Where to get a notarized letter

Where to get a notarized letter?

If you do need to get a letter notarized, that question is likely at the front of your mind.

A notarized letter is a document that’s been signed and verified by a notary.

That’s a person who’s authorized to witness the signing of important documents and to administer oaths.

Personal notarized letters are often used for legal or financial purposes.

So, verifying the identity of the person signing the letter and ensuring that the letter’s contents are accurate is an important role.

We’re going to go over what a notarized document is, who can notarize a document, and the different types of notarization.

We’ll also provide some tips on where to get a letter notarized quickly and remotely, so you can get your documents notarized without any hassle.

What is a notarized document?

A notarized document is a document that a notary public has signed.

The notary will ask the person signing the document (the "principal") to provide identification. They’ll then authenticate the identification.

They’ll also ask them to swear or affirm that the information contained in the document is true and accurate.

The notary will then sign and stamp the document, showing that they’ve witnessed the signing of documents and verified the identity of the principal.

Notarized documents are often used to provide legal or financial protections.

For example, a personal notarized letter may be required as proof of identity for your driver’s license.

Notarized documents can also confirm the contents of legal documents like a real estate contract or loan agreement.

In some cases, a notarized document may be necessary to qualify for certain benefits or to complete transactions.

So, what documents need to be notarized, you ask?

There are many types of documents you might need notarized, but these are some of the most common documents for notary services to deal with:

Financial documents, like loan or mortgage agreements.
Business documents, such as supplier contracts or articles of incorporation.
Legal documents, including wills, executorships, and power of attorney.

Who can notarize a document?

For a document to be notarized, you need the services of a notary public.

Notaries public are typically commissioned by the state in which they practice.

In order to become a notary, an individual must meet certain requirements.

These are typically things like being a legal adult and having a clean criminal record.

Notaries are trained to verify the identity of the person signing a document and to ensure that the document is being signed willingly and voluntarily.

A notary is considered an impartial witness.

That means they should have no bias toward any signing party. In the US, notaries are authorized by the department of state on behalf of the state government.

Types of notarization

There are four main types of notarization that represent different parts of the process.

As a quick summary, that’s:

Acknowledgement
Jurat
Affirmation
Certified copy

Any notarization will include some or all of these four parts. Let’s look at what they mean in a bit more detail:

Acknowledgment

This is a formal declaration made by the principal in the presence of a notary.

It confirms that the document is being signed willingly and voluntarily.

Jurat

The Jurat is the notary’s statement certifying that a document has been signed in their presence.

It also confirms that they have verified the identity of the signer.

Affirmation/Oath

These are legally the same but there is a key difference.

An oath asks you to swear that your words are accurate before a higher power.

In the US, we typically swear oaths on the Bible.

However, if a principal objects to an oath on religious grounds then they would make an affirmation instead.

Certified copy

This is a copy of an original signed document that has been certified by a notary.

This confirms that the copy is accurate to the original document.

Where to get a letter notarized for free

One of the most common questions we get about notarization is “Where can I get something notarized for free?” Here are some options for free (or inexpensive) notarization:

Your bank or credit union: Many banks and credit unions offer notary services for free to their customers.
The post office: Some post offices offer notary services, but it usually involves a small fee.
Your state’s secretary of state office: Some states offer notary services at their secretary of state office for free or for a small fee.

Where to get letters notarized remotely

If you can’t access a notary in person, or you want to save time on notarization, there are a few options for remote notarization:

Online notarization

Some states allow you to notarize documents online using video conferencing software.

You’ll need to use a state-authorized remote online notary (RON) service.

Alternatively, PandaDoc’s all-in-one platform lets you create, edit, and eSign documents, and has a state-approved RON service built-in.

In fact, it’s the only platform that lets you do all those things in one.

Mobile notarization

In some cases, a remote notary may be able to come to you to notarize your documents.

This can be an expensive service, but it can be useful if you’re unable to leave your home or office and can’t send documents online.

Mail-in notarization

Some notaries may be willing to notarize documents that are mailed to them.

This can be a convenient option, but it is important to carefully follow the notary’s instructions for authentication.

Make sure to use a secure and trackable shipping method.

This ensures that your documents are not lost or damaged in the mail.

Notarize your letters with ease

With a little planning and some careful research, you can easily get your letters notarized without any hassle.

On balance, online or mobile notarization are the best options to get your documents notarized quickly and efficiently.

If budget is a concern, free services are available, though they can be less efficient.

Either way, be sure to have proper identification, follow the notary’s instructions, and keep a copy of your notarized documents for your records.

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