MOBILE NOTARY SERVICES

Please bring the document you need notarized and acceptable identification. Any person whose signature must be notarized will generally need to appear in person before the notary.

Depending on the document and type of notarization, additional requirements may apply. If you are unsure whether your identification or document will meet California requirements, contact Golden Mark before your appointment so we can discuss the practical requirements without providing legal advice. 

California law allows specific forms of identification to be used as satisfactory evidence of a signer’s identity, subject to statutory requirements. These can include certain government-issued identification documents, including qualifying driver’s licenses, identification cards and passports.

California’s identification rules are more specific than simply requiring a “current photo ID,” so if you are unsure whether your identification qualifies, please contact Golden Mark before your appointment.

Yes. California currently requires personal appearance before the notary for common notarial acts such as acknowledgments and jurats.

The signer must be physically present; appearing by FaceTime, Zoom, webcam or another video platform does not currently satisfy California’s personal-appearance requirement.

California notaries currently may not substitute webcam or video appearance for the signer’s required physical personal appearance.

California has enacted legislation relating to future remote online notarization, but the system is not currently operative for California notaries. 

If you are unsure, it is safest to wait until your appointment.

For a jurat, the signer must sign the document in the notary’s presence and take an oath or affirmation. For an acknowledgment, the signer acknowledges to the notary that they executed the document, so the signature does not necessarily have to be made in front of the notary.

Because the requirements differ, Golden Mark cannot give one universal instruction for every document.

A California notary may explain the general difference between notarial acts, but cannot choose a notarial act for you or provide legal advice.

If your document does not indicate what type of notarization is required, you may need to contact the person or organization receiving the document, the document preparer, or an attorney for guidance.

An acknowledgment generally involves the signer personally appearing before the notary, being properly identified, and acknowledging that they executed the document.

A jurat requires the signer to personally appear, sign the document in the notary’s presence, and take an oath or affirmation regarding the contents of the document.

In both cases, the notary verifies identity—not the truthfulness, accuracy or legal validity of the underlying document. California requires that distinction to appear prominently on acknowledgment and jurat certificates.

California law prohibits a notary from accepting an acknowledgment or proof of execution for an incomplete instrument.

As a practical matter, your document should generally be completed before the notarization, other than signatures or other information that is specifically intended to be completed during the appointment. Golden Mark cannot advise you how to complete the legal contents of your document.

Golden Mark can provide mobile notarial services for many types of documents when the requested notarial act is authorized under California law. These may include certain real estate documents, powers of attorney, affidavits, business documents, estate and trust-related documents and other documents requiring notarization.

Whether a particular document can or should be notarized depends on the document and the requested notarial act. Golden Mark does not prepare legal documents or advise customers about what legal documents they need.

Potentially, yes. Golden Mark is a mobile service and can meet signers at hospitals, senior living communities, care facilities and other agreed-upon locations.

The same California notarial requirements still apply, including personal appearance, satisfactory identification where required, and the signer’s ability to communicate and participate in the notarial act.

Potentially, yes. Golden Mark is a mobile service and can meet signers at hospitals, senior living communities, care facilities and other agreed-upon locations.

The same California notarial requirements still apply, including personal appearance, satisfactory identification where required, and the signer’s ability to communicate and participate in the notarial act.

Age by itself does not prevent notarization. The signer must still satisfy the legal requirements for the notarial act, including personally appearing before the notary and meeting applicable identification requirements.

If there are concerns about the signer’s ability to understand, communicate or act willingly, the appointment may require additional consideration and, in some circumstances, legal guidance outside the scope of the notary’s role.