Looking For Fee-Free Notary Services? Visit Your Bank

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial top.

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial top.

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial top.

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial top.

Managing Editor, Global Data and Automation for Forbes Advisor. Mitch has more than a decade of experience as personal finance editor, writer and content strategist. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Mitch worked for several sites, including Bankrate, I.

Managing Editor, Global Data and Automation for Forbes Advisor. Mitch has more than a decade of experience as personal finance editor, writer and content strategist. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Mitch worked for several sites, including Bankrate, I.

Managing Editor, Global Data and Automation for Forbes Advisor. Mitch has more than a decade of experience as personal finance editor, writer and content strategist. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Mitch worked for several sites, including Bankrate, I.

Managing Editor, Global Data and Automation for Forbes Advisor. Mitch has more than a decade of experience as personal finance editor, writer and content strategist. Before joining Forbes Advisor, Mitch worked for several sites, including Bankrate, I.

Doug Whiteman is an award-winning journalist with three decades of experience covering personal finance, starting when he was the Washington, D.C.-based consumer news editor and reporter for Associated Press Radio in the 1990s and early 2000s. He's p.

Doug Whiteman is an award-winning journalist with three decades of experience covering personal finance, starting when he was the Washington, D.C.-based consumer news editor and reporter for Associated Press Radio in the 1990s and early 2000s. He's p.

Doug Whiteman is an award-winning journalist with three decades of experience covering personal finance, starting when he was the Washington, D.C.-based consumer news editor and reporter for Associated Press Radio in the 1990s and early 2000s. He's p.

Doug Whiteman is an award-winning journalist with three decades of experience covering personal finance, starting when he was the Washington, D.C.-based consumer news editor and reporter for Associated Press Radio in the 1990s and early 2000s. He's p.

| Personal Finance Editor

Updated: Jul 29, 2021, 7:00am

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Getting a document notarized is a universally accepted method for ensuring its authenticity. The process of notarization requires you to sign the document in the presence of a notary public, a public official appointed by the state government to be an impartial witness.

A notary public can charge any fee up to the maximum allowed by their state. However, many banks offer the perk of fee-free notarization to account holders. If you need notary services, here’s what you should know about notarizing a document at your local bank branch.

What Does a Notary Do and How Does It Work?

The notary public’s job is to make sure that you are who you say you are, not signing under duress and aware of what you are signing. Here’s how the process works:

1. Bring the unsigned document with you to meet the notary public.
2. Present the notary with a photo ID to verify that you are the person required to sign the document.
3. The notary will verify that you understand what you are signing and that you are doing so of your own volition.
4. Once you have been verified, the notary must witness your signing of the document in their presence. If you mistakenly sign it ahead of time, you will need to sign it again in their presence or return with a fresh, unsigned document that you will sign in front of them, depending on the type of notarization you need.
5. The notary will notarize the document with an official stamp and sign and date the document themselves.

Types of Documents You May Need to Notarize

While nearly any kind of document can be notarized, you are most likely to need the services of a notary with the following types of documents:

• Beneficiary designation for a retirement account or insurance policy
• Notice to add or remove a name from a title
• Advanced health directive
• Power of attorney
• Temporary guardianship agreement
• Motor vehicle bill of sale
• Handgun permit
• Promissory note agreement

Types of Notarization

There are several different services a notary public may perform, depending on the type of legal document you are getting notarized:

• Signature witnessing. With this type of notarization, the notary simply certifies that you are who you claim to be and that you signed the document in their presence.
• Acknowledgment. This is for documents that control ownership of a valuable asset, such as a deed, power of attorney or trust document. The notary must positively identify you as the signer and ask you to acknowledge that you are signing willingly and that you understand and intend all the document’s provisions.
• Jurat. This process is necessary for documents required for civil or criminal proceedings in the courts, such as affidavits, depositions and interrogatories. In this case, the notary must witness your signature and will require you to speak an oath aloud promising that the document’s contents are truthful, under penalty of perjury.
• Certified copy. If you need a copy of an original document, such as a college degree or passport, getting the copy notarized means the notary certifies that the reproduction is true, exact and complete.

Fee-Free Notary Services at Your Bank

A common perk of banking with a brick-and-mortar institution is access to a notary public at your local branch. Many banks routinely keep a notary public on staff at most branch locations and offer notarization services fee-free to account holders. Non-customers may also get documents notarized, but they can expect to pay a fee for the service.

However, just because most banks offer this service doesn’t mean you can just walk in and expect to get your documents notarized at will. That’s because banks don’t necessarily have a notary public on staff at every branch. Even if there’s a notary who works at the branch you visit, they may not be on duty at the time you walk in.

If you need notary services from your bank, it’s a good idea to call ahead to find out which branches offer that service and when you can expect the notary to be available to help you. Calling ahead may also help you determine what information and documents you need to bring with you for the type of notarization you need, so you don’t end up having to make two trips.

Your bank may also be able to provide something known as a “Medallion Signature Guarantee,” which can often be mistaken for a notarization. The main difference between these types of document certification is that notarization is generally used for legal documents, while the Medallion Signature Guarantee is used for the transfer or sales of financial securities. A notary public can’t provide a Medallion Signature Guarantee, as they can only be handled by specially authorized bank personnel—although a bank employee could be both a notary public and a Medallion Signature guarantor.

Other Places to Find a Notary

In addition to checking your local bank, there are a number of other places you can find a notary. Generally, businesses that offer financial services, shipping services or title transfers will keep a notary public on staff. Although, just as with banks, you can expect to pay a fee for getting a document notarized if you are not already a customer. Some types of businesses where you may find a notary include:

• Law offices
• Real estate offices
• Tax preparers
• Photocopy shops
• Shipping stores
• Colleges and universities
• Libraries

In addition, both AAA and UPS stores generally offer notary services for a fee.

Finally, it’s also possible to have a notary come to you. Mobile independent notaries are willing to come to your home or office to provide their services, although you can generally expect to pay a higher fee for this convenience. You can find such a mobile notary public by searching national or state notary public databases or via an internet search for notaries near you.

Bottom Line

If you need a document notarized, a good first place to check for notary services is your bank. Not only will accessing this perk through your bank be convenient, but also it will generally be fee-free for account holders. Just make sure you know exactly what you need before seeking out your bank’s notary public, and double check that they will be on site when you plan to stop by. This will help ensure that your document notarization goes smoothly and quickly.