Military & veterans notary in San Diego
Powers of attorney, family care plans, SGLI forms and benefit claims, at hours that work around duty. For veterans' benefit applications, California law means the notarial fee is zero.
San Diego is a military town, and a great deal of military paperwork needs a notary: powers of attorney before a deployment, family care plans, SGLI and beneficiary forms, vehicle paperwork for a PCS move, and benefit claims after service. We come to base housing, to barracks parking, to hospitals and to homes across the county, at hours that work around duty.
Veterans: some notarizations are free by law, and we honour that
California law prohibits a notary public from charging any fee to a United States military veteran for notarizing an application or claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance or any other veteran's benefit. This is not a discount we are offering. It is a statutory obligation on every notary in the state, and very few of them mention it.
If you are a veteran and your document is a benefit application or claim, the notarial fee is $0. Tell us when you book. We still have to make the journal entry, recorded as no fee. Our travel fee is a separate, non-statutory charge for coming to you, and we are happy to talk about that too – just ask.
Documents we are most often asked for
- General and special powers of attorney before deployment or a long training absence
- Family care plans and guardianship paperwork for dependants
- SGLI and beneficiary designations
- VA benefit applications and claims – no notarial fee, as above
- Vehicle title transfers and DMV forms around a PCS move
- Residential leases, property and sale documents
- Affidavits for family law matters, including custody during deployment
- Apostilles for overseas assignments, foreign marriages and dual-national dependants
Where we come
We serve service members and families across the county, including the areas around Naval Base San Diego and 32nd Street, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base Coronado and North Island, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego, Camp Pendleton and the Oceanside and Vista housing areas, and Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Base access. We are not automatically able to drive onto an installation. In practice, the simplest options are to meet just outside the gate, to meet at your home if you live off base, or for you to arrange a visitor pass in advance. Tell us which when you book and we will plan around it. For Naval Medical Center San Diego, see the dedicated page.
A note on military powers of attorney
A power of attorney executed before a military legal assistance attorney or a judge advocate has its own statutory force and may not need a civilian notary at all. If your command's legal office can do it, that is usually the faster route and we will say so. Where the document is going to a bank, a title company or a foreign authority, a notarized civilian version is often wanted as well.
We cannot tell you which power of attorney you need or what it will do – that is legal advice, and your installation's legal assistance office provides it free. We handle the notarization once you know.
Pre-deployment, at short notice
Deployment timelines move. If you need several documents notarized for a family before a departure, call and tell us how many signers and how many documents, and we will give you a flat figure and a time. Evenings and weekends are normal for us.
Frequently asked questions
Is notarization really free for veterans?
The notarial fee is, where the document is an application or claim for a veteran's benefit – pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance or any other benefit. California law prohibits charging for it. Other documents, and our travel fee for coming to you, are not covered by that rule, but tell us your situation and we will be straight with you about what applies.
Can you come onto the base?
Not without sponsorship or a pass. Most people find it simpler to meet just off base, at home, or at a nearby location. If you can arrange a visitor pass in advance, that works too. Tell us at booking and we will plan it with you.
Can you notarize a power of attorney before a deployment?
Yes, and it is one of the most common things we do. Check first whether your legal assistance office can execute it for you, since that route is free and carries its own statutory authority. For documents heading to banks, title companies or foreign authorities, a notarized version is often wanted as well.
My spouse is deployed and cannot sign. What can we do?
A notary cannot notarize for an absent person under any circumstances. The usual solution is a power of attorney executed before deployment, or a notarization performed wherever they are – a judge advocate overseas, or a US consulate. Plan this before departure if you possibly can.
Next step
Tell us what you need
We will come back with a time and a firm price. If it is urgent, call or text (858) 888-8060.