You can get documents notarized at banks and credit unions, UPS Stores and other shipping centers, county clerk and courthouse offices, many public libraries, and real estate or insurance offices. If leaving home isn’t practical, a mobile notary will travel to you, and more than 45 states plus the District of Columbia now allow remote online notarization through a secure video call. In-person fees typically run between $2 and $25 depending on the state cap, and many banks waive the charge for account holders.
In-Person Places That Notarize Documents
The most reliable in-person options are places where staff routinely handle legal paperwork and keep an active notary commission on hand.
- Banks and credit unions. Most branches have at least one commissioned notary, and many provide the service free to existing account holders. Non-customers may pay a small fee or be turned away. Call the branch first to confirm the notary is working that day.
- Shipping and mail service centers. UPS Store locations and similar chains advertise notary services during regular business hours and generally charge the full amount allowed under state law.
- County clerk and courthouse offices. Municipal offices often notarize documents tied to public records, property filings, and court matters. Some charge a fee; others provide the service free for government-related documents.
- Public libraries. Some library systems keep a notary on staff as a community resource. Availability varies, so check your branch’s website or call ahead.
- Real estate and insurance offices. Because their work involves high volumes of legal paperwork, these businesses often have a notary available, though they may limit service to documents tied to their own transactions.
Calling in advance is the simplest way to avoid a wasted trip. Not every location has a notary on duty every day, and some ask for appointments.
Mobile Notaries Who Come to You
A mobile notary travels to your home, office, hospital room, or another location you choose. This is useful if you have mobility limitations, need after-hours service, or are handling a time-sensitive signing like an emergency medical directive or a real estate closing that has to happen at a specific place.
You pay the standard notarization fee set by your state, plus a separate travel fee. Travel charges are not standardized the way notarization fees are; they depend on distance, time of day, and local market rates. Total costs commonly land between $25 and $150 per appointment. Ask for a complete price quote before booking.
Online Notarization From Home
Remote online notarization, usually called RON, lets you complete the whole process through a secure video call on any internet-connected device. As of early 2025, at least 45 states and the District of Columbia had enacted permanent laws authorizing it. During a session you connect with a commissioned notary on an encrypted audio-video platform, verify your identity through digital checks, sign the document electronically, and receive a file with an electronic notary seal.
Identity verification usually has two layers. You answer knowledge-based authentication questions drawn from public records, such as previous addresses or loan details only you would know. The platform then compares your live video image against your photo ID. The whole session is recorded and stored as a permanent record.
Consumer platforms include Notarize (now Proof), NotaryCam, NotaryLive, BlueNotary, and DocuSign, among others. Pricing for a single notarization generally starts around $25, with additional seals on the same document costing less. That is higher than most in-person fees because the platforms bundle technology, recording, and storage costs into the price. Some states set separate, higher caps for online acts; Ohio, for example, allows up to $30 for an online notarization compared to $5 for an in-person one.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 147.08 – Fees
Will Other States Accept an Online Notarization?
Not every state explicitly recognizes online notarizations performed under another state’s laws. In practice most RON sessions are accepted across state lines, but occasional rejections happen, particularly with county recording offices that haven’t updated their policies. If a document is going to be recorded in a specific county, call that recording office before the session to confirm they will accept a remote notarization.
What to Bring to Any Notary
Every notarization starts with proof of identity. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. A current driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID card are the most widely accepted. The ID cannot be expired. The notary has to confirm it is current and that the photo reasonably matches the person in front of them. Some states also accept a state-issued non-driver ID card.
Fill out the document completely before the appointment, with one exception: leave the signature line blank. The notary must watch you sign, so signing in advance invalidates the notarization. If there are blank spaces in the body of the document, most notaries will refuse to proceed, because incomplete paperwork creates fraud risk once the seal is applied.
Some documents need witnesses in addition to the notary. Wills typically require two witnesses who are not beneficiaries of the estate. Real estate deeds and powers of attorney may also need witnesses depending on your state. If witnesses are required, bring your own; the notary usually will not supply them.
A few other practical limits are worth knowing. A notary cannot notarize a document in which they have a direct financial interest, and many states bar them from notarizing for a spouse or close family member.2California Secretary of State. 2025 California Notary Public Handbook For in-person service, the signer has to be in the same room; a document signed elsewhere and brought in afterward cannot be notarized.
If You Don’t Have a Valid Photo ID
Some states let a credible identifying witness vouch for your identity. That person has to personally know you and take an oath before the notary confirming who you are. Rules vary. Some states require one witness who is personally known to the notary; others accept two witnesses who each present their own valid ID. The witness cannot have a financial interest in the document. Call ahead to confirm whether the notary’s state permits this and what the specific requirements are.
What a Notary Can’t Do for You
Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records like birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage certificates. Those are maintained by government vital records offices, and only those offices can issue certified copies. Several states explicitly prohibit notaries from certifying copies of any vital record. If you need a certified copy of a birth or marriage certificate, contact the vital records office in the state where the event was recorded.
The same principle applies more broadly in many states: a notary cannot certify copies of documents filed with or maintained by a public records office, including divorce decrees, court orders, and recorded property deeds. If a government agency is the official custodian of the original, the certified copy has to come from that agency.
If the Document Is Going Abroad
Notarization alone often isn’t enough for a document being used in another country. Countries in the Hague Apostille Convention accept a standardized certificate called an apostille, which authenticates the notary’s authority. For a document notarized at the state level, you request the apostille from the Secretary of State in the state where the notary is commissioned. For a document signed by a federal official or military notary, the apostille comes from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications.3U.S. Department of State. Preparing a Document for an Apostille Certificate
Do not notarize the original federal document itself before seeking an apostille; doing so can invalidate it. If a translation is needed, have the translation notarized separately and then request the apostille on the translated version. Countries outside the Hague Convention may require embassy legalization instead, which involves additional steps through the destination country’s embassy or consulate.