Frequently Asked Questions About Notaries

Your Top Questions About Notaries Answered

What forms of identification are accepted by notaries?

Most notaries accept a current driver’s license, a passport, a non-driver’s license ID (such as university identification), or a military ID. These IDs are only acceptable if they are U.S. issued.

Are there documents a notary cannot notarize?

Notaries cannot notarize documents recorded with a government agency. This could mean a Secretary of State’s office, a county clerk, or a court. Certified copies of a document should be obtained from that agency.

Does notarization mean a document is “true” or “legal?”

Notaries are not responsible for the potential legality or accuracy of the documents they notarize. Notaries can only certify the identity of signers, who are responsible for the content of their documents.

What is a signing agent?

A signing agent is a public notary who is an expert in documents having to do with loan closing. Lenders, title companies, and escrow services hire signing agents to ensure their documents are delivered, signed, and processed on time by a professional that understands the work.