What is a Notary Public?

A notary is a sworn public servant who follows strict guidelines in identifying a person.  They serve as an impartial witness in taking acknowledgments, administering oaths, affirmations and performing other acts authorized by California law.  Unless a Notary Public is a licensed attorney, they may not give legal advice.

Certified Notary Signing Agents in California

Administer:

  •   Employer Authentications of Employee IDs
  •   Loan Documents
  •   Refinancing Bank Document
  •   Deeds & Transfers
  •   Trusts & Certification of Trusts
  •   Patriot Act ID Authentication

A Certified Signing Agent is a commissioned Notary Public who has completed training in legal, real estate and loan documents and passed an additional examination administered by an industry-recognized company. A Certified Signing Agent is hired as an independent contractor by a corporation, company, employer, lender, title company, or closing agent to ensure documents are properly executed, notarized, and returned for processing.  People buying or refinancing homes can enjoy the benefits of Certified Signing Agents coming to them, at their convenience, to facilitate the loan signing process. Certified Signing Agents can also administer and complete employment verification documents for hiring new employees, such as I-9 or Patriot Act oaths and authentication of required IDs for USA and California employment.

Acceptable IDs for California Notarizations

California stipulates exactly what types of identification a Notary Public may use to identify a signer.  Effective January 1, 2008, a Notary may rely on any of the following types of identification.

•  U. S. Passport
• Foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• A California driver's license or one issued by another state.
• A Canadian or Mexican driver's license.
• An identification Card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States (the "Common Access Card" (CAC) is not acceptable.
• An inmate identification card (if the inmate is in custody).

Effective January 1, 2008, Personal Knowledge alone is no longer acceptable identification.
 
All identifying documents must include or comply with the following information:

• Current or have been issued within five (5) years
• Contain a photograph
• Contain a physical description
• Must be signed by the person named
• Must have a serial or other identifying number
• If it is a foreign passport, it must be stamped by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Some of the commonly presented but unacceptable sole forms of identification are as follows:

• U.S. Military Common Access Card
• Mexican Matricula Consular Card
• Permanent Resident and Border Crossing Cards (Green Cards).
• Social Security Cards
• Credit Cards with or without photographs
• Temporary Driver's license
• Driver's license without photograph
• Marriage license
• Organization membership cards
• Physician or medical identification cards

If you do not have valid identification as defined by California Civil Code Section 1185, you may be identified by either one or two credible identifying witnesses who must produce acceptable identification.