FREQUENTLY ASKED NOTARY QUESTIONS
Q: What is a notary public?
A: A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.
Q: Can I be refused a notarization?
A: A notary public may refuse to perform a notarization if he or she cannot be certain of a prospective signer’s identity, willingness, or understanding of what is happening at that moment. In addition, a notary may not notarize a document in which he or she has a financial interest.
Q: Can a notary certify a copy of a document?
A: State laws may vary, but in California, a Notary Public may only certify a copy of a Power of Attorney, no other document. For vital records documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates, the requester should visit the local agency that holds these documents, such as a local county clerk.
Q: What about immigration paperwork...can a notary public prepare or notarize immigration papers?
A: A notary may notarize papers, those that require notarization as follows: A notary public may notarize the signature on a document affecting the immigration or citizenship status of any person; however, under current law, a notary public who is not also an immigration consultant cannot do the verification tasks in connection with completing immigration forms because this activity is prohibited by the broad language of California Government Code section 8223. Only an attorney, a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice, or a person who is registered by the California Secretary of State and bonded as an immigration consultant under the California Business and Professions Code section 22441 may assist a client in completing immigration forms. This law also prohibits a notary from signing in a non-notary capacity on an I-9 form, according to the Secretary of State for California, unless the notary public is bonded as an immigration consultant.
Having documents notarized can be disconcerting for someone who is not familiar with the
notarization process. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions:
Q: What do I need to bring with me to the signing?
A: You will need to bring one of the following forms of approved identification
office of a City, County in California.
Q: Does notarizing a document make it truthful and correct?
A: No. Notarizing a document only validates that the signer personally appeared
in front of the notary and subscribed or affirmed to the truthfulness of the document. The
Notary Public has no authorization to state that a document is official , true or correct.
Q: I don't have an acceptable ID. Can I still have a document notarized?
A: In most cases, yes. If none of the types of Identification listed are available, or it would be excessively difficult for the document signer to obtain them, two additional persons who do have acceptable identification may be present who will swear to the signer's identity. The two individuals have to be over the age of 18, have valid identification ready for inspection and recording in the notaries journal and must swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they personally know the signer. They will also need to be present at the time of witnessing and sign the notary journal.
Q: The document I need notarized requires that multiple people sign, but we all work different schedules. Do we all need to be present at the same time?
A: No, All signers can appear at different times.
Q: I was sent a document from out of state. Can this document be notarized by a California Notary?
A: In most cases yes, wherever you are at the time of notarization, will be listed on the notary certificate as the "venue." The venue determines the specific state laws that are to be followed when notarizing a document. Every Notary Public is bound by the laws of the state they are commissioned in.
Q: Can you notarize at my office, a jail, a hospital?
A: Yes. We can travel to most any location you are comfortable with.
A: A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.
Q: Can I be refused a notarization?
A: A notary public may refuse to perform a notarization if he or she cannot be certain of a prospective signer’s identity, willingness, or understanding of what is happening at that moment. In addition, a notary may not notarize a document in which he or she has a financial interest.
Q: Can a notary certify a copy of a document?
A: State laws may vary, but in California, a Notary Public may only certify a copy of a Power of Attorney, no other document. For vital records documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates, the requester should visit the local agency that holds these documents, such as a local county clerk.
Q: What about immigration paperwork...can a notary public prepare or notarize immigration papers?
A: A notary may notarize papers, those that require notarization as follows: A notary public may notarize the signature on a document affecting the immigration or citizenship status of any person; however, under current law, a notary public who is not also an immigration consultant cannot do the verification tasks in connection with completing immigration forms because this activity is prohibited by the broad language of California Government Code section 8223. Only an attorney, a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice, or a person who is registered by the California Secretary of State and bonded as an immigration consultant under the California Business and Professions Code section 22441 may assist a client in completing immigration forms. This law also prohibits a notary from signing in a non-notary capacity on an I-9 form, according to the Secretary of State for California, unless the notary public is bonded as an immigration consultant.
Having documents notarized can be disconcerting for someone who is not familiar with the
notarization process. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions:
Q: What do I need to bring with me to the signing?
A: You will need to bring one of the following forms of approved identification
- State Issued Drivers License or ID Card (Canada or Mexico licenses are also acceptable)
- Military ID
- Passport
office of a City, County in California.
Q: Does notarizing a document make it truthful and correct?
A: No. Notarizing a document only validates that the signer personally appeared
in front of the notary and subscribed or affirmed to the truthfulness of the document. The
Notary Public has no authorization to state that a document is official , true or correct.
Q: I don't have an acceptable ID. Can I still have a document notarized?
A: In most cases, yes. If none of the types of Identification listed are available, or it would be excessively difficult for the document signer to obtain them, two additional persons who do have acceptable identification may be present who will swear to the signer's identity. The two individuals have to be over the age of 18, have valid identification ready for inspection and recording in the notaries journal and must swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they personally know the signer. They will also need to be present at the time of witnessing and sign the notary journal.
Q: The document I need notarized requires that multiple people sign, but we all work different schedules. Do we all need to be present at the same time?
A: No, All signers can appear at different times.
Q: I was sent a document from out of state. Can this document be notarized by a California Notary?
A: In most cases yes, wherever you are at the time of notarization, will be listed on the notary certificate as the "venue." The venue determines the specific state laws that are to be followed when notarizing a document. Every Notary Public is bound by the laws of the state they are commissioned in.
Q: Can you notarize at my office, a jail, a hospital?
A: Yes. We can travel to most any location you are comfortable with.