A Little Preparation Makes Your Appointment Easier
Review the seven simple steps, acceptable identification, and mobile travel fees before we meet.
At East Bay Notary Express, Mobile Notary & Apostille, we want your notary appointment to be smooth, convenient, and well organized.
Before we meet, please take a few minutes to review this checklist. Having your identification, documents, and appointment details ready can help make the notarization process easier for everyone.
Each signer should bring an original, physical identification document that meets California notary requirements.
Common examples include a California driver’s license, California ID card, or U.S. passport.
Not sure whether your ID qualifies? Please contact us before your appointment.
Please have your complete documents ready, including all pages and any instructions provided by your requesting agency, attorney, or document preparer.
Complete the information you are responsible for providing, as directed by your document preparer or receiving agency. Leave any required notarial certificate for the notary to complete.
California notaries cannot notarize documents that are clearly incomplete.
If you’re unsure how to complete a section, please contact your attorney or document preparer before your appointment.
Some documents require signing in front of the notary, while others may be signed beforehand.
If you’re unsure, please wait until your appointment before signing.
For example, a jurat requires signing in the notary’s presence, while an acknowledgment may involve a document signed earlier.
Please confirm the required notarial act with your receiving agency, attorney, or document preparer.
Every person whose signature will be notarized must personally appear before the notary.
Please make sure all signers are available at the scheduled appointment time and able to communicate directly with the notary for the required notarial act.
Some documents may require signing witnesses in addition to notarization.
Please confirm the number of witnesses and any applicable qualifications with your attorney, receiving agency, or document preparer.
Signing witnesses are different from credible witnesses used to establish a signer’s identity.
Let us know in advance if you need to discuss witness availability.
Please plan enough uninterrupted time to review identification, complete the notarial process, and sign the required documents.
A comfortable meeting location with a clear writing surface is helpful.
For longer appointments involving multiple documents or signers, please allow additional time.
Before your appointment, please double-check your meeting time, address, access instructions, and quoted fees.
If anything changes or you’re unsure about identification, documents, or appointment arrangements, we’re happy to help.
California notaries must establish each signer’s identity using satisfactory evidence permitted by California law.
Below is a comprehensive list of identification documents recognized under the California Notary Public Handbook.
The following identification documents may be accepted if they are current or were issued within the past five years:
These are the most common identification documents our clients bring to notary appointments.
California also permits the following identification documents if they meet the applicable requirements.
These IDs must be current or issued within the past five years and must contain all four of the following:
Qualifying identification documents include:
Important note about military IDs: Some current U.S. military identification cards do not display all the information California law requires. If you plan to use a military ID, please contact us before your appointment.
California law also recognizes certain inmate identification documents under specific circumstances.
The following may be accepted if current or issued within the past five years:
These identification options apply only under the specified custody conditions.
Photographs, photocopies, and digital images of identification are not substitutes for the required physical identification documents.
Not always. California permits qualifying identification documents that are current or were issued within the past five years, subject to the specific requirements for each type of identification.
Certain identification documents, including foreign passports and consular IDs, must also satisfy applicable validity requirements.
If your ID has expired or you’re unsure whether it qualifies, please contact us before your appointment.
A U.S. Permanent Resident Card is not listed as an acceptable standalone identification document under California Civil Code Section 1185.
California law also permits identification through qualified credible witnesses when specific legal conditions are met.
Depending on the circumstances, this may involve one credible witness personally known to the notary or two qualifying credible witnesses whose identities are established through acceptable identification.
Credible witnesses must satisfy California’s requirements. This alternative is not automatically available in every situation.
Please contact us before your appointment if you need to discuss whether credible-witness identification may be available.
For official identification requirements, please refer to the California Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook.
The signing procedure depends on the type of notarial act requested.
For an acknowledgment, a document may already be signed before the notary appointment.
However, the signer must personally appear before the notary, establish their identity, and acknowledge executing the document.
For a jurat, the signer must:
If your document does not specify the required notarial act, please confirm with your attorney, document preparer, or receiving agency.
We can explain the general differences between authorized notarial acts but cannot select the required act or provide legal advice.
When in doubt, wait to sign until your appointment.
Our standard California notarial fees are:
Acknowledgment: $15 per notarized signature.
Jurat: $15 for administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat.
Certain other notarial acts have different statutory fees, and fee exemptions apply to specific services.
Our standard mobile travel fee is $30 for general notary appointments in:
Mobile notary appointments in surrounding East Bay communities may also be available. Please contact us for a travel quote.
Travel fees are separate from notarial fees. We confirm applicable charges before your appointment.
Apostille, estate planning, document courier, and other services may have different pricing and pickup or delivery arrangements.
Open Daily: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Evening and weekend appointments are available, subject to scheduling.
We are happy to accommodate urgent appointments whenever possible.
We’re Here to Help You Prepare
Thank you for choosing East Bay Notary Express!
We understand that important documents often come with questions. Whether you need clarification about acceptable identification, appointment arrangements, or the notarization process, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to meeting you and making your appointment as convenient as possible.
East Bay Notary Express, Mobile Notary & Apostille
Serving Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, Concord, Bay Point, Discovery Bay, and surrounding East Bay communities.
California Apostille & Document Authentication Services
Estate Planning Notary Services
Disclaimer: East Bay Notary Express is not a law firm. We are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, draft or select legal documents, or determine which notarial act is required for your circumstances. Please consult your attorney, document preparer, or receiving agency regarding document-specific requirements.
