Preparing for Your Notary Appointment: A Simple Guide

Personal Appearance and Identification

• The individual requiring notarization must be physically present.

• A valid government-issued photo identification is required.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

1. State-issued Driver's License (any U.S. state)

2. State-issued Identification Card

3. U.S. or Foreign Passport

4. U.S. Military Identification Card

5. Driver's License issued by an authorized Canadian or Mexican public agency

6. Employee Identification Card issued by:

   • A state or federal government agency

   • An agency or office of the state of California

   • A California city, county, or city and county office

7. Consular Identification Document

8. Identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government

Special Circumstances

In California, witnesses are typically used for specific types of notarial acts, particularly for signature witnessing. Here are the main points to consider:

1. Signature Witnessing:

   • This is the primary situation where witnesses are used in California notarizations.

   • Two witnesses are required when the signer cannot provide acceptable identification.

2. When Witnesses Are Allowed:

   • If the signer doesn't have proper ID, they can use credible witnesses.

   • One credible witness can be used if the notary knows them personally.

   • Two credible witnesses are needed if the notary doesn't know either of them.

3. Witness Requirements:

   • Witnesses must personally know the signer.

   • They must have valid identification themselves.

   • Witnesses must be present during the entire notarial act.

4. Other Notarial Acts:

   • For acknowledgments and jurats, witnesses are generally not required if the signer has proper identification.

5. Special Circumstances:

   • Some documents might specifically require witnesses, regardless of identification (e.g., certain real estate documents or wills).

     
     

It's important to note that the use of witnesses doesn't replace the need for the signer to appear in person before the notary. The notary must still verify the identity of the signer, either through proper identification or credible witnesses.

Document Preparation

• Present the complete, original document for notarization. Please note, printing services are available.

• Verify that all pages are present and in the correct order.

Document Completion

• Fully complete the document prior to the appointment.

• Ensure all fields are filled, leaving only the signature line blank if applicable.

• For acknowledgments: Pre-signing the document is permissible.

Important Legal Notice:

Notaries Public are prohibited from providing legal advice.