Can you use a friend as a notary?
Asked by: Annie Kiehn | Last update: September 18, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (39 votes)
A notary public who has a direct or indirect financial (or other beneficial) interest in a document may not notarize such a document. The better practice is not to notarize for a spouse or family member in order to preserve the integrity of the notarization and to prevent a challenge to the notarization.
Can my friend be my notary?
“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.”
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.
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.
What is the Michigan law for notary?
(1) A notary public shall place his or her signature on every record upon which he or she performs a notarial act. The notary public shall sign his or her name exactly as his or her name appears on his or her application for commission as a notary public.
Test With A Friend Tip | BlueNotary
Can you notarize a friend in Michigan?
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.
What disqualifies you from being a notary in Michigan?
Sec. 41. (1) If an individual commissioned as a notary public in this state is convicted of a felony or of a substantially corresponding violation of another state, the secretary shall automatically revoke the notary public commission of that individual on the date that the individual's felony conviction is entered.
Can a notary say no?
Always make sure that you have good cause. You cannot turn down a request simply because of a gut feeling, a nagging suspicion or because you simply “don't like the look” of the signer. Some reasons for refusing are clear cut: Say, for example, the signer asks you to notarize his absent wife's signature.
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.
Who can notarize a letter for you?
- Records clerk.
- Banker.
- Escrow Agent.
- County Clerk.
- Claims Processor.
- Title Clerk.
- Accountant.
- Financial advisor.
What are the downsides of being a notary?
- Steady income can be difficult.
- You could be sued for a lot of money.
- Upstart and upkeep costs can add up.
What makes a notary invalid?
Missing or Incorrect Notary Seal
States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal. Without a proper seal, legal and financial institutions may reject the document.
Does a notary have to read the document they are notarizing?
No, it is not illegal; however, the Notary should not read the documents they notarize because it is unnecessary and could possibly be a violation of the signer's privacy. You may scan over the document to obtain the information you need for your journal entry of the notarization. Confronted with a tricky notarization?
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 get a title notarized?
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.
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.
Can you notarize a signature without the person present?
To notarize a document, the signers must be present at the time of notarization. While you can notarize an acknowledgment document that has been previously signed in some cases, the signer must still be present at the time of notarization to confirm the validity of their signature.
Do both parties have to be at the notary?
Both parties should ideally sign in front of the notary, but separate notarizations can be done.
Does a notarized letter have to be handwritten?
Yes, you may notarize a signature on a document that includes handwritten paragraphs. A document can be typed or handwritten. If the notarial certificate under the signature is not included, be sure to attach a loose certificate chosen by your customer.
Is a document legal if not notarized?
Just like wills, there is generally no requirement that a contract be notarized in order to be legally binding. However, if a party who signed a business agreement decides to dispute that agreement in court, a notarized contract can help a great deal.
When a notary makes a mistake?
Remember, the signer can hold a notary public liable for a mistake in the notarized document. If there is direct wrongdoing in a notarization process, the notary public may be required to cover the damages and penalties. You may not be aware of it, but even a typo in a document notarized can cost you $20,000.
What is the most a Notary can charge in Michigan?
The Michigan law on notarial acts states that a Michigan notary cannot charge more than $10 for each notarial act performed.
How far back does a Notary background check go?
The background check covers 10 years of federal, state, and county records. In some states, the screening only goes back to the last seven years. Records are reported based on the last action taken on a case, such as the end of a probationary period or jail sentence, and not the date of the infraction or crime.
What are the hardest states to become a Notary?
New York. New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission.