How to Prepare for Your Notary Appointment

Bring the right ID, leave the document unsigned, gather any required witnesses, and confirm the notarial act with whoever requested it.

Walk into a notary appointment with four things ready. First: a current, government-issued photo ID — driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID. Expired IDs disqualify in most states.

Second: the document, unsigned. If you've already signed, the notary will ask you to re-sign in their presence — bring a clean copy if possible.

Third: any witnesses required by the document type. Real estate deeds in seven states need two witnesses. Wills typically need two. Healthcare directives often need two unrelated witnesses.

Fourth: payment. Most mobile notaries accept card, Venmo, Zelle, or cash. The per-signature fee is capped by state law; the travel fee is set by the notary.