Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Notary Public?

A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by state government —typically by the secretary of state — to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents.

What is a Mobile Notary?

A Mobile Notary is a Notary who travels to your location to perform the notarization.

What is a Notarization?

Notarization is the official process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic, and can be trusted. Notarization is performed by an impartial Notary Public, appointed by the Secretary of State (in California), certifying that a document is authentic, that its signature is genuine. Note that a Notary cannot provide legal advice, verify the accuracy or validity of the document.

  • A notary will complete a certificate that confirms necessary information about the signer and the document, this constitutes a notarization.  A Notary doesn’t verify the accuracy or validity of any document. 

  • Current and valid identification is a must for any notarization that requires verification of a signature. The ID presented must cover the name printed on the signature line of the document. These are the types of identification accepted by the state of California:

Proper Identification / ID (Non-Expired*)

  • California Drivers License or ID card.

  • A U.S. State Department issued U.S. Passport

  • Drivers License or ID card issued by another state.

  • U.S. Military identification

  • Foreign Passport

  • California state, County, or City Id card (with photo, serial number, signature, and or issue/expiration date.)

  • A Consular card: must have a physical description, photo, signature, serial #.

  • Federally recognized Tribal ID card: must have a physical description, photo, signature, serial#.

  • Inmate ID card or wristband for incarcerated signers.

NOTE: All of the above ID cards must be either current or issued within the last 5 years. They are the only CA approved forms of ID.

What if I don’t have a proper form of identification?

If you are not able to provide those forms of ID you may be identified on the oath or affirmation of credible identifying witnesses who have their own proper ID. Credible identifying witnesses must have personal knowledge of your identity, believe it is not reasonable for you to obtain the proper ID, they cannot have any financial interest in the document being signed, they should be honest and aware.

Which notary act is right for me?

Sometimes the notarial wording isn’t printed on the document you need notarized. Such as handwritten or private documents. In this case, the signer should ask the receiving agency what type of notarization they need. The signer may also seek the advice of an attorney or make the choice themselves. (For signatures the choices are an Acknowledgement, which proves that you signed the document, or a Jurat the signer swears or affirms what they signed is true.)

Types of Notarization

  • Acknowledgement: The identified signer personally appears before the Notary, signs the document or acknowledged that he or she signed the document.

  • Proof of Execution by Subscribing witness: An individual vouches before a Notary that he or she witnessed the principal signer of a document signed the document.  They must appear with one credible witness who has valid ID, and who the notary personally knows in front of the notary.

  • Jurat: The identified signer personally appears before the notary, signs in the presence of the notary and is administered an oath or affirmation declaring the truthfulness of the document.

  • Oath/Affirmation: Spoken promises of truthfulness made in the presence of the Notary (e.g., Oath of Office, witness for testimony, depositions).

  • Copy Certification: Notary certifies a copy is an accurate reproduction of the original.

What if the signer is too frail or ill to sign his/her name?

In those cases where the signer is mentally competent to sign , but too physically frail or ill to sign for his/herself, there is a procedure in place called “signature by mark”. The protocol calls for 2 witnesses. The signer makes a mark, frequently an “X” which is witnessed by the 2 witnesses. There is a form the notary can provide which one of the witnesses fill out that and both witnesses sign it. The procedure essentially converts the “X” into a legal signature for the purposes of that particular document.

Pledge of Ethical Practice

I am not an attorney, and therefore, by law I cannot explain or interpret the contents of any document for you, instruct you on how to complete any document, or direct you on the advisability of signing a particular document. By doing so I would be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law and could face legal penalties that include the possibility of incarceration. Any important questions about your document should be addressed to the receiving/issuing agency or an attorney.

Privacy Policy
South Bay Notary ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our online scheduling services for notary appointments.
By using our Services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information:
a. Personal Information
 When you schedule an appointment, we may collect:
  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Address (if applicable)
  • Identification information (type, ID number, issuing authority, etc.)
  • Details about the document(s) to be notarized
b. Payment Information
 If you pay online, your payment details (e.g., credit/debit card info) are processed securely by our third-party payment processor. We do not store payment information on our servers.
c. Technical Information
 We may automatically collect data such as:
  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device information
  • Pages visited and time spent on the website
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use your information to:
  • Schedule and manage notary appointments
  • Verify your identity for notarial purposes
  • Send appointment confirmations, reminders, and updates
  • Respond to inquiries and provide customer support
  • Process payments and issue receipts
  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Improve our website and services
3. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:
  • Licensed notaries affiliated with our service
  • Payment processors to complete transactions
  • Service providers who assist with website hosting, communications, and support
  • Legal authorities if required by law or in connection with legal proceedings
4. Data Security
We use industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.