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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can you notarize a document for an absent signer?

A. It is against the law for a notary to notarize the signature of a person who is not present. Both the notary, and you would be breaking the law.

Q. My employer said to see a notary to complete my I-9. Can you notarize my I-9?

A. I-9's are not to be notarized, but as an HR professional of over 15 years, I can verify and sign your I-9 as an authorized representative of your company. 

Q. My driver's license or passport is expired. Can I still use it as my ID for notarization?

A. Possibly. If it's a DL or U.S. Passport that expired within 5 years of it being issued, then you can use it. If not, and you are not able to get an updated ID, there are other ways to verify your identity, such as bringing 2 credible witnesses who have known you for a period of time are are willing to sign statements. Contact me for more details.

Q. I need a Living Will, Healthcare Directive, Dissolution of Marriage papers, etc. Can you provide the form(s)?

A. Providing you with the correct forms would be considered practicing law and notaries are not licensed to practice law. I can notarize the forms once you have them, but I cannot provide the forms nor direct you on where to get them.

Q. Can you notarize my birth certificate?

A. In Florida, notaries are not allowed to notarize public or vital records. Basically, any document you can get a certified copy from from a government entity, is not a document which can be notarized. By contrast, if you needed a COPY of your driver's license or social security card notarized, that could be done since you cannot get a certified copy of these documents.

Q. If I'm unable to sign my name, can you still notarize a document for me?

A. Yes, in situations where a person is unable to sign, but can make their mark, we have special forms and procedures to allow notarization.

Q. My elderly father is physically unable to write so he can't sign a document. What do we do?

A. In situations where a person is physically unable to sign, under certain circumstances, a notary can do a signature by proxy. Please contact me for more details.

Q. I don't understand the forms I have. Can you help me complete my documents?

A. Notaries are not allowed to give legal advice, and helping you complete documents would be a form of legal advice, so I cannot do that. If you are unsure of how to complete a document, contact the person/agency who gave you the document.

Q. I don't have my ID with me, but I have a picture of it on my phone. Can we use it?

A. By law notaries must see an original ID in order to notarize. Notarizing from a photo of your ID would be against the law.

Q. My document should have been notarized yesterday. Can I backdate it?

A. The date on your document can be whatever date it needs to be. However, the date a notary notarizes, and applies their stamp and signature, MUST, by law, be the date the signer appeared before them to have the document notarized. Otherwise, the notary and signer would be committing a crime.

Q. My grandmother doesn't speak English Can I interpret for her for the notarization?

A. The notary, by law, must be able to communicate directly with the signer through a common language. A notary cannot rely on an interpreter or any other person to communicate with the signer. There are notaries who speak other languages than English.

Q. My family member is in prison and needs a document notarized. Can you notarize a document for a prisoner?

A. Yes, additional steps will have to be taken to notarize for someone in prison, such as making sure the notary is on the visitors list, checking to make sure the inmate has an inmate identification card, etc. But even without ID, there are still ways to notarize a document for an inmate. An additional fee will apply. Contact me to discuss the details.

Q. I don't have a driver's license. What other ID's can I use?

A. In Florida, the list of acceptable IDs includes the following. These IDs must be current or issued within the past five years and include a serial or other ID number:

  • A Florida identification card or driver’s license

  • A U.S. passport

  • A foreign passport if it is stamped by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

  • Another state driver’s license or identification card issued by a U.S. state or a territory of the United States

  • A Canadian or Mexican driver’s license or an identification card

  • An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States

  • A veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs

  • An inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1991, by the Florida Department of Corrections for an inmate who is in the custody of the department

  • An inmate identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, for an inmate who is in the custody of the department

  • A sworn, written statement from a sworn law enforcement officer that the forms of identification for an inmate in an institution of confinement were confiscated upon confinement and that the person named in the document is the person whose signature is to be notarized

  • An identification card issued by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

Q. I don't have an acceptable ID. Can I still have a document notarized?

A:  In most cases, yes.  If you do not have any of the listed ID's, or it would be excessively difficult for the you to get them, you may bring two additional persons who do have acceptable identification and who will swear to the your identity. The two individuals have to be over the age of 18, have valid ID's ready for inspection and and must swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury, that they personally know you.  They will also need to be present at the time of witnessing and sign the notary journal.

Q. I have a document to have notarized which has multiple signers. We just can't get our schedules to match. Do we all have to come at the same time?

A:  No, signers can come at different times. I will notarize each signature for each signer when they appear before me. However, payment for the entire notarization needs to be paid up front, and an additional time/travel charge may apply.

Q. Where can you meet me?

A:  I'm flexible. I can meet you at your home, office, hospital, park, library, coffee shop, or any number of places. Depending on the location, a travel fee may apply.

Q. When can you meet me?

A:  Again, I'm flexible. If needed, I can meet you at ANYTIME needed. Travel and afterhour fees may apply.

Q. What steps do you take to protect against COVID-19?

A. I take the protection of your health and mine seriously. Therefore, I routinely do the following:

  • Sanitize my hands before and after your notarization.

  • Wear disposable gloves during your notarization.

  • Use disposable pens; your pen will not have been used by anyone else

  • Always wear a mask and ask that you do the same during your notarization.

  • Regularly wipe down any non-disposable items (such as my stamp) that I need to use on a regular basis

  • Ask each person the appropriate COVID-19 questions prior to notarizations.

  • An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States

  • migration Services

Have additional questions? Please call me at (904) 312-0083

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