Notary Services
Notary Services

Notary Guidelines:

Please bring a valid, government-issued photo ID and unsigned documents to be notarized. The name printed on the ID must be an exact match for the signer's name. Documents must be signed in the presence of the notary in order to be valid.

Please complete all information above the signature line. Blank spaces not used in a document should have a line drawn through them so that no one can add to the terms of the document after it was signed.

Patrons must bring their own witnesses, if needed. The library does not provide witnesses and witnesses may not be solicited from staff or customers using the library. The witness must know the person whose document is being notarized and must be in possession of a valid photo identification.

Documents to be notarized must be in English.

The library is not permitted to make use of a translator to communicate with a notary service customer.

Documents to be notarized must contain a notary public jurat or acknowledgment. If the document(s) does not include this, the notary will have to attach a certificate to the document before it can be notarized.

The library provides only basic notary public service and is not able to notarize more than 3 documents per visit.

Notaries cannot pre-date or post-date an action, prepare a legal document, or notarize documents in which they have a personal interest.

The notary's role is limited to authenticating the signature presented. Patrons should be aware that notarizing a document does not constitute a legal review of the document's contents. A notary public is not a licensed attorney. Notaries cannot provide legal advice or counseling regarding documents.

Notaries will not provide service if the customer, document or circumstance of the request raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty for the library. The library notary may, at his or her sole discretion, decline to provide notary service.

The library's free notary service is intended for simple documents that do not required specialized knowledge or expertise beyond our capabilities.

Documents we will not notarize:

  • Real estate transactions including Quit Claim Deeds
  • Wills
  • Notary protests
  • Employment eligibility verification, Homeland Security I-9 Forms
  • Documents written in any language other than English
  • Corporate documents
  • Documents with more than ten (10) pages
  • Living trusts
  • Power of Attorney
  • Codicils or depositions
  • Documents which require an electronic signature
  • Foreign Passport or Visa Applications
  • Any documents regarding guardianship or custodianship

The library reserves the right to refuse notarizing documents for any legal reason.

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