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.
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Most common things people may need notarized:

• Acknowledgements
• Advanced Healthcare Directive
• Affidavits
• Agreements
• Applications
• Authorizations
• Contracts
• Copy Certification by Document Custodian
• DMV Forms
• Estate Planning
• Grant Deed
• Jurats

• Letters
• Parental Consent for Travel
• Power of Attorney
• Real Estate Documents
• Releases
• Retirement & 401K
• Statement of Consent
• Sworn Statements & Oaths
• Trust Documents
• Quitclaim Deed
• Waivers
• Other items upon request

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!