How to Prepare for a Mobile Notary Appointment
A simple checklist that makes any mobile notary appointment fast, calm, and correct the first time.
Most mobile notary appointments take fifteen minutes. The five minutes of preparation you do beforehand is what makes that possible. Here's the short list of what to have ready, and the mistakes that turn a fifteen-minute appointment into a thirty-minute one.
1. Don't sign the document
This is the single most common mistake. Except in narrow situations (an acknowledgment on a previously signed document, for instance), you must sign the document in the notary's presence. If you sign in advance, the notary will ask you to sign again, which usually means reprinting or waiting for a new copy.
2. Have your ID ready
Bring a current, government-issued photo ID:
- Driver's license (any state)
- State ID card
- U.S. passport
- Military ID
Expired IDs are not acceptable in Virginia. If your ID has expired, you may need to bring credible identifying witnesses instead, call ahead so we can walk you through it.
3. Complete the document
Fill out every field that requires your information before the appointment. The notary is not allowed to fill in substantive content on your behalf, and blank fields can slow the signing down or invalidate the document.
4. Confirm any witness requirements
Certain documents (some wills, some POAs, advance directives) need one or two disinterested witnesses in addition to the notary. Ask the person who drafted the document, or ask us in advance. Witnesses generally must:
- Be adults
- Not benefit from the document
- Not be related to the signer or beneficiary
If you can't find witnesses, we can often help.
5. Pick a calm meeting spot
The notary needs a quiet, well-lit spot where you can concentrate. Kitchen tables, home offices, and meeting rooms all work great. Loud coffee shops in the middle of a lunch rush are the tougher end of the spectrum.
6. Send the document ahead of time
Emailing the unsigned document ahead of time lets us confirm what's being notarized, whether witnesses are needed, and which notarial certificate is required. It saves surprises at the table.
7. Be ready to answer a few short questions
Before completing the notarization, the notary will confirm:
- That you are who you say you are
- That you understand what you are signing
- That you are signing willingly
These are not tests. They are the legal core of a notarial act.
That's it
Bring a working pen. Bring a valid ID. Bring the unsigned document. That's the entire list. Everything else is our job.
Ready when you are
Need a notary? We're one appointment away.
Mobile across Hampton Roads. Online nationwide. Available 24/7 by appointment.