Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Notary Public ?
A. The court defines a notary public as a “public ministerial officer”, an agent for the state, and a witness of notarial writing and signatures. A No Public is an honest, moral and responsible member of our society. They are appointed by the office of the Secretary of State to witness by an official seal and written acknowledgement, or jurat, the signing of documents as well as administer oath.
Q. Why are documents notarized ?
A. To deter fraud. An impartial witness ( the notary ) ensures that the signer of documents are who they say they are and not impostors. The notary make sure that signers have entered into agreements knowingly and willingly.
Q. May any document be notarized?
A. For a document to be notarized, it must contain: •Text committing the signer in some way •An original signature (not a photocopy) of the document signer •A notarial "certificate" which may appear on the document itself or on an attachment. The Notary fills in the certificate, signs it, then applies his or her seal to complete the notarization.
Q. How does a Notary identify a signer?
A. Generally, the Notary will ask to see a current identification document that has a photograph, physical description and a signature. A driver's license, military or passport will usually be acceptable. Each signer must either present current photo ID such as drivers license, State ID, or passport issued within the last 5 years; or have two other persons present who will swear to the signer's identity, each of whom has a good current photo ID
Q. What Identification is Required For Notarizations?
A. Each signer must either present a valid and current photo ID such as: •Current California ID (issued within the last 5 years) •US Military identification card (issued within the last 5 years) •Current Passport. (Non-US passports must have been stamped by the INS) If none of the above Identification is available, two additional persons who do have one of the above documents may be present who will swear to the signer's identity.
Q. Does notarization mean that a document is "true" or "legal" ?
A. No. Notaries are not responsible for the accuracy or legality of documents they notarize. Notaries certify the identity of signers. The signers are responsible for the content of the documents.
Q. How may I pay?
A. We accept: •Cash •Check •Money Order
My goal is to provide accurate and precise execution of documents, administer oaths as prescribed by law, serve the community with honesty and integrity and uphold the notary laws of the State of California.
