1. Check every signer's identification
Each person signing needs their own current, government-issued photo ID, physically present. Not a photocopy, not a photo on a phone. Check the expiry date now rather than at the table, and check that the name on the ID is at least as complete as the name printed on the document. Details in our guide to acceptable ID.
2. Have the complete document
Not just the signature page. A notary must see the full document to confirm it is complete and that nothing has been left blank. Documents with blank spaces cannot be notarized – fill them in, or write “N/A”, before the appointment.
3. Do not sign it yet
Unless you are certain your document takes an acknowledgement, leave the signature lines empty. A jurat requires you to sign in the notary's presence, and a document signed in advance when it needed a jurat has to be reprinted and signed again. When in doubt, wait.
4. Work out whether you need witnesses
Witnesses and notarization are different requirements. The document itself, or the body receiving it, tells you whether witnesses are needed. The notary cannot be a witness to a signature they are notarizing. Where witnesses are required, they generally should not be named in the document or stand to benefit from it, and they need their own ID.
5. Confirm the notarial wording is there
Most documents arrive with the certificate wording already printed – the paragraph beginning “State of California, County of ___”. If yours has none, the notary can attach the correct certificate, but you have to say which type is required. A notary may not choose for you, because choosing is a legal determination. Ask whoever issued the document.
6. Sort out logistics
- Everyone present at the same time? If signers are in different places, that is two appointments, so say so when booking.
- Somewhere to sit and write, with enough light. A table beats a car bonnet.
- Printing needed? Tell us at booking. We bring a printer and charge $1 a page.
- Parking and access – gate codes, building security, hospital ward restrictions, visitor registration. Mention anything that will slow us down.
- Payment ready, unless you are being invoiced.
7. Special situations worth flagging early
| Situation | Tell us because |
|---|---|
| Signer is in hospital or hospice | We need to know they are awake and aware, and whether ID is accessible |
| Signer is in custody | Facility access must be arranged in advance, and identification works differently |
| Signer cannot write | Signing by mark is allowed but needs two witnesses and the right wording |
| Signer does not speak English | The notary must communicate directly with the signer about the act; a family member cannot interpret |
| Signing for a company or as a trustee | The capacity has to appear correctly, and some documents need supporting authority |
| Document is going abroad | It may need an apostille, and the order of operations matters |
The one-minute version: unexpired photo ID for everyone signing, names matching, complete document, nothing signed yet, witnesses arranged if needed, and anything unusual mentioned when you book.
Unsure about any of it? Call or text (858) 888-8060 before the appointment. We would much rather answer a question on the phone than have you lose an afternoon.
Related questions
What if a blank space has to stay blank?
Write “N/A” or draw a line through it. A notary may not notarize a document containing blank spaces, because of what could be added afterwards. If you are not sure whether a field applies, ask whoever issued the document before the appointment.
Can my friend interpret for a signer who does not speak English?
No. A California notary must be able to communicate directly with the signer about the notarial act, and may not work through an interpreter. Tell us the language at booking and we will arrange a notary who speaks it or refer you to one.
What if the document has no notary wording on it?
We can attach the correct certificate, but you must tell us which type the receiving body requires – an acknowledgement or a jurat. The notary cannot choose, as that would be a legal determination. Ask whoever gave you the document.
Need this done in San Diego?
Call or text (858) 888-8060, or send a request. We cover the whole county, 24/7.