What steps are taken to notarize a document?

The following steps for notarization are defined by the state and not by Bank of America. The Notary will: 1. Require the signer to be present in person, 2. Examine the document, 3. Positively identify the signer, 4. Perform the verbal confirmation, 5. Complete the notarial certificate and 6. Record the notarial act in their journal (as required by the state)

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Q: What reasons might prevent a Notary from notarizing my document?

A Notary may be unable to complete a notarization when: The signer is not present in front of the Notary, A document has missing pages or blank spaces that affect the intent of the document, The signer cannot produce ID or is not known personally by the Notary (California Notaries are required to obtain ID in all cases), The Notary believes changes to the document may be made after it has been signed, There is no notarial certificate on the document and the signer cannot tell which notarial act is required, The signer and the Notary are not able to communicate with each other, The Notary suspects the transaction is illegal, deceptive or false, The Notary believes the signer does not understand the purpose or consequences of signing. For certain requests that involve complex rules or unfamiliar notarial types, or due to other work obligations, the Notary may recommend that you obtain further consultation with other notary service providers.

Q: Should I sign the document being notarized before I visit a Notary?

No. We recommend you don’t sign any documents before seeing the Notary, since some documents must be logged in the presence of a Notary.

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Available at no cost in many of our financial centers

A notarization is generally an assurance made by a Notary Public that a document's signature is genuine, that the signer acted without duress and that the signer intended the terms of the document to be in full force and effect.

Most requests for notarization involve the signing of documents. In all cases, all signers and any required witness(es) must be present for the notarization. You'll need to bring acceptable ID as required by your state along with all pages of the document being notarized.

Before you schedule your financial center appointment

We suggest you don't sign or date the document (some documents must be signed and dated in the presence of a Notary)
Make sure you have all the pages of the document(s) being signed, not just the signature page
Make sure all document signers have state-acceptable ID

When you (as well as any additional document signers and required witnesses) arrive at your appointment, the Notary will review your document(s) to determine the notarization requirements and whether we are able to complete the notarization. From start to finish, the typical appointment takes about 30 minutes.

For additional information about notary requirements in your state, consult with a legal advisor or contact your Secretary of State's office or other state or local notary authority in your area.

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What is a notary?

A Notary Public is an individual who has been recognized by the state government as being able to serve as an objective witness and provide notarizations. A notarization is generally an assurance made by a Notary Public that a document's signature is genuine, that the signer acted without duress and that the signer intended the terms of the document to be in full force and effect.

What is needed for a notarization?

Most requests for notarization involve the signing of documents. In all cases, all signers and any required witness(es) must be present with the Notary for the notarization. You'll also be required to bring acceptable ID as required by your state. Be sure to bring all pages of the document being notarized (we suggest you don't sign or date the document before visiting a financial center because some documents must be signed and dated in the presence of a Notary).

How do I get a document notarized?

The following steps for notarization are defined by the state and not by Bank of America. The Notary will:

Require all signer(s)/witness(es) to be present in person
Examine the document for completeness and ensure all pages are included
Obtain proper identification from all signer(s)/witness(es)
Perform the verbal confirmation
Complete the notarial certificate
Record the notarial act in their journal (as required by the state)

What forms of ID are acceptable in order to get a notarization?

Acceptable forms of ID in most states include:

State-issued driver's license
State-issued identification card
U.S. military ID
U.S. passport (issued by U.S. Dept. of State)
State, county or local government ID

In some states, acceptable ID may also include a green card, a foreign passport or a driver's license officially issued in Mexico or Canada.

What reasons might prevent a Notary from notarizing my document?

A Notary may be unable to complete a notarization when:

All signer(s)/witness(es) are not present in person with the Notary
A document has missing pages or blank spaces that affect the intent of the document
The signer(s) cannot produce ID or is not known personally by the Notary (California Notaries are required to obtain ID in all cases)
The Notary believes changes to the document may be made after it has been signed
There is no notarial certificate on the document and the signer cannot tell which notarial act is required
The signer and the Notary are not able to communicate with each other
The Notary believes the signer does not understand the purpose or consequences of signing

For certain notarial requests that involve complex rules or unfamiliar notarial types, or due to other work obligations, the Notary may recommend that you obtain further consultation with other notary service providers or legal counsel.

Is there a fee for notary services?

No. Bank of America does not charge a fee for notary services.

Should I sign or date the document being notarized before I visit a Notary?

No. We recommend you don't sign or date any documents before seeing the Notary, since some documents must be logged in the presence of a Notary.

Will Bank of America provide witnesses (if needed) for a notarization?

In certain instances, a bank associate may be able and available to act as a witness. In some cases, a non-bank affiliated independent witness may be required. For these reasons, we recommend you bring any required non-bank independent witness to complete your notarization.