As everything has resumed after the coronavirus pandemic, people are realizing that they have a lot of paperwork that requires notarization. As well, that notarization can be done quickly with remote online notarization platform BlueNotary. Whether it is a serious illness, real estate, divorce, marriage, or any other life-changing situation, you have to get all the necessary documents notarized. This is where a notary comes into place.
When Do You Require A Notary?
Generally, you will need to find a notary in order to notarize the following legal documents.
- Wills
- Affidavits (see Affiant)
- Mortgage notes
- Business contracts
- Powers of attorney
- Guardianship agreements
- Travel consents for minors
- Advance medical directives
- Any paperwork that your attorney advises you to notarize
Without an official notary seal on the above documents, they would not be considered valid in the eyes of the law. This is why it is vital that you get the documents notarized early on to avoid any inconvenience. You need to search for a notary near me to make sure that you notarize each and every document.
How to Select a Notary Near Me?
When on the lookout for a notary, there are certain things that you have to consider. These include a notary license that has been issued by the state and an official seal. It is crucial that you find a notary who possesses a valid license and meets the requirements set by the notarization board of your state. You would also have to consider the availability and location of your notary. Make sure that you look for one that you can easily reach. Gather more information before you pay the notary a visit such as the fees, if the location is safe, and how long would it take for the notarization to be complete.
Where Can You Find A Notary?
Since notarizes do not have a dedicated office where you can visit them for notarization, you can expect to find a notary at the following places.
1. Bank
The majority of banks provide notarization services. All you have to do is head over to one and request them to provide a notarization service. Banks with a notary near me are common but not at every bank location. Banks provide a secure environment for you to get documents notarized and have branches spread out throughout the city. However, chances are that the service might only be provided to an account holder. Moreover, bank hours tend to be limited and notaries are only available on certain days of the week.
2. Courthouse
The courthouse is another place where you should be able to locate a notary near me. However, it would only be convenient if you are already in a courthouse. Besides, the notary would only be available during certain hours and you have to undergo strict security screening before you can enter the courthouse.
3. Shipping Store
Most stores that provide packaging and shipping services tend to employ a notary. If you have made copies of documents and need to get their notarized mailed, you could simply head to a shipping store. You should be able to find one at a shopping center. But, the notary is likely to be only available for a few hours and you must be prepared to wait in line. Keep in mind that not every store would have a notary.
4. Real Estate Office
Since real estate offices process lots of sales and mortgages contracts, you might be able to find one that has a notary. The notary at the real estate office should be able to notarize all types of documents. Before you make any plans, you should know that real estate offices usually have irregular timings and it might be difficult to get an appointment with the notary.
5. Law Office
Similar to a realtor’s office, most law offices also have to deal with lots of paperwork that requires notarization. The good thing about seeing a notary at a law office is that you can rest assured that he or she is trustworthy. You will need to book an appointment in advance to ensure that you are able to get your documents notarized. However, you must be prepared to bear the high notarization costs.
6. Library
Not many people know that their local library has a notary for limited hours. You must contact the library nearby to find out if they even employ a notary or not.
7. Walk-In Notary
There are also walk-in notaries that might be available in your area. Since notaries do not work as a notary full time, you would have to visit a specific business to avail their service. A walk-in notary does not require an appointment. However, they might only be available for a few hours.
8. Remote Online Notary (best option)
Since most states allow remote only notarization, you can simply opt for a remote online notary to get all of your documents notarized easily from the comfort of your home or on the go. Instead of having to visit a notary, you should be able to avail the service online.
All you need is an internet connection, a device that has a camera, and PDFs of your documents. Therefore, you should be able to use your laptop, tablet, or computer for the notarization. The best part about this option is that remote online notarization is available in a matter of minutes. Besides, the service tends to be a lot more affordable.
Remote Online Notarization Is the Future
Finding a notary near me can be difficult if you’re doing it the traditional way – driving around, waiting in line somewhere. This is why you can turn to Blue Notary to get all your documents notarized. As long as you have an internet connection and a device, you will not need to worry about anything. You can expect to get your documents notarized within minutes.