Frequently-Asked Questions Regarding Notary Public Services in Virginia

Yes, I do travel to patients and their families at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fair Oaks, Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Reston Hospital Center in Reston, and Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax. I can meet you in your hospital room or in the lobby. Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Reston Hospital Center Inova Schar Cancer Institute

I provide mobile notary services throughout most of Fairfax County, including Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Chantilly, Clifton, Centreville, Dunn Loring, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, McLean, Oakton, North Springfield, Reston, Tysons, and Vienna.

On July 1, 2024, the maximum fee per notarial act a Virginia notary public could charge was increased to $10. The only other fee a Virginia notary may charge is for actual travel expenses if required to travel from home or office. (Code of Virginia)

No, a Virginia notary may not execute what is called a "Copy Certification" of any record that is recorded in a public office. Only the clerk of the court or the county clerk where documents originate can certify this type of copy. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are examples of publicly recorded documents. The Virginia notary cannot certify true copies of any court-issued document. Only the Virginia Department of Health can issue certified copies of these. Visit the Virginia Dept. of Health's Office of Vital Records for more information.

Yes, and there are different ways that the transcript and diploma can get notarized. The important thing is to know exactly what your new school requires. Once we know if it's an original or a copy that is required, we can go from there. We'd need to get an appointment at your high school registrar's office to get them notarized. My recent article, Notarizing your Transcript or Diploma, provides an overview. If you like, I can also process your documents for an Apostille at the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

You may need to get a letter or a contract notarized and there is no notarial block on the document, which would normally appear beneath your signature line and contain the notary's signature, identifying information, and seal. In this case you should ask the receiving agency (the attorney, the title company, or mortgage company) what type of notarization they need--an Acknowledgement or a Jurat. If you created the document yourself, you may choose the type of notarial act at the appointment. An Acknowledgement affirms that the signer signed the document willingly, and if using a Jurat, the signer takes an oath, swearing or affirming to the truthfulness of the document.

A notary public serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. The notary performs a variety of notarial acts, or notarizations, according to their state guidelines, related to the signing of documents. The purpose of these guidelines is to deter against fraud. The notary's most important role is to screen the signer for several things: their true identity, their willingness to sign the document, and their understanding of what they're signing. Some commonly notarized documents are the property deed, last will and testament, and the power of attorney.

Although the notary is not concerned with the contents of the document to be notarized, they are required to visually skim the entire document for several reasons. If the document contains any blanks, they will ask the signer to complete them before signing. All required dates should be filled in as well. If spaces are purposely left blank, the signer should strike out the text with a line or write N/A beside it. What seem like little actions can protect the signer from fraud. The notary must also identify several items to make sure the document is complete--the document's name, its title or general description, names of the signers and/or witnesses, and the total number of pages. These are the items that get recorded in their logbook.

All certified loan signing agents are notaries but not all notaries are certified loan signing agents. Signing agents are trained independent contractors who are hired by lenders and title companies to assist in the final stage of the mortgage process. The signing agent usually prints the loan package for the signer and follows any special instructions given by the lender or title company. Signing agents are trained to guide the borrower through the loan documents at a real estate closing. They briefly present each document and point out the terms of the agreement; however, they may not offer advice or an interpretation of its terms. They witness the signing, give oaths or affirmations when needed, and notarize certain documents in the package. They scan the signed file, email it back to title, and ship documents back via courier.

The document (or your attorney) will tell you if witnesses are required. If they are required, you would find witness signature lines near the testator's signature line. Signing a will: In Virginia, the signing of a will must be witnessed by two competent persons who must sign the will in front of the testator. If you are arranging a signing of a will for your family member, please ensure that the witnesses will be present. Witnesses must be at least 18 years of age, be of sound mind, cannot be named in the documents, and must be a disinterested party. They must also provide their current photo ID. Note that the administration of many assisted living and rehab facilities do not allow their staff members to act as a witness. It is my experience that even if they are allowed, they often do not have the time to spend away from their work, especially if an issue arises for the signer. And no one should be rushed through the signing of their documents.

I can visit any one of the following senior living/assisted living facilities: The Gardens at Fair Oaks / Aarondale Independent Living/Sunrise at Silas Burke House / Sunrise at Reston Town Center / Chesterbrook Residences / Heatherwood Independent Living / Sunrise of McLean Village / Sunrise of Fairfax / Sunrise of Vienna / Sunrise at Hunter Mill / Sunrise at Braddock Glen / Woodleigh Chase Senior Living / The Residence at Colvin Run / Sunrise of McLean / The Providence Fairfax / The Virginian / The Kensington Reston / The Kensington Falls Church /Sunrise at Fair Oaks / Brightview Dulles Corner/ Brightview Senior Living Fair Oaks/ Sunrise of Falls Church / Brightview Senior Living Woodburn / Vinson Hall Retirement Community

A mobile notary travels to the client's location to notarize their legal documents. I am available full-time hours and I travel to the location of your choice because many people have busy lives or are just not mobile themselves. I travel to your home, office, bank, senior living facility, or rehabilitation facility. If needed, I can also schedule evening and weekend appointments.

No, there should not be any blank lines in your documents. A notary may not notarize an incomplete document. It is mainly for the signer's protection that this is so, as signing an incomplete document may facilitate fraud. In several states it is illegal to notarize an incomplete document. It pays to review your document carefully before getting it notarized, as you may have to contact the assigning party if you are unsure about how to complete something. Only when it is complete can you have it notarized.

I have gladly met people at the following locations to sign their documents: their home, office, coffee shops, rehab facilities, assisted living facilities, hospitals, banks, schools, public libraries, title company offices, realtor offices, and at the attorneys' offices.

The elderly signer must have a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If they are no longer driving, having a state-issued ID card is a good idea. Learn about Virginia's DMV Adult ID Card. The signer should have time to review the documents before the notary arrives and may fill in any blanks, except for their signature or initials. They must be alert and aware; they must show an understanding of the purpose and content of the document; they must show they're signing willingly; and they must be able to communicate with the notary in a common language. The notary is not allowed to notarize if a person does not meet these criteria.

Yes, the signer must be alert and aware of the document they're signing. The signer should be able to explain the general purpose of the document and their relationship to the other people in the room. If the notary is not confident that the signer is coherent at the signing table, the notarization cannot take place. Sometimes there is a time of day in which the signer is more alert and coherent, so please consider that when scheduling an appointment.