Common FAQ’s about Public Notary

What is notarization?

• Notarization is a fraud-deterrent process performed by a state-appointed public official (a Notary Public) that verifies the signer’s identity, ensures their willingness to sign the document, and confirms their awareness of the document's content.

What is a Notary Public's role?

• A Notary Public acts as an impartial witness. Our duty is to verify the signer's identity and witness the signature, but we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice or explain the contents of the document.

What types of documents can you notarize?

• We can notarize many types of documents, including affidavits, power of attorney forms, deeds, wills, contracts, real estate forms, and more. If you have a specific document, please contact us to confirm.

What documents can you NOT notarize?

• We generally cannot notarize public recordable documents like birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, or divorce decrees. We also cannot notarize documents with blank spaces or a document in which we have a financial or beneficial interest.

Do you offer mobile notary services?

• Yes, we are a mobile notary service and can travel to a location of your choosing, such as your home, office, hospital, or a local coffee shop. Our service areas are 40 miles around Delavan, Wisconsin and within the state.

Do you offer Remote Online Notarization (RON)?

• No, we currently only offer traditional in-person or mobile notary services.

What is considered acceptable identification?

• Generally, a current (not expired) government-issued photo ID is required. Acceptable forms typically include: Driver's License or State-Issued ID Card, U.S. Passport, Foreign Passport (stamped by USCIS), Military ID. All IDs must contain a photograph, signature, and physical description.

What if I don't have an acceptable ID?

• If acceptable photo ID is not available, state law may permit the use of one or two credible identifying witnesses. These witnesses must personally know the signer, be identified by the Notary, and have no financial interest in the transaction. You must confirm this option is allowed and inform us in advance.

Can you notarize a document for a family member or my spouse?

• It is generally discouraged or prohibited due to potential conflicts of interest. Even if state law does not specifically forbid it, a Notary must be an impartial witness. We reserve the right to decline any notarization where our impartiality may be compromised.

When would you refuse a notarization?

• A Notary must refuse service if: the signer cannot be properly identified, the document contains blank spaces, the signer does not appear to understand the document or the request, or if the Notary believes the signer is under duress or is being coerced.

Can you notarize a document written in a foreign language?

• Yes, we can notarize a document in a foreign language as long as the notarial certificate (the notary wording) is in English, and we can communicate with the signer. We do not need to understand the document's content, but we must be able to communicate directly with the signer.

Do I need an appointment?

• Yes, appointments are highly recommended to ensure a Notary is available, especially for mobile or remote online services. Please use our booking page or call/text us to schedule.

Must the signer be physically present?

• For traditional (in-person) notarization, the signer must appear in person before the Notary. For Remote Online Notarization (RON), you must appear before the Notary via a live audio-video call.

Should I sign the document before meeting the Notary?

• No. You should wait to sign the document until you are in the Notary's presence. The Notary must witness your signature (for an affidavit or jurat) or confirm you signed it willingly (for an acknowledgment).

What if my document has blank spaces?

• A Notary cannot proceed with the notarization if the document contains blank spaces. All blanks must be filled in or lined out with "N/A" (Not Applicable) before the notarial act can take place.

How much do you charge for notarization?

• Our fees include The Notarial Act Fee (set by state law, typically per signature) and a Travel/Service Fee (our charge for mobile services, which is not set by state law). Please refer to our Services page for a detailed breakdown.

Do you accept credit cards?

• We accept all major credit cards, Cash, Venmo, Zelle, or Cashapp.

Is the fee per document or per signature?

• The state-mandated notarial fee is charged per notarial act/signature. If your document requires three notarized signatures, there will be three notarization fees, plus the single travel/service fee.