Where can a notary perform a notarial act?
Asked by: Elisha Kautzer II | Last update: January 18, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (11 votes)
While the Notary must be physically located in the commissioning state during a remote notarization, in most cases, the signer can be located either inside or outside the state when the remote notarization takes place — or even in a different country!
Where can an Oregon notary perform a notarial act?
While the notary must always be located in Oregon, the signer may be located in a different location in Oregon, in a different state, or beyond the boundaries of the United States.
Can a notary notarize anywhere in the US?
The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
Where does a notary commission allow the notary to perform notarial acts under Colorado law?
You can only perform notarial acts while you and the signer are physically in the state of Colorado.
Where can notaries work?
Job Opportunities for Notaries
Real estate agencies, law offices, banks or credit unions and lending institutions are common places that hire commissioned notaries. But there are other industries — some with remote opportunities — to consider.
How to Complete an Acknowledgment
Where do notaries usually work?
Where Notaries Can Find Work. Notaries have two options when it comes to their place of employment. They may be employed by a bank or local post office, for example, in which their employer requests they get their commission. The other option is to work for themselves.
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.
Where can a notary perform notarial acts?
Most U.S. states and jurisdictions only authorize commissioned Notaries Public or other notarial officers recognized under state law to perform notarial acts within the borders of the commissioning state or jurisdiction.
Are notaries in every state in the US authorized to perform the signature witnessing notarial act?
A signature witnessing is an official notarial act, though it is not allowed in all states. To perform a signature witnessing, the Notary must have the signer personally appear and provide satisfactory proof of identity.
What is the difference between a notary's jurisdiction and the venue for a notarial act?
Venue is the state and county where the notarization took place, in other words, where the signer appeared before the notary. It must be within the jurisdiction of the notary.
Can a notary notarize outside of their county?
Yes, California Notaries have statewide jurisdiction (GC 8200).
What makes a notarized document 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.
Can I be a notary in two states?
A notary must understand which notarial acts are authorized in each jurisdiction. For example, some states (e.g., California) limit notaries to perform only within their home state borders, while others (e.g., Montana) may allow broader authority under certain conditions.
Can a North Carolina notary perform notarial acts in South Carolina?
Your jurisdiction as a North Carolina Notary only authorizes you to perform notarizations within North Carolina.
Can an Arizona notary perform notarial acts?
A notary public witnesses signatures and verifies identities of signers and must be impartial. Every state commissions notaries; however, every state allows notaries to perform different functions. In Arizona, notaries can perform only acknowledgments, jurats, copy certifications, and oaths and affirmations.
Can a CT notary perform notarial acts anywhere in the US?
A Connecticut notary may perform notarial acts anywhere in the United States. 2. A notary's embossing seal is not required by Connecticut state law.
Does it matter what state your notary is in?
Can a Notary Legally Notarize Out-of-State Documents? Yes, a notary public can legally notarize documents from any state as long as the notarial act occurs in the state in which they were commissioned.
Can California notaries notarize remotely?
California notaries public are authorized under current law to perform electronic notarizations as long as all the requirements for a traditional paper-based notarial act are met, including the use of a seal for all but two specific documents used in real estate transactions. California law requires a person to appear ...
Can I notarize for my boyfriend?
Let's look at a few cases from both sides. In California, public notaries are NOT prohibited from notarizing for relatives unless it provides a direct financial or beneficial interest.
Where can I get something signed in front of a notary?
If you need to visit a Notary during regular business hours, you can usually find notarial services at banks, libraries, and mailbox/photocopy shops. Other businesses with Notaries on-site include: FindaNotary.com. AAA and UPS Stores.
What is the most frequently performed notarial act?
Acknowledgement and jurat certificates are the two most common notarial acts, yet, for many signers, there is confusion about the difference between these forms. Some notaries even find it difficult to remember which procedures apply to which certificate.
Can a notary act as a witness in California?
In California, a Notary is not prohibited from acting as a witness on a legal document. Thus, a Notary can also be a witness to the signing of legal documents in the state of California, in addition to providing notary services for that same document.
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.
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.
Can you fold a notarized document?
You can do this by folding or flipping the pages, without removing the staple. When a certified document has been tampered with, the only remedy is to start the entire notarization, county and/or state certification process all over again.