Do I Need an Appointment for Notary?

Not always in the way people think.

At A1 Mobile Notary, we do not operate as a traditional walk-in office where customers line up at a front desk. However, that does not mean you have to wait days for a notary appointment. Often, we can meet right away, within a few minutes, within the hour, and almost always the same day.

During our normal business hours, we make every effort to be available when customers need us. Many people call because they need something notarized now, and in many situations, we are able to help quickly.

The main thing that determines whether we can complete the appointment right away is not only our availability. It also depends on whether your document, signer, identification, witnesses, and location are ready.

A mobile notary appointment can often be fast, convenient, and same-day, but it still has to be done correctly.

Can I Get a Notary Appointment Today?

Many times, yes. Same-day notary appointments are often available, especially if you already have your document, the signer is available, and the basic requirements are in place.

When someone calls or texts and asks, “Can you notarize this today?” the first answer is usually, “What type of document do you need notarized and where are you located?”

Before we can say yes, we need to know:

• What type of document needs to be notarized
• What city you are located in
• Whether all signing parties are available (this is not always a requirement; we just need to know prior to the appointment.)
• Whether the signer can appear in front of the notary
• Whether the signer has identification and what type of Identification they have
• Whether the name on the ID matches the name on the document
• Whether the document requires witnesses
• Whether the document is already prepared
• Whether you need a document prepared
• Whether all signers can speak and read English without using a translator, friend, family member, or app
• Whether all signers can communicate directly with the notary

That information helps us determine whether the appointment can be completed today, whether something needs to be corrected first, or whether a different solution may be needed.

Why a Notary Appointment Is Not Just About Availability

A common mistake people make is thinking, “I just need a stamp.”

That is not how notarization works.

A notary is not just stamping paper. The signer must appear before the notary, the signer must be properly identified, and the notary must be able to communicate directly with the signer. Depending on the document, there may also be witnesses, special wording, or other requirements. The Signer may be swearing or affirming that the information on the document is true incorrect.

Even if we are available immediately, the appointment may not be completed if the legal requirements are not met.

Common Reasons a Notary Appointment Cannot Be Completed Right Away

One of the biggest problems is when a customer comes to an appointment with a document that has already been signed by another person who is not present, and that person’s signature also requires notarization.

For example, someone may say:

“My husband already signed this. I have a copy of his ID. Can you notarize his signature?”

No. If we are notarizing that person’s signature, that person must appear in front of the notary. A copy of an ID is not a substitute for the signer being present.

There are some situations where a person may sign in front of two witnesses, and then the witnesses appear before the notary to sign a witness statement. However, that is only acceptable in very specific situations. It is not a general workaround for every document.  Please do not assume you can use witnesses and them make an appointment to get your document notarized.  Contact us before hand, we will review your specific situation and if your document does meet those requirements, we will walk you through step by step what is required when the witnesses and the signer are together.

Other issues that can delay or stop an appointment include:

• The signer is not present
• The document was signed too early
• The signer only sent a copy of their ID and they are not present
• The signer does not have proper identification
• The name on the ID does not match the document
• Required witnesses are not present with ID
• The document is not printed
• The signer cannot communicate directly with the notary
• A translator, phone app, friend, or family member is being used instead of proper communication
• The signer does not understand what they are signing
• The wrong document was prepared
• The parties are in different places and no plan was made for separate signing

If a signer does not speak or read English, or cannot communicate directly with the notary, that needs to be discussed before the appointment. In some situations, a professional translator may be required. A phone app, friend, or family member is not an acceptable substitute for direct communication with the notary.

We do have a ATA-member translator that we work with and can make an appointment with if it is required.  This must be scheduled in consideration of his schedule also.  There is an additional fee for his translation services.

If the parties are in different places, tell us before the appointment. In many situations, we may be able to work around that with the correct forms or signing plan, but it needs to be handled before anyone signs.

Do All Signers Have to Be in the Same Place?

