How to hire a notary public
A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures — with mobile notaries travelling to you, which matters for hospitals, care homes and property closings.
What the job usually involves
- Acknowledgements and jurats on documents.
- Mobile notarisation at home, office or hospital.
- Loan signing and real estate closing packages.
- Apostille coordination for documents used abroad.
- Remote online notarisation, where permitted.
What to ask before you agree to anything
- What identification do I need to bring?
- What is the fee — per signature, plus travel?
- Are you a certified loan signing agent, if that is what I need?
- Can you do this remotely, and is that valid for my document?
- How many witnesses do I need to provide?
Warning signs
- Willingness to notarise a document the signer is not present for.
- Advice on what your document should say — notaries are not lawyers, and in many states that is unauthorised practice of law.
- Notarising for a signer who clearly does not understand what they are signing.
- A fee far above the state maximum with no travel breakdown.
Common questions
What do I need to bring to a notary?
Valid government-issued photo identification, the complete document unsigned, and any witnesses the document requires. Do not sign it beforehand — the notary must witness the signature, which is the entire point of the appointment.
Can a notary give me legal advice?
No. A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures; advising on the content of a document is the practice of law, and in most states a notary who is not an attorney cannot do it. Ask a lawyer about what the document means.
How much does a notary cost?
Most states cap the fee per notarial act, and mobile notaries charge a separate travel fee on top, which is not capped the same way. Ask for both figures before booking.
How does Region Beacon work for notaries?
You describe the job once. The first nearby business that takes it gets your details and contacts you; nobody else does. You deal with whoever you pick directly, and you pay them directly — Region Beacon never handles the money and takes no commission, so nothing is added to your price for using it.
How do I know if a notary public's quote is fair?
Get more than one. A single quote tells you what one business charges; three tell you what the job is worth where you live. Ask each for the same scope in writing, and treat a quote far below the others as probably missing something rather than a bargain.
Get quotes from notaries near you
Describe the job once and the first nearby business to take it contacts you. Only that one gets your details, no commission is added, and your details are not sold on to anyone.