Frequently Asked Questions

A notary public is an official appointed by the state government to witness and certify the signing of legal documents.

Here are examples of commonly notarized documents.  Do you need help with real estate documents? I am a certified loan signing specialist as well. 

• Estate Planning (i.e., Living Trust, Trust Certification, Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Care Directive, Affidavit of Successor Trustee)
• Certified Copies of Power of Attorney
• Requests for Copies of Vital Records (i.e., birth certificate, marriage certificate)
• Fictitious Business Name Statement
• Letter of Authorization to Pull Business Permits
• Real Estate Deeds (i.e., Grant Deed, Quitclaim Deed)
• Real Estate Mortgage Loan Package
• Divorce and Domestic Partnership Dissolution or Termination
• Passport Application for Minor Child
• International Permission to Travel Letter for Minor Child

1. California Notary Acceptable Identification

A California notary public can establish a signer’s identity using the following forms of identification. Keep in mind these forms of identification must either be current or have been issued within the past 5 years.

• An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles
• A United States passport

An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody in California state prison

• Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department, if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility

A California notary public may also rely on any one of the following forms of identification. These forms of ID must include a photograph, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number.

• A valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship, or a valid passport from the applicant’s country of citizenship.
• A driver’s license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses.
• An identification card issued by another state.
• A United States military identification card (caution: current military identification cards might not contain all the required information)
• An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California.
• An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government.