imported post
skidmark wrote:
Do NOT sign the application until you are in the presence of the person who will be notarizing your signature. Grapeshot was close when he said Clerks prefer a "wet" signature - meaning one done in their presence. If you sign the application before you get to the Notary you will have to do it all over again.
You do not have to get your signature notarized by someone in the Clerk of the Court's office. You can find Notaries in lots of places - your bank or credit union, any office of AAA (don't even have to be a member), even some real estate offices.
It is not necessary to tell them what the document is - just tell them that you need your signature notarized. They will ask you for a government-issued photo ID (driver's license is most usually preferred, next is military ID) and will record the data in their notary log. They do not have to add any stamped info, nor do they need an embossed seal - just fill in the lines already printed on the form.
Sorry to be technical and long-winded, but I want to get as much use as I can out ofthe $25.00 I paid to become a Notary.
stay safe.
skidmark
With all due respect, Skidmark ismistaken on several matters regarding current Virginia notary law. Most importantly, a seal or stamp is absolutely required in Virginia on all documents or the document has not been duly notarized.
As a note, the fee to become a notary is now $55 - $45 upfront and then $10 to the clerk of the court. Notary licensesare good for four years.
Skidmark is correct that you should only sign the document in front of the notary. However, it not correct to say that you will "have" to re-do the form if you sign in advance. If you forget or accidently sign it in advance, then your document still
can be notarized if you either re-sign underneath your signature or sign over your signature in the presence of the notary (althoughmany notaries may choose to require you to have a fresh form - but not me).
Also, toa limitedextent the notary makes the determination what documents will satisfyhim orherof your identity (although there is great risk in accepting anything other than a valid, state or federallyissued, unexpired, pictureID with an individualized number and an issue and expiration date on it).I will usually only take an unexpireddrivers license, state id card or US passport (although Ihave made exceptions). At my company, as a matter of corporate policy, we generally will not take military ID's from one particular branch of the military for any purpose, asthis onebranch of the military does not provide the informationtypically required to consider an identification valid (a signature, an individualized identification #, an issue date, an expiration date, a color photograph).
Also, technically an ID is not requiredfor a notary to notarize a document, although 99.9% of the time you will have to show ID (although not if you are personally known to the notary)
Also, some notaries (like me) do not record the documents they notarize in a log, although it is considered the "best practice" to do so.