To get a notarized statement, bring an unsigned copy of your document and a current government-issued photo ID to a notary public, sign the document while the notary watches, and pay a small fee for the official seal. The whole appointment usually takes about 15 minutes. You can do it in person at a bank, shipping store, or law office, have a mobile notary come to you, or complete the process online by video in most states.
What to Bring
Do not sign the document beforehand. The notary has to watch you sign it. If you arrive with a signed page, expect to be sent home to print a fresh copy.
You also need a current photo ID issued by the government. A driver’s license, passport, or military ID works almost anywhere. It has to show both your photo and your signature, and it cannot be expired. If the name on your ID no longer matches the name on the document because of marriage or a court-ordered change, bring the paperwork that connects the two.
Check the document for a notary certificate block. That’s the section where the notary fills in their information, signs, and applies the seal. Most professionally drafted legal forms already have one. If yours doesn’t, the notary can attach a separate certificate page.
Acknowledgment or Jurat?
Before you go, find out which type of notarial act the receiving party wants. Picking the wrong one is a common reason documents get rejected.
An acknowledgment confirms that you signed voluntarily and that you are who you say you are. Deeds, powers of attorney, and contracts usually call for an acknowledgment. A jurat is stricter: you swear under oath that the contents of the document are true, and you must sign in front of the notary. Affidavits, sworn statements, and court filings typically require a jurat. If the document doesn’t say which is needed, ask the agency or person who will receive it.
If You Don’t Have a Photo ID
Most states let you use a credible identifying witness in place of an ID. The witness comes to the appointment, personally knows you, and swears to the notary that you are who you claim to be. The witness cannot have a financial stake in the transaction. Some states require one witness who is personally known to the notary; others allow two witnesses who each bring their own valid photo ID. The rules vary, so check what your state requires before relying on this.
Extra Witnesses for Some Documents
Certain documents need witnesses beyond the notary. Wills and powers of attorney often require one or two independent witnesses at the signing. Several states also require witnesses on real estate deeds and mortgages before they can be recorded. The notary may agree to serve as one witness, but usually cannot be the only one. Confirm the witness requirements ahead of time so you can bring the right people.
Where to Find a Notary
Banks and credit unions are the cheapest option for most people. Many notarize documents free of charge for account holders. Shipping and business-services stores keep notaries on staff for a small fee. Law offices, real estate offices, and some public libraries also offer notary services.
If getting to an office is hard — because of a medical condition, a work schedule, or a closing being held somewhere else — a mobile notary will travel to you. The notarization itself follows the same steps as an office visit, but you pay a separate travel fee on top of the standard charge. Some states cap the mileage rate, tying it to the IRS business mileage rate of 72.5 cents per mile in 2026.1Internal Revenue Service. IRS Sets 2026 Business Standard Mileage Rate at 72.5 Cents per Mile, Up 2.5 Cents Others let the notary set a reasonable fee with no hard cap. Ask for the total price before you book.
Getting It Notarized Online
As of early 2025, 45 states and the District of Columbia have permanent laws authorizing remote online notarization (RON). You upload your document to an approved platform, verify your identity through an ID scan and a set of knowledge-based questions drawn from your personal and financial history, and then join a live video call with the notary. You sign electronically while the notary watches, and the notary applies a digital signature and tamper-evident seal. The video is recorded and stored as a permanent record.
One catch: even when a RON session is legally valid in the notary’s state, the receiving party may not accept it. Courts, county recorders, and some agencies still prefer traditional paper notarizations. Call the recipient first and confirm they will accept a remotely notarized document before you pay for the session.
What Happens at the Appointment
The notary starts by examining your ID, comparing the photo to your face, checking that the name matches the document, and confirming the ID hasn’t expired. If the document requires a jurat, the notary then administers an oath or affirmation. This is a short verbal exchange in which you swear or affirm that the contents are true. You can affirm rather than swear if you prefer a non-religious option.
You sign the document while the notary watches. The notary fills in the certificate block, signs it, and applies the official seal or stamp, which shows their name, commission state, and commission expiration date. The transaction is logged in the notary’s journal, which records the date, the type of act performed, and the ID you presented. That entry becomes the permanent record if the notarization is ever questioned later.
What It Costs
For a standard in-person notarization, most states cap fees between $2 and $15 per notarial act. A handful of states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and Maine, don’t set a statutory maximum. Bank notarizations are often free for account holders.
Remote online notarization costs more. Many states authorize a RON fee of about $25 per signature on top of the standard charge, and platforms may add their own technology fee. Total costs commonly run between $25 and $40 per remotely notarized signature. Mobile visits add a travel fee that varies widely, from mileage-based rates under a dollar per mile to flat fees of $50 or more in unregulated states. For anything beyond a free bank notarization, ask for the total upfront.
When a Notary Has to Say No
Notaries are required to refuse in certain situations. Knowing them ahead of time saves a wasted trip:
- Your ID is expired, doesn’t match the document, or looks fraudulent.
- The document is incomplete, has blank spaces, or is missing pages. Some states explicitly prohibit notarizing incomplete documents.
- You appear confused, intoxicated, or pressured by someone else in the room. The notary must believe you understand what you’re signing and are acting voluntarily.
- The notary is a party to the transaction or has a financial interest in it. Notarizing for close family members is discouraged in most guidance even where it isn’t strictly banned.
- You want a certified copy of a birth certificate, death certificate, or marriage certificate. Only the government agency that issued those records can certify copies.
If a notary refuses, ask for the specific reason. Most refusals are fixable with a fresh copy of the document, a different ID, or a different notary.
Using the Document in Another State or Country
Notarizations valid in the state where they were performed are generally accepted in other states. Problems tend to show up only with real estate recordings and court filings, where the receiving office may want specific wording in the certificate. If the document is heading to a different state, ask the receiving office about formatting requirements before your appointment.
For use in another country, you may need an apostille under the 1961 Hague Convention. Each state’s Secretary of State issues apostilles for state-level notarizations, and the U.S. Department of State handles federal documents for a $20 fee per document.2U.S. Department of State. Requesting Authentication Services Mail processing takes several weeks, so plan around any deadline.
Does a Notarized Statement Expire?
The notarization itself does not expire. Once the seal and signature are on the page, the notarial act stays valid indefinitely, even after the notary’s own commission later runs out. What can expire is the underlying document. A power of attorney may have its own end date, and some recipients want the notarization to be recent — banks often ask for loan documents notarized within the past 30 to 90 days.
One thing can invalidate a notarization after the fact: if the notary’s commission had already expired on the day they performed the act. Glance at the expiration date on the seal before you leave. If it has already passed, raise it then and there. A notarization done under an expired commission can be rejected outright or challenged in court.