ID MUST be:

Original (No Photo Copies) and Current (not expired) or issued within the last five (5) years

A photo, physical description, signature, serial number, expiration date, and date of birth must be included on ID.

ONLY the following forms of identification are accepted for notarization:

Original State ID or Driver’s License issued by State DMV

Original Passport or Passport Card issued by the US Department of State

US Military ID

Employee ID card issued by a State or Government Agency

Driver’s License issued by a Canadian or Mexican Public Agency or by US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Inmate Identification card issued by the CA Department of Corrections (if in custody).

*Notarization will not occur without proper identification of all signers.*

**Travel/Convenience Fee is non-refundable**

What is a Notary Public?

Careful not to confuse a notary with a lawyer, we do not have legal training nor can we provide legal advice, legal assistance, document preparation, or any other duty outside of the duties of a notary prescribed by the state laws of California.

What is a Mobile Notary Public? 

The only difference in a Mobile Notary Public and a Notary Public is they travel to the location of the signer to provide the notarization service. Do not confuse mobile, will online or cellular, mobile Notarization still requires personal presence of both the signer and the Notary Public. We have the flexibility to travel to businesses, homes, hospitals, jail, and other locations during and after business hours. 

The traditional process of notarizing a signature would require the signer to locate and travel to the office of a Notary Public during their business hours. Mobile notaries revolutionized the process by providing flexibility, convenience, professionalism, and flexibility to accommodate special requests. 

How much can a Notary Public charge?

A Notary Public has the discretion to set their pricing according to many factors such as distance travelled, extra services provided, time of day, etc. The state mandates that the maximum that can be charged per signature is $15. However it does not mandate the amount that can be charged for additional services such as mobile service, printing, and shipping. If a Notary does not provide any extra service, and is not mobile, they are only allowed to charge up to $15 per signature, such as at a UPS store.

Why get something notarized?

Some documents have the legal requirement of being notarized before they are considered valid, such a when a oath is required prior to execution, or for real estate documents. Many other documents call for notarization, such as trusts, deeds, power of attorney, and affidavits. Some documents are notarized by choice to prove the execution and identity of the parties. In some circumstances in lieu of personal appearance, businesses and entities will request signatures be notarized so they can feel confident the signer was identified properly and personally signed their documents instead of doing so in their presence. 

Can I notarize anything I want?

Simply put, almost everything can be notarized. Some documents are not able to be notarized due to lacking the legal notarization requirements implemented by California law. 

There are a few basic requirements that need to be present in order to notarize a document. The first and most critical is that the document actually require to be signed by the person requesting the notarization! Items that do not require signatures, such as photographs cannot be notarized, after all notaries duty is to (notarize signatures). 

Notaries also cannot notarize documents that are required to be signed by someone other than the individual in front of them, such as school diplomas that need the school officials signature, the student cannot notarize that, only the school can. 

Can I be refused service by a Notary Public?

Under certain conditions are notary may refuse to notarize for a member of the public. If the individual cannot meet the requirements for identification, or the document is not legally able to be notarized, then the notary must decline. If the person is unable or unwilling to submit payment in exchange for notarization, the notary is not obligated to provide free services.
If you meet all requirements, and offer payment for the services, the notary public is legally obligated to provide their services. A Notary serves the public, and can be fined and their commission revoked for refusing to execute their duties as a public servant

Are you a Notario Publico?

No! While the direct translation to Spanish is Notario Publico, California notaries are not “Notario Publicos”. The duty of such title is similar to a lawyer, and is not related to the role and duties of a California Notary.
Do not confuse the two, they are two separate titles and have completely different duties. It is in-fact illegal for a Notary Public to refer to themselves as a Notario Publico in California. 

Common documents I can notarize:

Contracts ~ Personal/Business/Lease

Deeds/Real Estate Documents

Employment Verification Forms

Passport Applications

Adoption Documents

Business Documents

Medical Documents

Health/Advanced Directives

Powers of Attorney

Court Forms

Custody Agreements

Parental Permission Forms

Consent Agreements

Trusts

Charitable/Living/Revocable/Irrevocable

**Notaries are unable to provide legal advice.  Please consult an Attorney for additional information prior to your appointment. **

Maximum California notary fees are governed by the Secretary of State. Individual notaries may also charge additional fees to cover travel, parking, the printing of documents, waiting for clients to show up, and other legitimate job-related expenses. Mobile notary fees vary, so shop around!

Signature Fees

$15 Acknowledgment (per signature)

$15 Jurat (per signature)

Assembly Bill No. 2217
As of January 1, 2017, California maximum allowable notary fees were raised to $15 per acknowledgment or jurat.

Mobile Service Fee

Depends on location – Covers time and travel –

After Hours Fee

$50 – Depends on availabilty 

Holiday Fee

$50 – Depends on availabilty 

Wait Fee

Grace period: 15 minutes

$15 – Each 15 minutes thereafter (if notary is notified)

If you’re more than 15 minutes late for an agreed upon appointment and don’t call or text, the notary will depart the meeting place.

Living Trust Fees

$75 – Covers one signer for one set of living trust documents (including multiple deeds), travel (up to 25 miles round trip), notarization, witnessing signatures

$25 – Each additional signer

If there are only a few notary certificates required, regular signature and mobile fees will apply. You’ll pay whichever rate is lower.

Witness Fee

$25 – Witness will accompany notary to appointment

Returned Check Fee

$35 – This covers our bank’s ISF (insufficient funds) fee

Cancellation Fee

$25 – A nominal cancellation fee is due and payable if a signer is physically unable to sign, or refuses to sign after notary arrives.

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