A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts. Notaries are publicly commissioned as “ministerial” officials, meaning that they are expected to follow written rules without the exercise of significant personal discretion, as would otherwise be the case with a “judicial” official.

All your notarizing needs:
diplomas, driver's licenses, leases, contracts, vehicle titles, Social Security cards, Wills Trusts
Advanced directives Executorships
Custody and guardianship agreements
Power of attorney Court documents
Articles of incorporation Memorandum of understanding documents Vendor contracts Commercial leases Employment contracts Construction and loan agreements

Loan signing service you receive prompt, professional service at your location which includes a brief explanation of the documents, a more detailed description of key documents such as the HUD, estimate closing cost statement, note, truth in lending disclosure, deed of trust and escrow/impound account disclosure (tremendous detail such as calculations of lender credits, interest, policies, escrow and title fees are best answered by the loan officer, mortgage broker, agent or escrow officer) and notarization of the documents requiring notarization.

The notary examines and copies an individual’s form of identification and requests a signature for the record. If the notary suspects misrepresentation, he or she is under no obligation to sign, stamp and date the transaction being requested. 

Absolutely not! While the translation into Spanish if often called “Notario Publico,” California Notary Public’s are completely different from the meaning of Notario Publico. In Mexico this individual is a type of lawyer and has the ability to give legal advice, and do other things that a Notary Public cannot do. Do not confuse the two, they are two separate titles and have completely different duties. It is intact illegal for a Notary Public to refer to themselves as a Notario Publico.

Only under certain conditions can a Notary Public refuse to serve someone. If the individual cannot meet the legal requirements for identification, and requirements of documents able to be notarized, then the notary can decline. If the individual is unable to submit payment for the service they are requesting, then the notary may also decline. However, if a member of the public come to a Notary Public and presents all the required documentation and payment, a notary cannot refuse to serve them. A notary can be fined and lose their commission for refusing to execute their duty as a public servant.

While most things are able to be notarized, somethings are not. There are some basic requirements of documents needing to be notarized. The most important is that the document must require the signature of the person who is requesting notarization. Because a Notary Public is here to verify signatures, you cannot notarize something that does not need to be signed, such as a photograph. You also cannot notarize a document that is required to be signed by someone else, or was already signed by someone else.

California permits Notaries to accept the following forms of identification: A California driver’s license or nondriver’s ID A U.S. passport (or passport card) An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation if the inmate is in prison or any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility. California also permits the following IDs, provided they include a photograph, signature, description of the person and a serial or ID number: A driver’s license or official non-driver’s ID issued by a U.S. state A Canadian or Mexican driver’s license issued by an appropriate public agency A U.S. military ID A valid foreign passport from the applicant’s country of citizenship An employee ID issued by an agency or office of a California city, county, or city and county An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government A valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship that meets specific requirements. (Note: Matricula consular cards issued by the government of Mexico do not meet California's statutory requirements.)

No problem! We will be happy to help you with your notary needs. Satisfactory Evidence – “Satisfactory Evidence” means the absence of any information, evidence, or other circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the individual is not the individual he or she claims to be and (A) identification documents or (B) the oath of a single credible witness* or (C) the oaths of two credible witnesses under penalty of perjury. Just give us a call at (213) 308-1956, and we will discuss your options. *Oath of a Single Credible Witness – The identity of the signer can be established by the oath of a single credible witness whom the notary public personally knows. (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1)) The notary public must establish the identity of the credible witness by the presentation of paper identification documents as set forth above. Under oath, the credible witness must swear or affirm that each of the following is true (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1)(A)(i)-(v)): The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the person named in the document; The credible witness personally knows the signer; The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification; The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the signer’s identity The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed.