NotarySTAT.com

You Need Photo ID When You Get Notarized!

noreply@blogger.com (liz) — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:00:00 +0000

The Notary Public's job is to verify the identity of the signer of a document. So when you get notarized be sure to bring a government issued photo ID that matches your name as it appears on the document to be notarized.

Acceptable forms of photo ID:

Driver's license or id card issued by any U.S. state, Canada or Mexico
Passport (U.S. or foreign)
Military identification card (containing the required information)
Inmate identification card (if the inmate is in custody)
Employee identification card from a government agency of the state of California

The Photo ID Must Match Your Document!

The name on your photo ID needs to match the name on the document to get notarized. For instance, if the document reads "Mary P. Smith" but your identification only reads "Mary Smith", this isn't sufficient documentation. However, if your identification reads "Mary Pauline Smith" then the Notary Public can proceed and notarize.

Here are most of the situations I can think of:

I.D. and document names match exactly YES!
I.D.: "Mary Smith", document: "Mary P. Smith" NO!
I.D.: "Mary P. Smith", document: "Mary Smith" YES!
I.D.: "Mary P. Smith", document: "Mary Pauline Smith" NO!
I.D.: "Mary Pauline Smith", document: "Mary Smith" YES!
I.D.: "Mary Pauline Smith", document: "Mary P. Smith" YES!
I.D.: "Mary Pauline Smith", document: "Mary Pauline Smith":YES!

These guidelines are from the 2009 California Notary Handbook. Guidelines may differ slightly from state to state.

What to Expect When You Get Documents Notarized by a Notary Public

noreply@blogger.com (liz) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:34:00 +0000

Most people don't need the services of a Notary Public in their day to day life. Most transactions won't need you to get documents notarized, and you might go years without ever needing a Notary Public. Occasionally, however, there comes a time when you will be presented with a document to be signed that states: "this document must be signed before a Notary Public" (or something to that effect). That's where we come in.

Here's what to expect:

1. Find a notary and arrange a time to meet you at your home, business or other designated meeting place.
2. Bring photo ID that matches documents to get notarized!
3. The Notary Public verifies your identity and enters your information in his or her Journal of Notarial Acts.
4. You sign the Notary Public's Journal of Notarial Acts and (in many cases) apply your thumbprint.
5. You sign the documents that need to get notarized. The Notary Public completes the notarial portion of the document, applies his or her stamp, and gives you the document.
6. You pay the Notary Public the fee for the service.

Limits of Powers of a Notary Public:
The key function of a notary public is to verify the identity of the signer of a document. As per the California Notary Public Handbook, "California notaries public are prohibited from performing any duties that may be construed as the practice of law." A notary public cannot and should not give you advice as to the content of the document of the type of notarial act required. If you are uncertain whether a notary public should perform a jurat or an acknowledgment, for example, you will need to check with your attorney or the agency that created the document to determine what type of notarial act is required.

A notary public may not charge more than $10 per signature as a notary fee. However, where there is travel involved a mobile notary can and will require that you pay a Trip Charge. NotarySTAT charges $10 per signature plus a $20 trip charge within 10 miles of Cypress, but if there are 5 or more signatures then the trip charge is waived.

I hope this takes the mystery out of how to find a notary public and get documents notarized.

We look forward to serving you!

Request a Notary

noreply@blogger.com (714-287-9869) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:19:00 +0000

Need a mobile notary? Then leave a comment here and we will be notified by email immediately! Your request will NOT be published.

The Waiting Game

noreply@blogger.com (714-287-9869) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Tick.
Tock.
Goes
the
Clock.
With the budget cuts in Sacramento, California, becoming a notary public appears to be a six month endeavor, so if you are thinking of becoming a notary public, think FAST! They are quoting a 12-16 week processing of applications. This would be AFTER you've taken your training, AFTER you've taken your test and waited for your test results, and AFTER you've done the live scan fingerprinting that triggers a background check.

I was foolish enough to let my commission expire and now I too am playing the waiting game!
Tick.
Tock.

Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (714-287-9869) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:38:00 +0000

Welcome to notary STAT!

More to come soon about the business of becoming a notary public and, more importantly, about finding a notary public FAST, because this world is spinning faster and faster, and we need to find new ways to keep up with it!