How do I know what document needs to be notarized?

There are two different kinds of wording that notaries use. One is called an Acknowledgment, and the other is called a Jurat. These are usually pre-written on the document. The wording may vary slightly, because it changes over the years. When you see one of these on your documents you will know that that document needs to be notarized. Here are examples of both below;

This is an Acknowledgment

State of California                )

                                            )

County of ______________)

On__________(date) before me, _____________ (name and title "Nortary Public"), personally appeared___________

(name(s) of signer[s]), personally known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person(s)

whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within the instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in

his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon

behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

___________________(Signature of Notary)                (Seal of Notary)

Another Acknowledgment wording used;

This instrument want acknowledged before me on:_____________

____________________(Signature of Notary)            (Seal of Notary)

(this is used on older documents that are still in circulation)

This is a Jurat

State of California County of

______________________

Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed)

Before me on this______day of_____, 20___, by

_____________________________________

personally known to me or proved to me on

the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the

person(s) who appeared before me.

Signature______________________

                     (Seal)

This is the older Jurat wording;

State of California                 )

                                            )   ss.

County of ______________)

Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _______ day of ________(month),______(year).

________________(Signature of Notary)                             (Seal of Notary)

Acceptable Identification

• California driver's license or nondriver's ID issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.  (If  accompanied by a current extension card, a driver's license issued more than five years ago is acceptable.)
• U.S. passport (physical description not required).
• Foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).
• Driver's license or nondriver's ID issued by another U.S. state
• Driver's license issued in Mexico or Canada.
• U.S. military ID.
• Inmate ID issued by the California Department of Corrections (but only to identify prisoners in custody).
• ID Card issued by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), but only for notarization of BCIS forms.

Unacceptable Identification

Identification documents that are not acceptable include;  Social Security cards, credit cards, temporary driver's licenses and driver's licenses without photographs.

Maximum Fees notaries are allowed to charge

• Acknowledgments - $10 per signature
• Certified Copy of Power of Attorney - $10 per copy
• Copy of Journal Entry - 30 cents per photocopy.
• Depositions - $20. For all services rendered in taking a deposition, the maximum fee is $20, plus $5 for administering an oath to the witness and $5 for completing the certificate on the deposition.
• Immigration Papers - $10 per set. A nonattorney Notary bonded as an immigration consultant may not charge more than $10 per set of forms (apart from the standard notarial fee) for entering data provided by a client on state or federal immigration forms.
• Jurats - $10 per signature
• Oaths and Affirmations - $10 For administering an oath or affirmation, with or without completion of a jurat, the maximum fee is $10 per person.
• Proofs of Execution by Subscribing Witness - $10 per signature
• Protests - $10 per signature. For Serving a notice of nonpayment or nonacceptance, the fee is $5. For recording every protest, the fee is $5.
• Travel Fees - There is no travel fee limit specified by law. The notary must tell the signer that the travel fee is separate from the notarization fee.

What if the signer can not sign his or her name?

A person who cannot sign his or her name because of illiteracy or disability may instead use a mark - an "X" for example - as a signature, as long as there are two witnesses to the making of the mark.

Witnesses required: Two witnesses are required when the signer makes the mark.

Can a notary certify a copy of a birth certificate?

No, a notary cannot because the original is retained by public agencies. Persons requesting certified copies of vital records should go to the agency that holds the original - typically, the Bureau of Vital Statistics or county clerk where the birth occured.

Notaries may notarize an affidavit of a person requesting a certified copy of a birth or death certificate.

Do I have to sign the document in the notaries presence?

If  the notarization required is an acknowledgment, no you do not have to sign it in front of the notary. You have to be there when the notary notarizes it though.

If the notarization required is a jurat, yes you have to sign it in front of the notary.

What if I do not have any identification?

If you do not have identification, you will have to bring two people that personally know you. They must have identification with them as well.

What should I have when I meet a Notary?

All you need is an acceptable form of  Identification.

What type of payments do you accept?

We accept Cash, Check, and Credit Card. All credit card payments are processed through paypal.

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