unethical and not allowed. The date should ALWAYS be accurate! I often get asked questions on what exactly does it mean to be a notary so I’ve dedicated this short blog post to explain.
A notary public is an official appointed by the Secretary of State to serve the public as an impartial witness. The purpose is to deter fraud and fraudulent acts when signing important documents. A notary also identifies and attests that the person who is signing the document is in fact, the right person (you are who you say you are). A notary ensures that the signer is not signing under force, stress or duress and is aware of the contents of the document they are signing. A notary can also administer oaths. In my notary career, I have had the privilege of signing many exciting, life-changing documents including administering oaths to new lawyers beginning their law career. As a notary, it is always nice to be a part of a special moment or memory! Honestly, the sky is the limit when it comes to items or documents that can be notarized. There are only a handful of documents that legally cannot be notarized, and even then, there is usually some type of “workaround.” For example, a California notary is unable to notarize a birth, death or marriage certificate, but may be able to notarize copies of these documents with a Copy of Certification by Document Custodian. The best bet is to call your trusted notary (Nocturnal Notary!) and find out if your document can be notarized. Below is a brief list of items that can be notarized. Most common things people may need notarized:
About half of the receive phone calls I receive are from first time customers who have never had to get anything notarized before. They call with questions like how does the process work? How long does it take? What do you need? What does it cost?
The first step is to figure out what needs to get notarized. Look through your document in detail. Pay attention to any sections that require you to sign and acknowledge or swear to the statement you are signing. Usually, most documents will state that a notary must be present and witness the signature. Just remember, don’t sign the document until you are with the notary. Although there are certain circumstances where it is okay to sign before you meet the notary, it is always a best bet and safe bet if you wait to sign in the presence of the notary. I like to make sure all the dates match so there is no issue or questions regarding when the document was signed. Notaries in California are unable to sign any incomplete documents so before you meet up with the notary, make sure everything is properly filled out. If you come with the completed document, usually you can be done within 15 minutes. If the notary has to wait for you to fill out the document or forms, this may take longer. It will also depend on the number of signatures you require – the more detailed the document, the more signatures may be required. What should you bring when you meet the notary? First, make sure you bring the completed document. Second, bring your government issued photo identification card (ID). This is most commonly a driver’s license or passport. An expired ID within 5 years, U.S. Military ID card, foreign passport, senior ID card, and federally recognized tribal government ID card are also acceptable. A paper or temporary issued driver’s license issued by the DMV is not acceptable. So what does it cost? The State of California regulates the pricing at $15 for an acknowledgement, jurat or certified copy which was set in 2016. However, mobile notaries are allowed to charge any amount for travel fees, time, expenses, etc. It is also important to note that common phrase “you get what you pay for.” Although there may be less expensive notaries, be aware of the best practices, attention to detail and customer service. The last thing you want is to have a mistake on your document and it gets sent back to you. This causes time delays and even money lost. Make sure you choose a notary who has experience in all types of documents, can help guide you through the signing process, and stands by their quality of work. At Nocturnal Notary, we pledge a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee! We are proactive, knowledgeable, and take pride in our work and service. Hope this article was helpful and provided some insight to the ‘newbies’ in need of notarization! |
AuthorNocturnal Notary is a leading notary expert in Orange County, CA. Archives
March 2020
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