Guidelines for a Smooth Notary Appointment

​1. **Valid Picture ID Required**
   - Please ensure all signers possess a current government-issued photo ID at the time of the notary appointment. If the ID has expired, it must have been issued within the last 5 years.
   - Acceptable forms of ID include:
     - Passport
     - Driver’s License / State ID
     - Military ID
   - Alternatively, you may have two witnesses present, each with their own valid ID.

2. **Name on ID Must Match Document Name**
   - The name on your identification must either match or exceed the name indicated on the document being notarized, in compliance with California Law.
   - Formula: Identification Name ≥ Document Name

3. **Communication with the Notary**
   - Signers should be able to communicate in the same language as the notary conducting the transaction. Please inform us if a bilingual notary is needed.
   - Spanish speakers, for example, will be paired with a Spanish-speaking notary, and the same applies to other languages.

4. **Agreement and Willingness**
   - All agreements should be reached and fully understood before scheduling your notary appointment.
   - Signers should be willingly and peacefully prepared to sign the document, without any signs of duress, uncertainty, or coercion.

5. **Sound Mind Requirement**
   - California law mandates that all signers must be of sound mind and competent before the notary.
   - Our notary may ask questions to determine the signer's mental capacity to make informed decisions.

6. **Prepared Documents**
   - All documents to be notarized must be fully completed, except for the signature.
   - Our notary cannot assist in drafting or completing documents. If needed, please consult an attorney or the receiving agency for document preparation.

7. **Scheduling Your Notary Appointment**
   - Schedule your appointment online now or give us a call.
   - Our calendar is available one day in advance to allow time for signers and the notary to prepare adequately.
   - This ensures that all documents are reviewed, proof-checked, and fully completed.

8. **Streamline Your Signing**
   - To expedite the notarization process, please send your documents to us in advance.
   - We will have our certificates ready and can perform a pre-signing proof-check.
   - We can also provide up to 5 pages of black and white printing at no additional charge. Additional pages may incur an extra fee (fee to be determined).
   - Streamlined signings for a single document typically take 10 minutes or less.