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Notarizing Document(s) in  The Commonwealth of Virginia with Elite Documents

In Virginia, a Notary Public is a trusted authority appointed by the Governor and the Secretary of State. A notary’s main duty is to serve as an impartial witness to verify the identity and signature of individuals, administer oaths, and certify documents to ensure their legality and authenticity. This helps prevent fraud and maintains the integrity of legal transactions.

What to Bring to Your Notary Appointment:
  1. The document(s) to be notarized: Ensure the document is complete and ready for signing.
  2. Valid, unexpired government-issued Identification:  includes a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card. Below list of acceptable ID. 
  3. Any required witnesses: If your document requires witnesses, they must also be present with valid ID.
  4. Knowledge of the required certification: Determine if your document needs a Jurat, Acknowledgment, or Certified Copy.
  5. Payment: We accept cash, Venmo, Zelle, and credit cards.
  6. Additional documents (if applicable): If your document references other documents, bring those along for verification.
Instructions:
  1. Do not sign the document(s) beforehand: The notary must witness the signing of the document(s) in person.
  2. All information on the form must be filled out except for the signature: Complete the document in full, leaving only the signature line blank.
  3. Make sure the signer has fully read and understands the document they are about to sign: This ensures the signer is fully informed and ready to proceed with notarization.
  4. Arrive on time: Punctuality ensures your appointment runs smoothly and efficiently. However, just let us know if you are running late so we can accommodate any scheduling. 
  5. Contact us if you have any questions. If unsure, contact us before your appointment to clarify any details.
Acceptable Forms of Identification Must Be Unexpired:
  1. A United States Passport
  2. A United States Passport Card
  3. A Certificate of United States Citizenship
  4. A Certificate of Naturalization
  5. A Foreign Passport
  6. A United States Green Card with Photograph
  7. A State-Issued Driver’s License
  8. A State-Issued Identification Card
  9. A United States Military Identification Card

 

Choose  Your Certification:

A notarial acknowledgment is a formal declaration made by an individual before a notary public, confirming that they signed a document willingly and that their signature is genuine. During this process, the notary verifies the signer’s identity and ensures they understand the document’s contents.

Notarial acknowledgments are commonly used to validate various legal documents such as deeds, contracts, powers of attorney, mortgages, and real estate transactions.

An acknowledgment certificate indicates that the signer:

  • The signer was identified by the notary.
  • The signer either signed the document before appearing before the notary or in the notary’s presence.
  • The signer declared to the notary that the signature on the document was made willingly.

Verbal Ceremony performed:

“Do you acknowledge that you signed this document voluntarily and for the purposes stated therein?”  

Preparing your Document for Notarization:

When preparing a document for notarization, ensure that it includes the necessary notarial language and has enough space for the notary’s stamp and signature. If your document does not contain the required notarial wording or lacks sufficient space, the notary will need to attach a separate notarial certificate to complete the process properly. This step is crucial to ensure the document’s legality and compliance with notarial standards.

Below is a sample of the notarial language you might need:

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Certificate of Acknowledgment:

City/County of_________________
Commonwealth of Virginia


The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me
this ___ day of ___, 20 _____ by _____________________________
                                                        (Name of person seeking acknowledgment)

Notary Public’s signature ________________________                                                Notary Seal 

Notary Public’s Name ________________________
Notary registration number:____________________________
My commission expires: ____________________________

 

A notarial jurat is a statement at the end of a document, signed and sealed by a notary public, confirming that the person who signed the document swore to or affirmed its truthfulness in the notary’s presence.

Notarial jurats are often used in affidavits, depositions, and other legal papers where the signer must declare true information under oath. This adds formal authentication to the documents, ensuring they are legally valid.

For a jurat to be valid:

  • The signer must appear before the notary.
  • The notary must identify the signer.
  • The signer must take an oath or affirmation in the notary’s presence and verbally confirm the document’s truthfulness (silent nods are not sufficient).
  • The document must be signed by the signer in the notary’s presence.

During the verbal ceremony:

  • Oaths are used for those willing to swear on a religious text, asking: “Do you solemnly swear under penalty of perjury that the statements in this document are true and correct to the best of your knowledge?”
  • Affirmations are used for those with objections to oaths due to religious beliefs, asking: “Do you affirm under penalty of perjury that the statements in this document are true and correct to the best of your knowledge?”

