3 Useful Notary Services Tips

Notarized documents form the fabric of every life-changing transaction. You can’t close on a house, take out a loan, or transfer the ownership of assets without a notarized document. Understanding how notarization works will cultivate smoother transitions into important transactions.

Notary services validate financial documents for significant transactions. If you want to sell a home or do estate planning in the future, a notary public must verify authentic documents.

Notary signing agents watch as you sign a document. They will ask for an ID to confirm your identity before witnessing your signature. While rules vary by state, one of the following documents should suffice: driver’s license, state ID card, United States Passport, or Indemnification ID card.

Upon witnessing your signature, the notary puts a stamp on your document.

A notary’s stamp of approval provides additional legal weight to your financial documents. Notaries act as neutral third parties facilitating a transaction between two parties.

Before meeting a notary public, read this article to get the most from notary services.

1. Consider Remote Notary Services

While you can find a local notary service, more people opt for remote notary services. These services cut down on travel time and assist with document verification.

If you want to avoid the drive, you can have the agent come to you. However, this usually incurs a traveling fee separate from the notary services. A remote option solves this problem and widens your scope of notary services.

Some notary signing agents will watch you sign the document via a remote online notary platform similar to a “Zoom” type meeting. After witnessing the signature, The agent will then use the remote online platform software to add their signature and stamp of approval.

You can revisit the email you received earlier to find the electronic copy. This advantage saves you extra fees and makes your notarized document readily accessible.

You will need a sufficient internet connection and access to a computer. The computer must have a camera and microphone.

Remote notary agents often request an uploaded government ID on the appointment form. This requirement saves considerable hassles.

Remote notary services took off during the pandemic but have become increasingly common. A remote notary option can save plenty of time if a local commute isn’t in the cards.

2. Schedule an Appointment in Advance

If you walk into your local notary services office without an appointment, you may waste a trip. Rather than arriving and hoping someone is available, schedule an appointment in advance.

Many notary services provide websites that let you schedule an appointment in advance. These appointment forms offer clarity on what you will need before the meeting.

Review your calendar to ensure no conflicts exist on the selected date. You can reschedule an appointment if a scheduling conflict arises. Showing up at the designated time will take away the stress sooner. 

When scheduling an appointment, you will see the appointment’s time length. Seeing the appointment’s time length will help with planning. Knowing a notary appointment lasts an hour, and a half is better than assuming it only takes 30 minutes.

Before scheduling an appointment, you can call the agent or send an email. Prior communication can establish whether the agent can sign your documents or not. 

Some notary signing agents specialize in a small number of documents. Other agents cover a more comprehensive array of authentic documents. 

Before reaching out to a notary agent, consider reviewing the fee and what it covers. Many notary agent fees cover one signer and one notarization. Adding additional documents and signers often costs extra.

Compare what these fees look like amongst several notary agents to find the best agent for you.

3. Know Which Notary you Need

Before scheduling an appointment, determine which notary you need. This clarity will speed up the process. Notarizations come in three forms: acknowledgments, jurats, and copy certifications.

During an acknowledgment, signers acknowledge they willingly signed a document. The acknowledgment fights off fraudulent activity that can emerge with financial records.

During a jurat, signers swear to the validity of the document’s contents. This swearing process adds an extra layer of protection to the notarized document.

Copy certifications require a notary agent to confirm one document is a copy of another. Notary services of this nature are not allowed in all states.

Knowing which notary you need will narrow down the pool of potential notary agents. It will also remove headaches from the notarization process. 

Remote Notary Services for Your Objectives

Traveling to a notary office takes time. Some people ask the notary agent to meet them to compensate for this issue, but this incurs an extra fee. 

Remote notary services provide a valuable alternative for many who seek notarization. These services have existed for years but have become widespread in recent years. 

If you want to notarize a document in Idaho without visiting an office, I can help. I offer remote notary services for Idahoans in the following areas: Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Caldwell, Middleton, and surrounding Treasure Valley areas.

Schedule an appointment to get started.