NO, a signer must appear face to face before a Notary to have their signature notarized. Asking a Notary to notarize a signature if the signer is not present is a criminal act.

The answer to this question depends on the type of notarial certificate being used. If the notarial certificate required is an Acknowledgment then the signer does not need to sign the document in front of the Notary. However, if the notarial certificate being used is a Jurat then the signer must sign the document in front of the Notary.

If a notarial certificate is already included on the written document then the certificate wording will direct the Notary what type of notarization needs to be performed. However, if a certificate is not included on the document then the Notary is prohibited from choosing what type of notarization to perform and the signer must tell the Notary what type of notarization should be performed. If the signer does not know what type of notarization is required then the signer should consult an attorney or the person who requested the document to be notarized.

IDs must be current or must not have expired more than 5 years ago. They must be government issued and contain a photograph, signature, serial #, and physical description of the signer. ID cards such as a state driver’s license and non-driver ID cards, military IDs,. and passports are acceptable. A marriage certificate, birth certificate, and social security card are just a few examples of unacceptable ID.

It is also important to note that the name that appears on your ID must match your name as it appears on the notarized document.

Refinances, Purchases, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), Reverse Mortgages, Commercial, and Construction.

No. Unfortunately, the Notary must be able to communicate directly with the signer, so an interpreter cannot be used. Therefore, a signer must find a Notary who speaks their same language to notarize their signature.

No. A Notary is only authorized to identify the signer of the document, ensure the signer’s willingness to sign the document, give the signer an oath (if required), make a journal record of the notarization, and to complete the notarial certificate for the document being signed. If a Notary performs any other acts or offers any other assistance to the signer then the Notary may be charged with the unauthorized practice of law.

No. A Notary who is not an attorney is prohibited from offering any advice in connection with legal documents. If a signer has any questions regarding their loan terms they should direct the questions to their lender.