Notary Services Q & A
Why Use A Notary Service?
Fraud is a serious concern when executing legal documents, but it can be prevented with the presence of a notary public. A notary ensures that:
- Signatories prove their identities.
- Documents are checked for accuracy and completeness.
- All parties are signing willingly, free from threats or intimidation.
With a mobile notary service, you can save time by having the notary come to you—no need to travel to an off-site location.
What Do I Need Ready for the Notary?
To ensure a smooth notarization process, please have the following prepared:
- Review all documents for correct spelling of names and accurate dates.
- Complete all forms except for notarial wording and signature lines.
- Have a valid form of ID ready at the time of signing.
What Type of Identification Is Acceptable?
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Current Minnesota driver’s license or non-driver’s ID.
- U.S. passport or passport card.
- Inmate identification card (issued by MN Department of Corrections or a sheriff’s department for inmates in local detention facilities).
- Driver’s license or non-driver ID issued by a U.S. state.
- Driver’s license or ID from a foreign country meeting specific criteria.
- U.S. military ID.
- Valid foreign passport.
- Employee ID issued by a Minnesota city, county, or city/county office.
- ID issued by a federally-recognized Native American tribal government.
- Consular ID from the applicant’s country of citizenship meeting specific requirements.
- Oath or affirmation of one or two credible witnesses.
What Is a Notary Public?
A notary public is an official appointed by the state government to act as an impartial witness in verifying the signing of important documents. Notarial acts include:
- Confirming the signer’s identity.
- Ensuring documents are signed willingly and without duress.
- Administering oaths or affirmations for documents that require truthfulness under penalty of perjury.
Notaries are bound by impartiality, meaning they cannot act in cases of personal interest or discriminate against any individual based on race, nationality, religion, or other personal characteristics.
Where Do You Provide Service?
As a mobile notary service, we bring our services to you—whether it’s your home, office, a restaurant, nursing facility, hospital, or correctional building. We primarily serve Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota Counties.
What Types of Notarizations Are There?
Acknowledgments
An acknowledgment ensures the signer is who they claim to be and has signed the document willingly. This is common for deeds, mortgages, and other documents involving valuable assets.
Jurats
A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm the truthfulness of a document’s contents. The signer must sign in the notary’s presence and take an oath or affirmation.
Oaths/Affirmations
In cases where no written document is required, a verbal oath or affirmation can be administered to compel truthfulness.
Copy Certification
A copy certification confirms that a reproduction of a document is a true, accurate copy of the original. Commonly certified documents include diplomas, leases, contracts, and medical records.
What Documents Can’t You Notarize?
We cannot notarize:
- Personal loan closing documents (e.g., personal purchase, sale, or refinancing documents).
- I-9 Forms, which require a certification we are not authorized to sign.
- Signature pages without the accompanying document visible.
- Documents with blank spaces or lines above the signature area.
- Documents with non-standard notary language, such as those from Georgia, Hong Kong, India, or Louisiana, that do not meet Minnesota’s requirements.
Do You Have an Address?
We are a mobile service and do not offer on-site notarization. However, our mailing address is:
7500 York Ave S, Apt 833, Edina, MN 55435
How Long Does a Notarization Take?
Each notarized stamp typically takes 20 minutes including notary log entry time. For each additional signature on a document, assume an additional 5-7 minutes.
Disclaimer
Please contact a licensed attorney for any legal advice or guidance.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 763-358-5259
- Email: mmnmnllc@gmail.com
- Hours:
- Monday–Friday: 9 AM – 7 PM
- Weekends: 1 PM – 7 PM (and by appointment)