Not always.

Many people assume that if two or more people need to sign one document, everyone must be in the same room at the same time. Sometimes that is true. Sometimes it is not.

Each document is different.

In many situations, special forms can be prepared that allow two or more people to sign at different times. They may even be able to sign in front of different notaries, in different cities, or in different states.

This is one reason it is important to explain the situation before the appointment. If the parties are not together, there may still be a way to handle it properly. But that needs to be addressed before everyone meets for the appointment.

What Types of Documents Usually Need Fast Notary Appointments?

The most common urgent notary appointments we see are for:

• Vehicle titles
• Powers of attorney
• Affidavits

These are often time-sensitive.

Someone may be selling a vehicle, meeting a buyer from out of town, trying to help a family member, or needing an affidavit completed quickly. Same-day appointments are often possible, but the details matter. We can often meet right away, within a few hours, or almost always the same-day.

Where Mobile Notary Appointments Can Take Place

We meet at many convenient locations, including most:

• Businesses
• Offices
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• The jail
• Coffee shops
• Copy shops
• Libraries
• Other public meeting locations

If someone has difficulty getting around, we may still be able to help find a solution depending on the situation. For example, the appointment may be arranged at a public location close to the signer, at a medical facility, or at another acceptable meeting place. We may be able to meet when you are getting that individual out for a doctors appointment or something similar and we may be able to stand at the vehicle window while the signer remains in the vehicle.  Please contact us for the possible solutions.

How to Help the Appointment Go Smoothly

The best thing you can do is give the notary complete information up front.

Before the appointment, be ready to explain:

• What kind of document you need notarized
• Whether you already have the document
• Whether you need a document prepared
• Who needs to sign
• Whether everyone is available
• Where each signer is located
• Whether each signer has identification
• Whether the names on the IDs match the names on the document
• Whether witnesses are required
• Whether the signer can communicate directly with the notary
• Whether the document has already been signed

Do not wait until the notary arrives to mention an issue. The more information we have before the appointment, the better we can guide you.

Are There “Wasted Appointments”?

From the customer’s point of view, it may feel like a wasted trip if the notarization cannot be completed.

From a notary’s point of view, the appointment still took time, travel, scheduling, review, and professional judgment.

Our policy is that we charge for the appointment whether or not the notarization can be completed. We review that policy with the customer before the appointment.

That is one of the reasons we ask a lot of questions before scheduling. It may feel like “20 questions,” but the purpose is to protect the customer from paying for an appointment that cannot be completed. We would rather find out ahead of time if there is a problem with the document, ID, witnesses, signer availability, language, or signing requirements.

This is why it is important to answer the pre-appointment questions honestly and completely before we meet. If something is missing or incorrect, it is better to know that before the appointment instead of after everyone arrives.

What to Do If You Need a Notary Today

If you need a notary today, call or text with the basic information.

Start with:

• What you need notarized
• Where you are located
• Whether you already have the document or need it prepared
• Whether all signers are available
• Whether anyone has already signed
• Whether witnesses are needed
• Whether anyone needs help understanding or communicating in English

From there, we will ask any additional questions needed for your specific situation and guide you through the next step.

Often we can meet right away, within a few hours, or almost always the same-day.

Final Answer: Do You Need an Appointment for Notary?

Edit: I don’t want the answer here to immediately be “yes”. I want a did response so that the person understands that we may be able to meet right away, in a few hours, or almost always the same day.  What answer would catch the eye? And still hit when someone is searching for a notary that doesn’t need an appointment? Maybe something like “No, not always… sometimes….

Yes, most notary services require an appointment, especially with a mobile notary.

But an appointment does not always mean waiting. At A1 Mobile Notary, same-day appointments are often available, and many times we can meet right away or within a few minutes.

The fastest appointment is the one where the signer, document, ID, witnesses(if required)  are ready before the notary arrives.

Call or text with the basic information about what you need notarized and where you are located. We will guide you from there.