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sample Jurat 

City/County of ______________________
Commonwealth of Virginia


The foregoing instrument was subscribed and sworn
before me this ___ day of ___, 20 _____ by_______________________________________
                                                                                                               (name of person seeking jurat)

Notary Public’s signature ________________________                                                Notary Seal 

Notary Public’s Name ________________________
Notary registration number:____________________________
My commission expires: ____________________________

What is a Certified Copy?

A certified copy is a copy of an original document that a notary public confirms as a true and accurate reproduction. This certification is often needed for various legal, business, and personal transactions, such as proving the authenticity of documents for court proceedings, real estate transactions, or international use.

Virginia Notaries and Document Certification

In Virginia, notaries public have specific duties and limitations when it comes to certifying copies of documents:

  1. Personal Knowledge: The notary must have personal knowledge that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This usually means the notary must have compared the copy to the original document.

  2. Allowed Documents: Virginia notaries can certify copies of most documents, but there are some exceptions. Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records (such as birth, death, and marriage certificates) or certain public records (such as court documents). These documents must be certified by the issuing agency.

  3. Proper Procedure: To certify a copy, a Virginia notary must:

    • Compare the copy to the original document.
    • Write a statement on the copy indicating it is a true and accurate reproduction of the original.
    • Sign and seal the document with their official notary stamp.
Steps for Certifying a Copy in Virginia

If you need a Virginia notary to certify a copy of a document, follow these steps:

  1. Present the Original: Bring the original document and the copy you want to be certified to the notary.
  2. Verification: The notary will compare the copy to the original to ensure it is an exact reproduction.
  3. Certification Statement: The notary will write a statement on the copy, such as “I certify that this is a true and correct copy of the original document.”
  4. Signature and Seal: The notary will sign the statement and affix their official notary seal.
Important Considerations
  • Vital Records and Public Documents: As mentioned earlier, Virginia notaries cannot certify copies of vital records or certain public documents. You must obtain certified copies of these documents directly from the issuing agency.
  • International Use: If you need a certified copy for use in another country, additional steps may be required, such as obtaining an Apostille certificate. This process ensures the certified copy is recognized in the foreign country.

—————————————-Notarial Certificate ————————————-

                    Certified Copy of an Original:

City/County of_________________________
Commonwealth of Virginia

I certify this to be a complete, full, true and exact reproduction of the original document.
Certified this_____ day of _____, 20 _____.

Notary Public’s signature ________________________                                                Notary Seal 

Notary Public’s Name ________________________
Notary registration number:____________________________
My commission expires: ____________________________

Norarial Responsibilities and Powers: 

Notary Service Responsibilities

  1. Verification of Signer’s Identity: Notaries verify the identity of the signer to ensure they are who they claim to be.

  2. Recording Identification and Witness Information: Notaries will record the signer’s identification information and any witness information for our notarial record.

  3. Authentication of Signatures: Notaries confirm that signatures on documents are genuine and made voluntarily.

  4. Administering Oaths and Affirmations: Notaries oversee oaths for affidavits and other legal statements, ensuring they are sworn truthfully.

  5. Certifying Documents: Notaries can certify copies of original documents as true copies when required.

  • A Virginia notary may refuse to notarize a document for any reason.
  •  Virginia notaries may notarize powers of attorney and wills.
Book Your Appointment in  3 Easy Steps
  • Understand the service requirements.

    Make sure you have all the necessary documents and identification ready. If you have any questions about what’s required, feel free to reach out to us for clarification. This ensures a smooth and efficient notarization process.

  • Choose Your Booking Date and Pre-Pay for the Notarial Appointment:

    Select a date and time that works best for you from our available slots. Pre-paying secures your appointment, allowing us to allocate the necessary resources and guarantee your preferred time. We accept various payment methods including cash, Venmo, Zelle, and credit cards.

  • Send Us a Text Message with Your Payment Confirmation:

    Once you’ve completed the payment, text us with your confirmation and preferred location for the notarization. If you haven’t chosen a location, we’ll provide a convenient meeting spot for you. This step finalizes your booking and allows us to prepare for your appointment.

Virginia Weekday Mobile Notary

$ 45
  • Mobile fee for Arlington & Alexandria ($35)
  • 1 Notarization ($10)

Additional notarial stamps are $10 each. A surcharge applies for services in  Falls Church, Tysons, McLean, Springfield.

 

Book Appointment

Virginia Weekend & Emergency Mobile Notary

$ 55
  • Mobile fee for Arlington & Alexandria ($45)
  • 1 Notarization ($10)

Additional notarial stamps are $10 each. A surcharge applies for services in  Falls Church, Tysons, McLean, Springfield.

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