Getting something notarized: what to bring and what it costs

You’ve got a document that says “sign in the presence of a notary,” and now you’re wondering what that actually involves. It’s a quick, painless step — as long as you walk in prepared. Here’s everything you need to know before you come see us.

What to bring

Three things make a notarization go smoothly:

1. A valid government photo ID. A current driver’s license, state ID, or passport works. The name on the ID needs to match the name on the document.
2. The document — unsigned. This is the one people trip over. Don’t sign it ahead of time. The notary has to watch you sign, so leave the signature line blank until you’re sitting with them.
3. Any additional signers or witnesses. If more than one person is signing, or the document calls for witnesses, everyone needs to be present with their own ID. Bring your own witnesses if you can — we can’t always provide them.

Why you can’t sign early

A notary’s whole job is to confirm that you, specifically, signed this document willingly. They can’t do that for a signature that’s already on the page. So even if it feels efficient to sign at home, resist — a pre-signed document usually has to be redone.

What it costs

California caps notary fees by law at $15 per signature. That’s exactly what we charge at all three of our stores — no markup, no surprise fees. The charge is per signature, so if a document needs your signature notarized twice, that’s $15 each.

Two cases are free by law, and we honor them:

• Signatures on a veteran’s application for benefits.
• Signatures on vote-by-mail materials.

If either applies to you, just mention it when you come in.

Online notarization isn’t a thing here

You may have seen ads for remote online notarization. Worth knowing: California does not currently authorize remote online notarization for its own commissioned notaries. In California, notarization happens in person — you and the notary, face to face. That’s actually good news for walk-in convenience: no scheduling a video call, no uploading documents to a third-party platform. You just come in.

No appointment needed

We keep a commissioned notary on hand during business hours, so you can walk in whenever it suits you:

• Monday–Friday: 9am – 6pm
• Saturday: 10am – 5pm
• Sunday: closed

We’re at Cochrane Plaza and Tennant Station in Morgan Hill, and on Branham Lane in San Jose. Come to whichever is closest.

Quick checklist

Before you head out, make sure you’ve got:

• Your photo ID (current, name matches the document)
• The document, unsigned
• Any co-signers or witnesses, with their IDs
• A rough idea of how many signatures need notarizing (so you know the fee)

That’s it. Notarization is one of those errands that feels intimidating until you’ve done it once — then it’s a five-minute stop.

See our notary public page for more, or just find your nearest store and walk in.