What to Bring to Your Notary Appointment

Showing up to a notary appointment without the right items can cause delays - or mean rescheduling altogether. Whether you're signing a real estate document, a power of attorney, or a simple affidavit, a little prep goes a long way.

Here's exactly what to bring.

This is the most important item. A notary must verify your identity before notarizing anything. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Driver's license (current, not expired)
• State-issued ID card
• U.S. passport or passport card
• Military ID
• Permanent Resident Card

Your ID must be unexpired. If it expired even one day ago, most notaries cannot accept it. A recent address change is fine - what matters is that the photo and name match.

Bring the full document, every page, even if only one page needs a notary seal. Do not sign it ahead of time - the notary needs to witness your signature in person.

Before your appointment, make sure:

• All blank fields are filled in (notaries cannot notarize incomplete documents)
• There are no corrections made with white-out
• All required signers are present, unless other arrangements have been made

Some documents need witnesses in addition to a notary. If yours does, bring them with you. Witnesses generally cannot be a family member or anyone with a financial stake in the document.

Not sure if you need witnesses? Reach out before your appointment and we'll let you know.

If payment hasn't been arranged in advance, be ready to pay at the time of service. Contact us ahead of time if you have questions about fees or accepted payment methods.

For more involved notarizations - like estate documents, powers of attorney, or international paperwork - you may need extras:

• Apostille requests: Bring the original document plus a copy
• Loan signings: Your lender or title company will usually send the document package ahead of time
• Business documents: You may need proof of your role or authority within the company

When in doubt, bring more than you think you need.

• Don't sign early - wait for the notary to guide you
• Don't leave blanks - fill in every field before you arrive
• Don't bring an expired ID - check the date now if yours is close
• Don't assume witnesses are provided - confirm in advance

At Mali + Co. Notary, we keep the process simple. If you're unsure what to bring for your specific document, just ask - we're happy to walk you through it.

Book your appointment today and arrive with confidence.