How should I prepare for my notary appointment?

An unexpired state or federally issued ID with your current legal name as listed in the document (or accompanied by an approved name change order), signature, and photograph is required for most notarizations. Examples of these types of IDs are a driver’s license, state ID, permanent resident card, or a passport book.

Please make sure to have one available at the time of your appointment. ID copies or photographs of IDs are not acceptable.

Many documents that need a signature notarized, have a notarial block (a section of text that has space for the notary’s signature as well as pre-printed wording indicating the type of notarization needed) that is usually at the end of the document. If your document does not have a notarial block, the notary will explain the three types of notarizations available, but, by law, the signer must choose the notarization type that they want. If the signer is unsure, they should contact the intended receiver of the document or an attorney for instructions before the notarization appointment.