TIPS & FAQ's
Notary Preparation Tips
​
Important tips to make sure you’re prepared so the notarization process goes smoothly.
-
Know what type of notarization you need. Unless a Notary is a qualified attorney, he or she is unable to give legal advice to signers. This means that Notaries cannot select for you the type of notarization you need.
-
Verify what type of notarization you need. Before your appointment, verify the notarization type with the person that gave you the form(s). There are three forms of notarizations: acknowledgments, jurats and copy certifications. A notary cannot select for you the type of notarization you need.
-
Make sure your documents are complete. If your document is incomplete and/or has blank spaces, a Notary will not be able to legally notarize it.
-
Ensure that everyone signing the document can be at the appointment. Each person who needs to sign the document must be physically present at the notarization. A notary cannot notarize the signature of a person not present. An additional costs will incur for signers that may appear separately.
-
Be “Aware and Willing.” A notary’s role is to make sure that everyone is voluntarily signing the document(s) and is mentally competent to sign. A notary must refuse notarization if it signer(s) if it appears the signer is signing under duress or seems incapable of comprehending contents of your document(s).
-
Have a valid form of identification. A notary is responsible for verifying the signer(s) are who they say they are. Acceptable forms of ID is state or federal government-issued form of identification, like driver’s licenses and passports. If unable to produce valid forms of identification, the signers(s) may be able to use “credible identifying witnesses.” Credible witnesses are people who swear to the notary the signer(s) is who they say they are. *Confirm this identification method is acceptable before the appointment.
-
Make sure the name on your ID matches the name on your document. A difference between the name on the signer’s ID and the name on the document(s) could result in the notary not being able to legally notarize the documents.
-
Know what you will be paying. Notary fee service are set by state law, can vary by state, and may include additional charge for online or mobile travel not state regulated.
FAQ's
Q: What is notarization?
A: Notarization is a three-part process performed by a state-certified Notary Public who is responsible for vetting, certifying and record-keeping. It is the official fraud-deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic and can be trusted.
Q: What is notary?
A: A Notary is a third-party unbiased witness present at a notarization to help ensure that all signers are properly identified that documents are signed correctly, that signers are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly, and maintains a record of all signatures. A Notary authenticates and certifies the signing of some of your most important legal documents.
Q: What is a mobile notary?
A: A mobile notary is any notary who, upon request, travels from location to location to perform notarial services.
Q: What is a remote online notary (RON) notary?
A: RON stands for remote online notary. A remote online notary performs notarial services in a fully digital format that mirrors the traditional notarial act.
Q: Why would I need to notarize a document?
A: You may need to get an important document notarized in order to prevent fraud and ensure proper execution. A Notary helps ensure that all signers are properly identified that documents are signed correctly, that signers are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly, and maintains a record of all signatures.
Q: What is a signing agent?
A: A signing agent is a certified Notary who has been trained to handle the proper signing of loan documents. Individuals, lenders, real estate agents, and title companies hire signing agents to assist in the final step of the loan process.
Q: What areas do you service?
A: For our mobile notary and loan signing services, we are Texas state-certified with jurisdiction to serve Harris county and surrounding areas. For our remote notary services, we cover the Contiguous United States (Including Hawaii, Alaska, and United States Territories).
Q: Are there any documents you do not notarize?
A: We do not notarize the following documents:
Immigration documents
Photographs
Blank or incomplete documents
Documents not requiring a signature
Documents where the notarial act is uncertain or not clearly defined
Q: What are acceptable forms of ID?
A: In order to properly notarize a document or facilitate a loan signing, all signers must provide one of the following forms of identification: (See Tips)
State-issued driver’s license
State-issued ID card
U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State
U.S. military ID
State, county and local government IDs
Permanent resident card, or “green card,” issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Q: What are your fees?
A: We offer a full range of notary and loan signing services so exact service fees will depend on specific needs. Contact us for a customized quote.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: Acceptable forms of payment are credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Zelle, CashApp, and cash. We do not accept personal checks.
​