Schedule a Mobile Notary Appointment

How to Prepare for Your Notary Appointment
A little preparation can help your notarization go quickly and avoid unnecessary delays. Before your appointment, please review the following:

Bring Acceptable Identification
California law requires a notary public to obtain satisfactory evidence of a signer's identity before performing a notarial act. (California Civil Code § 1185)

Please have a valid government-issued photo ID available at the time of your appointment. In California, acceptable forms of identification generally include:

• California Driver License or Identification Card

• Driver License or Identification Card issued by another U.S. state

• United States Passport or Passport Card

• United States Military Identification Card

• Driver License issued by an authorized public agency of Canada or Mexico

• Valid Foreign Passport from your country of citizenship

• Valid Consular Identification Document that meets California requirements

• Identification Card issued by a federally recognized tribal government

• Certain inmate identification cards as permitted by California law

• Credible witnesses when allowed by California law

Identification must be current or issued within the past five years.

Know What Type of Notarization Is Required
The most common notarial acts are acknowledgments and jurats.

As a California Notary Public, I cannot determine which notarial act you need or provide legal advice. If your document does not already specify the required notarial wording, please contact the document preparer, receiving agency, attorney, lender, or other requesting party before your appointment. (California Government Code § 8225)

Review Your Documents Before the Appointment
Please review your documents before we meet to ensure they are complete and ready for signing.
If you have questions regarding the contents of a document or whether you should sign it, those questions should be directed to the document preparer or an attorney before your appointment.

Do Not Sign the Document Early
In many situations, it is best to wait until the appointment to sign your document.
For jurats, the document must be signed in the presence of the notary. For acknowledgments, a previously signed document may sometimes be acceptable, depending on the circumstances.
If you are unsure, simply wait until we meet.

All Signers Must Be Present
Every person whose signature is being notarized must personally appear before the notary.
California law does not allow notarizations to be completed by telephone, email, video call, FaceTime, Zoom, or other remote methods.

Be Prepared to Sign Willingly and Knowingly
A notary is required to confirm that each signer is acting voluntarily and understands the nature of the document being signed.
If a signer appears unwilling, unable to communicate, heavily medicated, or unaware of the transaction, the notarization may need to be postponed or declined.

Witness Requirements
Some documents require one or more witnesses in addition to notarization.
If your document requires witnesses, please arrange for them before the appointment unless we have discussed other arrangements in advance.

Questions?
If you are unsure whether your document is ready for notarization, feel free to call or text before your appointment. I am always happy to answer general notary questions and help you avoid unnecessary delays.