What are notary services?

Quick insights

If you’ve ever completed a legal form or transferred a car title, you’ve probably been told to “have it notarized.” Notary services help establish the authenticity of the paperwork associated with property transactions and legally binding documents.

In this article, we’ll discuss what notary services are, when you might need them and how to find a notary.

What notaries are and what they do

A notary—also referred to as a notary public—is someone authorized by the state to serve as a neutral witness during the signing of important documents. Their primary responsibility is to verify who is signing and confirm that each person is signing willingly. 

Notaries help prevent fraudulent activity by checking for valid identification and recording the signing process, helping to ensure signatures are valid and that everyone knows what they’re signing. Notaries are often necessary for legal paperwork, loans, powers of attorney and other situations where authenticity is essential.

When you use a notary, you’re not receiving legal guidance. Instead, you’re working with an impartial professional who validates the signatures on your documents.

Why people may need a notary

You might need a notary any time you have documents that need to be recognized as legal or authentic. Adding the notary step can help ensure your paperwork is legitimate and accepted by banks, courts and other institutions. 

Notary services are commonly needed for:

For example, notary services are often needed for tasks such as transferring a car title, buying a house and drafting a will.

How to get a document notarized

Having a document notarized is usually a fairly straightforward process. To start, you typically need the document and an accepted form of identification for each signer. Notaries typically accept government-issued IDs, but acceptable forms of ID can vary by state, so you may want to contact the notary to confirm if your ID is acceptable. 

Note that signing the document before you arrive at the notary may make it invalid.

During the notary process, the notary usually checks your ID (as well as those of any other signers), watches you sign and may have you confirm that you understand the document you are signing. When all necessary parties have signed the document, the notary then applies their official stamp or seal and signature to complete the notary process.

Where to find a notary

Common locations where you can find notary services include:

There are also remote online notaries. Online notaries use two-way, audio-visual technology to perform notary services. Instead of paper documents, physical stamps and ink signatures, they use electronic documents, seals and signatures to notarize documents. 

Not all states accept documents that have been notarized electronically, so you may want to check state guidelines before engaging with an online notary.

How much do notary services cost?

Notary fees vary depending on your state and the document that needs notarizing. Some states limit how much notaries can charge, while other notaries may set their own prices. 

If you need a notary outside of usual business hours, you may be able to hire a mobile notary who comes to you, usually for an additional fee. Online notaries also may charge more than notaries at physical locations. 

Some banks and libraries may offer complimentary notary services. 

Do banks provide notary services?

Many banks and credit unions offer notary services. Banks may offer complimentary notary services to their customers—for instance, those who hold checking accounts. Sometimes these services are offered to non-customers for a fee. Some banks limit notary services to their customers, and availability can differ by location.

In summary

Notary services confirm the authenticity of signatures on important paperwork, like car titles, property deeds and wills. Notarizing a document may increase the odds that your document will be accepted by banks, courts and other organizations that require legally binding documents. 

Notaries can typically be found at banks, shipping stores, real estate firms, libraries or colleges and universities. There are also mobile notaries and online notaries, although not all states accept or recognize documents that have been notarized electronically. The cost of notary service varies, but notary services at a bank may be complimentary for customers and account holders of the bank.