Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mobile notary?

A mobile notary is a commissioned Notary Public who travels to clients rather than working from a fixed location. Instead of you finding a notary and driving to them, I come to your home, office, hospital, or any other location that works for you, at a time that fits your schedule.

Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?

Yes. I'm a California Commissioned Notary Public, bonded through a $15,000 surety bond as required under California law, and I carry Errors & Omissions insurance for additional client protection. Happy to provide documentation on request.

What do I need to bring to the appointment?

The most important thing you need is a government-issued photo ID: a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. The ID should be current (or issued in the past 5 years). You'll also need your document ready. Whether to sign it before I arrive depends on the type of notarization, see the question below about signing beforehand. If your document requires witnesses, let me know when you book so we can sort that out ahead of time rather than at the table.

Do I need to sign the document before the appointment?

It depends on the type of notarization. For a jurat (sworn statement or affidavit), you must sign in my presence. For an acknowledgment, the most common type, you may have already signed the document, but you must personally appear before me and acknowledge that the signature is yours and that you signed it willingly. When in doubt, wait to sign until I arrive and I'll guide you through it.

Do I need to print my documents before you arrive, or can you print them for me?

You're welcome to send your document ahead of time and I can print it before we meet for $1 per page (please allow at least 2 hours notice). If you already have it printed, that works too. Either way, don't sign anything you shouldn't sign yet, see the question above about signing before the appointment.

What forms of ID are acceptable?

California law requires a government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include a California driver's license or ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a foreign passport, or a Tribal ID card. The ID should be current (or issued in the past 5 years). If you're unsure whether your ID will be accepted, contact me before booking.

What if my document is in a foreign language?

I can still notarize a document in a foreign language, as long as the notarial certificate itself is in English (which I'll attach or complete). However, California notaries are not permitted to use a translator or interpreter. The signer has to be able to communicate with me directly in English, without help from a third party. If you're not comfortable communicating in English, I'll refer you to a notary who speaks your language.

How much does it cost?

Your total depends on your location (zone) and the number of signatures being notarized. California caps the notary fee at $15 per notarized signature. Travel is a flat-rate fee based on zone: $45 for Zone 1 (Glendale, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Verdugo City, Tujunga, Sunland, Altadena), $60 for Zone 2, and $75 for Zone 3. Additional surcharges apply for after-hours, rush, or hospital/care facility appointments. See the full pricing page for details.

Is a mobile notary more expensive than going to a bank or shipping store?

The notary fee itself is the same everywhere, California caps it at $15 per signature no matter who performs it. The difference is the travel fee, which covers me coming to you instead of you finding parking, waiting in line, and hoping someone's available. For hospital, care facility, or after-hours situations, going to a bank often isn't an option at all.

What are your hours?

I take appointments seven days a week, 9am to 9pm. Standard-rate hours are Monday through Saturday, 9am to 7pm. A $35 after-hours surcharge applies Monday through Saturday from 7pm to 9pm, and all day Sunday, mornings included. Same-day appointments are available with at least 2 hours notice and carry a $35 rush surcharge. A same-day appointment that falls in an evening or Sunday slot carries both the rush and the after-hours surcharge.

How far in advance do I need to book?

I can typically accommodate same-day appointments with at least 2 hours notice, evenings and Sundays included. For the best availability and to avoid the rush surcharge, booking a day or more in advance is ideal. Contact me and I'll do my best to accommodate your timeline.

Can you come to a hospital or nursing home?

Yes. Hospital and care facility signings are a regular part of what I do. I coordinate with facility access requirements and handle these appointments with the care and sensitivity they call for. A $25 facility surcharge applies. Please note that California law requires me to verify that the signer is aware of what they're signing and is acting of their own free will. I take this responsibility seriously.

Do you notarize living trusts and estate planning documents?

Yes, and it's a large part of what I do. I hold advanced training in the presentation and execution of trust documents (CNTDA), and I come to you to work through the whole package document by document. Trust signings are a regular part of my week in Glendale, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, and the surrounding area, including at hospitals and care facilities. There's a full page on trust signings covering what happens at the appointment, what's usually in the binder, and what it costs.

Does my will get notarized along with my trust?

No, and this one catches a lot of people. A California will is not notarized. Under Probate Code 6110 it needs two witnesses who are present at the same time and who understand the document is a will. Notarizing a will does not validate it and does not substitute for witnesses, and California has no notarized self-proving affidavit the way some other states do. A notarized will with no witnesses can be rejected in probate. The pour-over will in a trust package falls under this rule. I can serve as one of your two witnesses on it, since I'm not notarizing it.

How much does a trust signing cost?

The same a la carte rates as everything else: $15 per notarized signature, which is the California statutory maximum, plus one flat travel fee for your zone. A single person's trust package runs about 6 notarized signatures, so roughly $135 in Zone 1. A couple's package runs about 16, so roughly $285 in Zone 1, $300 in Zone 2, $315 in Zone 3. The per-signature cap rises to $20 statewide on 1/1/2027. Full breakdown on the trust signings page.

How long does a trust signing take?

Plan on about an hour for a single person's package and closer to ninety minutes for a couple's. It's not a good appointment to rush, so I don't book them back to back. If you're arranging this for a parent or someone who tires easily, tell me when you book and we'll pace it accordingly.

Do I need witnesses for my document?

Some documents require witnesses in addition to, or instead of, notarization. California Advance Health Care Directives (AHCDs), for example, require either a notary or two adult witnesses. The witness eligibility rules for AHCDs are specific and detailed under California law. Certain healthcare providers, facility employees, and others are prohibited from serving as witnesses. I strongly recommend reviewing the witness requirements on your specific form or consulting with the person who prepared it before your appointment, because if the wrong witnesses are used the document may not be legally valid. As for me: I don't serve as a witness on a document I'm notarizing, since keeping those two roles separate protects the document. On a document that isn't being notarized, a California pour-over will for example, I can serve as one of your two required witnesses. Tell me when you book and I'll plan for it.

Can you certify copies of a birth certificate, death certificate, or marriage license?

No. California notaries are not permitted to certify copies of vital records. For certified copies of birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage licenses, you'll need to contact the issuing agency, typically the county clerk's office or the California Department of Public Health.

Can you help me fill out or explain my documents?

Not the way you probably mean, and the distinction is worth understanding. A notary public is not an attorney. I can't tell you what your document means for your situation, whether you should sign it, who you should name, or fill in a blank for you, including one I correctly spotted. What I can do is tell you what a kind of document is: an advance health care directive names your health care agent, a pour-over will catches whatever didn't make it into the trust. That's general information about a category of document, not advice about yours. The test I use: if answering would mean reading your document and forming a judgment about it, it's a question for whoever drafted it.

What happens if I can't be at the location on time?

I allow a 20-minute grace period from the scheduled appointment start time. After that, a waiting fee of $2 per minute applies. If you need to reschedule, please let me know as soon as possible so I can adjust my schedule.

Do you offer loan signing services?

Not yet. Loan signings require a separate National Notary Association Signing Agent certification. I plan to add this service once I've completed that certification. In the meantime, I'm happy to refer you to a qualified loan signing agent.

Do you offer Remote Online Notarization (RON)?

Not currently. California has not yet authorized Remote Online Notarization for notaries public, so every notarization I perform is done in person, at your location. If your document requires a physical notary signature and seal, which almost all do, that's exactly what I provide.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cash, Zelle, Venmo, personal checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Payment is due at the time of service. There's no convenience fee for paying by credit card.