FAQ
What is the fee?
In the State of California, Notaries Public may only charge $15.00 per signature notarized. Notaries Public are allowed to charge a convenience fee for travel. This is agreed upon with client ahead of time. For Loan Document signings, please call for quote.
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What does a Notary Public do?
We notarize signatures, not documents. By appearing before a Notary Public, it let’s the receiving party know…
1.) The signer of document appeared personally before the Notary.
2.) The Notary positively identified the signer letting the receiving party know, you are who you say you are.
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Does Notarizing a document make it legal?
NO
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What are acceptable forms of Indentification for the State of California?
​When completing a certificate of acknowledgment or a jurat, a notary public is required to certify to the identity of the signer of the document. (Civil Code sections 1185(a), 1189, Government Code section 8202) Identity is established if the notary public is presented with satisfactory evidence of the signer’s identity. (Civil Code section 1185(a))
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Satisfactory Evidence – “Satisfactory Evidence” means the absence of any information, evidence, or other circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the individual is not the individual he or she claims to be and (A) identification documents or (B) the oath of a single credible witness or (C) the oaths of two credible witnesses under penalty of perjury, as specified below:
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A. Identification Documents – The notary public can establish the identity of the signer using identification documents as follows (Civil Code section 1185(b)(3) and (4)):
1.    There is reasonable reliance on any one of the following forms of identification, provided it is current or was issued
      ​ within 5 years:
  a.  An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
  b.  A United States passport;
  c.  An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in
     ​ custody in California state prison;
  d. Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department, if the inmate is in custody in a local detention
     ​ facility; or
  2. There is reasonable reliance on any one of the following forms of identification, provided that it also contains a
    ​  photograph, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number:
  a. A valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship, or a
​      valid passport from the applicant’s country of citizenship;
  b. A driver’s license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue
      ​driver’s licenses;
  c. An identification card issued by another state;
  d. A United States military identification card (caution: current military identification cards might not contain all the
      ​required information);
  e. An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city,
​      county, or city and county in California.
  f.  An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government.
​ Note: The notary public must include in his or her journal the type of identifying document, the governmental agency issuing the document, the serial or identifying number of the document, and the date of issue or expiration of the document that was used to establish the identity of the signer. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(D))
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B.   Oath of a Single Credible Witness – The identity of the signer can be established by the oath of a single credible
     ​ witness whom the notary public personally knows. (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1)) The notary public must establish the
     ​ identity of the credible witness by the presentation of paper identification documents as set forth above. Under oath, the
     ​ credible witness must swear or affirm that each of the following is true (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1) (A)(i)-(v)):
1.   The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the person named in the document;​
2.   The credible witness personally knows the signer;
3.   The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that
      it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification;
​4.   The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the signer’s identity; and
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General Information

5. The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed.
     Note: The single credible witness must sign the notary public journal or the notary public must indicate in his or her
     ​ journal the type of identifying document, the identifying number of the document, and the date of issuance or expiration
   ​   of the document presented by the witness to establish the identity of the witness.
     ​(Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(D))
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C.   Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses – The identity of the signer can be established by the oaths of two credible
     ​ witnesses whom the notary public does not personally know. (Civil Code section 1185(b)(2)) The notary public first must
     ​ establish the identities of the two credible witnesses by the presentation of paper identification documents as listed
     ​ above. Under oath, the credible witnesses must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury to each of the things sworn to
     ​ or affirmed by a single credible witness, as set forth above. (Civil Code sections 1185(b)(2) and 1185(b)(1)(A)(i)-(v))
​      Note: The credible witnesses must sign the notary public’s journal and the notary public must indicate in his or her journal
     ​ the type of identifying documents, the identifying numbers of the documents, and the dates of issuance or expiration of
     ​ the documents presented by the witnesses to establish their identities. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(E))
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What if I don’t have acceptable Indentification?
One or two credible witnesses can be used in certain situations to indentify you.
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Can a Notary Public help me fill out a document or draft it?
No, is the simple answer. It is unauthorized practice of law for us to help you fill in a document or draft it. This can have serious legal consequences. You need to contact a member of the California State Bar.
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Can you notarize a document in a foreign language?
Yes, as long as the person before me speaks the same language and has the proper indentification.
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Are Notaries Public licensed?
Notaries in the State of California receive a Commission for a term of four years. All Notaries in California are background screened by the FBI and DOJ. We must complete a proctored exam every four years, swear to an Oath and purchase a Bond (which protects the public). The Secretary of State Notary Public division keeps a passport photo of us and list all Notaries Public in the State of California on their website.
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Must I appear in person in front of the Notary Public?
Yes.
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Will a paper extension of my Drivers License suffice?
No. It does not meet the requirements for indentification.