Can I notarize for my girlfriend?
Asked by: Daren Pacocha | Last update: January 13, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (62 votes)
A notary public is not permitted to notarize a signature on a document if the signatory is the notary's spouse, son, daughter, mother, or father. Even though some states permit notarization for family members, the practice is highly discouraged regardless due to the potential for a conflict of interest.
Can I notarize something for my girlfriend?
The only time a notary cannot notarize documents is if the person is related by blood or marriage OR the notary or a close blood/marriage family member is a party to/beneficiary of the document. For instance, I could notarize a document for my ex-husband or his father, as long as our kids were not involved.
Can I notarize a document for my boyfriend?
“In California, a notary public is not prohibited from notarizing for relatives or others, unless doing so would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to the notary public. With California's community property law, care should be exercised if notarizing for a spouse or a domestic partner.”
Who am I not allowed to notarize for?
Notary disqualifications
These may include: You are a signer of the document. You are named as a party to the underlying transaction or have a financial or beneficial interest in the transaction. The signer is your spouse, parent or child.
Can you use a friend as a notary?
Many states have notary laws that prohibit notarizing for family members. But, they do not prohibit notarizing for a friend. However, the notary must be neutral and impartial to the transaction to avoid a conflict of interest.
What a Notarization Will Look Like as a Notary
Can two people notarize a document?
If you have a document that requires notarization and needs to be signed by more than one person, you and the other signer(s) can meet with a notary in one of the following ways: In the same meeting on the same device (up to 2 signers) In the same meeting on separate devices. In separate meetings at different times.
Do both parties have to be present to notarize a bill of sale?
In some cases, a notary public can notarize one party's bill of sale signature. This might happen if they're absent but have consented to another individual signing on their behalf. The jurisdiction and circumstances will determine whether both parties must attend a bill of sale notarization.
Can I notarize something for my sister?
In California, notaries are NOT prohibited from notarizing documents for their family members, including spouses, parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives.
Can I notarize for my boyfriend in Florida?
You can notarize a document for anyone EXCEPT your mother, father, son, daughter, spouse or yourself. Also, you may not notarize any documents for which you may have a financial interest or are a party to the underlying document.
Can anyone notarize my document?
Who can notarize a document? The only person who can notarize a document is a notary public. This role is an official position within the state government and notaries public are either appointed, commissioned, or otherwise designated by a high ranking government official such as the governor or secretary of state.
Can I notarize my boyfriend's divorce papers?
Can I notarize my friend's document? No. If a notary public is a party to a transaction, or has a direct or indirect financial (or other beneficial) interest in the transaction, no matter how small, the notary must decline the notarization.
How much does the UPS store charge for notary?
For example, here in California, our UPS store charges $15 per notary signature. Where as other states are lower, sometimes even under $10. However if the notary has to come you or travel for any reason to do the job, the notary can charge whatever traveling fee they would like to on top of the charge per signature.
Are notaries dated?
Without exception, notarial certificates are always dated with the actual date of notarization—the date that the principal signer personally appeared before the notary and the notarization was performed.
How do I notarize without being present?
Today, Remote Online Notarization (RON) allows you to connect virtually with a commissioned notary via a two-way online connection to legally eSign and notarize your documents quickly.
Can you notarize your own marriage?
Even if you don't want a notary public performing the ceremony, you will still need a notary to provide notarization services related to your marriage, such as: Notarizing life documents. Witnessing signatures for the marriage license.
Do both parents need to be present to get a letter notarized?
Everyone that will be signing the document (s) needs to be present in front of the notary in order to have the document (s) notarized. The job of the notary public is to verify that the people signing the document (s) are who they say they are.
Do witnesses need to be present for notary?
Although the principal signer of the document must be present for the performance of the notarial act, the witnesses would not have to be present. There is one thing to check in this case: if the principal signer and witnesses have written the date next to their signatures, these dates should all be the same.
Can two signatures be notarized separately?
You may notarize the signature of one person appearing before you and then the second person can appear before a Notary in their city/state and have their signature notarized. Each Notary will complete notarial wording for the person appearing before them.
Do both parties need to be present for notary in Florida?
The person whose signature is being notarized must personally appear before the notary at the time of the notarization without exception. Rather, this provision is a method by which a document can be recorded in Florida.
Can I notarize for my husband in Texas?
There is no specific prohibition against notarizing a spouse's or relative's signature or notarizing for a spouse's business. However, notarizations should not be performed by a notary public who is a party to the instrument or financially or beneficially interested in the transaction.
Can I notarize for my own business?
As a commissioned notary public, you may perform notarizations for your company if all the proper requirements are met. You may not skip any requirements, and must remain independent in your consideration of the facts and requirements of every notarization.
Can I notarize for my husband in Georgia?
The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility offers helpful guidance on this thorny subject. It urges the Notary to decline to notarize for any family member related by blood, marriage, or adoption in any degree of lineage.
What is the most common mistake made by a notary?
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
Do all parties have to be present for a notarization?
Do all parties have to be present at the same place and time for a document to be notarized? Usually not, but it is best to ask your selected notary regarding the proper procedures in your state.
Do both people have to be present to notarize a title?
Both the seller and the buyer don't have to be present in person during notarization. With remote notarization, a notary agent can take care of the signing through a video conference solution. Some states require only the seller needs to be present during the signing.