Step by step
- Fill in the document completely, but don’t sign it yet. A notary won’t notarize a signature made before you arrived.
- Bring valid photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID or passport.
- Bring everyone who needs to sign. Each signer appears in person (or on video for online notarization) with ID.
- Sign in front of the notary. They complete the acknowledgment or jurat, stamp it and record it in their journal.
Where to find a notary
- Your bank or credit union, often free for customers.
- UPS Store, FedEx Office and some pharmacies, usually $5-$15.
- Public libraries, town halls and AAA offices: sometimes free.
- Mobile notaries come to you, for a travel fee.
- Remote online notarization (RON): legal in most states; you sign on a video call for about $25.
What it costs
States cap notary fees, usually $2-$15 per signature. Mobile and online notaries charge extra for convenience.
Common mistakes
- Signing before you get there.
- Blank spaces in the document: the notary may refuse or ask you to cross them out.
- Expired ID or a name that doesn’t match the document.
- Expecting legal advice: notaries can’t explain or draft documents (unless they’re also lawyers).
Which documents need a notary?
Usually: powers of attorney, affidavits, deeds and some vehicle bills of sale. Recommended: child travel consent and a will’s self-proving affidavit. Most contracts (leases, NDAs, loan agreements) don’t need one.
