Essential Documents and Tips for Your Notary Appointment

• For general notaries, have documents ready with notary certificate wording (You may request for them to be printed)

• Have a State or federal-issued and current identification that meets the following requirements of acceptable ID documents:

  • valid & current

  • contains a photograph of the individual

  • contains an accurate physical description of the individual, if applicable

  • includes the individual's signature

• OR you may present two current documents issued by an institution, business entity, or federal or state government, with at least the individual's signature

• Unacceptable ID documents include: social security cards, credit cards, temporary driver's licenses, driver's licenses without photographs, and birth certificates.

• Have one or two credible witnesses with a current ID if no ID is available

  • Credible identifying witnesses must personally know the signer

  • Having two credible witnesses to identify the signer is the next best option if the signer has no form of ID

  • If there is only one credible witness, that witness must be personally known by the notary

• Awareness of the contents of the document(s) you are signing and the willingness to sign is a must

• If you are signing on behalf of someone else (as an attorney-in-fact), you must present the official and notarized Power of Attorney at the appointment to verify you have the authority to sign on behalf of the client.