Questions I get asked most
If yours is not here, call and ask — I would rather answer it now than discover it at the table.
What ID do I need?
A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state ID card, passport, military ID, or permanent resident card. It has to be current: an ID that expired last month is not acceptable, even if the photo is obviously you. The name on it must also reasonably match the name on your document.
Should I sign the document before you arrive?
No — please leave it unsigned. A notary has to witness the signature being made. If a document arrives already signed, the only fix is signing a fresh copy, which means a reprint and sometimes a second trip.
How much does it cost?
Two parts, and they are kept separate because California requires it. The notarial fee is capped by state law at $15 per signature. Travel is $50 across central San Diego and $80 elsewhere within 15 miles, with a +$25 surcharge evenings after 7pm, weekends and holidays. Every figure is published on the pricing page, and you get the total before anything is scheduled.
Can you tell me what this document means?
No, and be wary of any notary who offers to. A notary public is not an attorney. Explaining the legal effect of a document, recommending which form to use, or advising you on whether to sign is the practice of law. What I can do is confirm identity, witness the signature, and complete the notarial certificate correctly.
Do you provide witnesses?
The notary cannot serve as a witness on a document they are notarizing. Some documents require one or two additional witnesses, so plan to have a neighbor, coworker, or friend available who is not named in the document and has no interest in it. Tell me in advance if you need help arranging this.
What if the signer is in a hospital or care facility?
That is a routine part of the work. The requirement is unchanged: the signer must be able to communicate their intent, understand that they are signing, and do so willingly. If someone is heavily sedated, disoriented, or clearly being pressured, I have to decline — and that protects them, not inconveniences them.
Can you notarize a document for another state?
Yes. A California notary can notarize a document destined for anywhere, as long as the signing physically happens in California. The reverse is not true — I cannot travel across a state line to notarize.
How quickly can you come out?
Same-day is often possible, and after-hours signings are available on request. The honest answer depends on the day — call and you will get a real time, not a maybe.
What forms of payment do you take?
Credit and debit cards, Venmo, Apple Pay — taken at the appointment. Title companies and signing services are invoiced on their usual terms. I do not take cash or personal checks.
What if the signing has to be stopped?
It happens — an expired ID, a missing page, a signer who changes their mind. If I cannot complete the notarization, you owe the travel fee only, never the notarial fee. And I will tell you exactly what to fix so the second attempt works.
Still stuck on something?
A two-minute phone call usually sorts it out.