7 Steps to Prepare for Your Notary Appointment - In Person & Online

You have some important documents that need to be notarized. You found a local mobile notary or even an online notary to help you with your documents and now your notary appointment is approaching quickly. Do you have all your ducks in a row to ensure the appointment goes off without a hitch and your documents are executed properly and efficiently? Here are 7 steps to prepare for your notary appointment to make sure your appointment is a success!

Preparing for Your In-Person Notary Appointment

1. Confirm the appointment & location. Mobile notaries like Blue Ink Notary travel to you at your home, office or your favorite coffee shop. Make sure the day, time & location are still good the day before or day of the appointment.

2. Bring a current, government issued photo ID. Acceptable ID's in Pennsylvania include: driver's licenses, non-driver's ID cards, passports or other government IDs that contains a photo or signature, such as your social security card or a military ID. The ID cannot be expired. If we cannot properly ID you, services can be refused!

3. Bring the original, unsigned documents. Part of the notary's role is to witness your signature while insuring that your document is completed, leaving no blank spaces, and that all pages are present. Do not sign or date the document(s) ahead of time - the notarization may not be able to be completed if you do.

4. Bring witnesses if your document(s) require them. Some legal documents like wills and powers of attorney require 2 witnesses in order to be executed properly. If there are witness signature lines on your document, be sure to have witnesses available and ask them to bring their IDs also.

5. Bring supporting paperwork if needed. If you are signing as a power of attorney for someone, be ready to have that POA available to show to the notary. If you are signing on behalf of an entity, such as a business, have proof of that authority.

6. Have payment ready. Blue Ink Notary charges a travel convenience fee for our services plus the state regulated amount of $5 per acknowledgment, affidavit, signature witnessing or copy certification. Make sure to verify the methods of payment the notary you are working with will accept.

7. Be ready to answer some basic questions. Depending on the type of notarization, you may be asked questions such as: whether or not you understand the document, if you are signing the document willingly or if you swear or affirm that the contacts of the document you are signing are true.

   
   

Preparing for Your Online Notary Appointment

1. Confirm the notary is authorized to perform online notarizations. Not all notaries have been approved to perform online notarizations and those who are, must use an approved technology provider. Blue Ink Notary utilizes the Blue Notary platform. The notary should inform you of the steps you'll need to take.

2. Have the right device and be in a quiet & private space. You'll need a smartphone, tablet or computer with a functional, front facing camera & microphone as well as a strong internet connection. Find a well lit, quiet space in your home or office for the online session.

3. Prepare a PDF of the unsigned document. Send the notary a PDF version of the document(s) you need to have notarized ahead of the appointment. The notary will "tag" the document. Tagging is the process of inserting the spaces where you will need to fill in information, check off boxes, sign, date and initial the document during the online session. Do not sign the document with a pen beforehand!

4. Have your government ID ready for on camera inspection & digital verification. Online notarization platforms usually require you to hold up your ID on camera and may run a credential analysis or ask knowledge based authentication (KBA) questions as part of the identity verification process. This is required by law and by the platform.

5. Follow the identity verification process. The platform will guide you through the steps of uploading your ID, allowing credential analysis or answering the KBA questions. Once verified, you will enter the session and you and the notary can sign & notarize the document.

6. Recording & record retention. Pennsylvania requires an audiovisual recording of the notary session. This is handled through the platform and is stored, usually by the notary platform as required by law.

7. Receive your notarized document. Once payment for the notarization has been confirmed, the notary will close out the session and you will have your document within minutes. If payment has not been made, the notary may hold your executed document until payment has been received.

Common Pitfalls & Some Quick Tips

• Expired ID = no notarization. Make sure your ID is current.

• Don't sign early. Sign only when the notary instructs you.

• Know whether witnesses are required. If a document requires witnesses, have them available or ask if the notary can provide. NOTE - there may be an additional fee if the notary provides witnesses.

• Ask about fees up front. State notary fees are regulated but travel, convenience or online platform fees are not. The notary should give you an estimated cost at the time of booking.

• If you need an apostille for international use, plan ahead. The apostille process sometimes requires documents to be notarized, however the filing process for state and federal level will have some lead times. Ask your notary if they provide that service. Blue Ink notary does!

Need a notary in Reading or Berks County and its surrounding areas?

Blue Ink Notary offers friendly, professional mobile and online notary services as well as apostille services to residents and business owners in and around the Greater Reading area. If you want a fast answer about what you need for your specific document, tell us more about the document and whether you prefer in person or online - we'll walk you through the rest.

If you found this information helpful, save this checklist or screenshot it before your appointment - it will help make the process quick and painless. Need help now? Book your appointment online using our booking calendar and we'll come to you or meet you online.

Blue Ink Notary, based in Greater Reading and serving Berks County as well as Lancaster, Montgomery, Chester, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Lebanon counties, has assisted numerous Pennsylvania residents and businesses with their document needs since 2019. I am generally available Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm but am also available for emergency, early morning, evening & weekend appointments to help you with your documents, so contact me any time with questions. 

To discuss your notary & apostille needs:

📲 Call or text 484-509-1405 

📩 Email brian@blueinknotarypa.com

🖥️ Visit online at blueinknotarypa.com and message us in our chat box in the lower right corner of your screen or visit the Contact Us page

🗓️ Book you appointment online Here