Notary work, brought to your table

What a notary can and can't do

Worth being clear up front, because it saves everyone time. A notary public verifies who signed a document and that they did it willingly. Nothing more than that.

What I can do

• Confirm your identity against a government photo ID that's current, or was issued within the past five years
• Take your acknowledgment that a signature is yours, or witness you signing
• Administer an oath or affirmation and complete a jurat
• Provide a credible witness arrangement where state law allows it

What I can't do

• Tell you which document to use, or what to put in it
• Explain what you're signing. That's a lawyer's job
• Choose which notarial certificate your document needs. That's your call, or your attorney's
• Notarize for anyone who doesn't personally appear in front of me
• Complete a jurat unless you sign it in my presence, which California requires
• Notarize for someone who can't produce acceptable ID, or who seems confused, pressured or unwilling

If a signing has to stop for one of these reasons, I'll say so plainly and only charge the travel fee.