Notary Policies & Client Guidelines

All signers must present valid, unexpired, government‑issued identification. Acceptable forms include:

• California driver’s license or state ID

• U.S. or foreign passport

• U.S. military ID

• Consular ID (Matricula Consular)

• Tribal ID

• Other IDs permitted under California notary law

NOTE: A valid ID used for notarization in California must include all four required elements:

• Photograph of the signer

• Physical description (such as height, weight, eye color)

• Signature of the signer

• Serial or identifying number

These requirements come directly from California Government Code §8202.1 and Civil Code §1185.

If the signer does not have ID, alternative options (such as credible witnesses) may be available. Contact me before your appointment so I can explain what is allowed.

Click here for a complete list of acceptable identification, please refer to the National Notary Association’s ID requirements. 

To complete a notarization, the signer must:

• Be alert, aware, and able to communicate

• Appear willing and not pressured

• Be able to sign or make a mark

If the signer is confused, disoriented, or unable to communicate clearly, I cannot proceed. This protects the signer and ensures the document remains legally valid.

Ombudsman (SNF ONLY)  

Required ONLY if the signer is a resident of a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) signing a Health Care Power of Attorney or an Advance Health Care Directive.

Please confirm Ombudsman availability before scheduling.  

Families or facility staff must contact the Long‑Term Care Ombudsman to check availability and secure an appointment time. The notary cannot proceed without the Ombudsman present for these documents.

Please have your document:

• Fully completed (no blank spaces unless required by the issuer)

• Printed and ready for review

• In the correct format required by the receiving agency

I cannot provide legal advice or tell you which document you need. If unsure, please check with the document issuer or an attorney.

• • Appointments requested with less than 48 hours' notice.

  • Appointments scheduled before or after regular office hours.

  • Appointments scheduled on Sundays, federal holidays, or other official holidays.

• Note: No additional fees are charged for standard appointments conducted during normal office hours. Additional fees apply only to qualifying same-day, urgent, holiday, weekend, before-hours, or after-hours appointments.

All service appointments—including in-office visits, identity support, apostille, passport photos, and mobile notary requests—are manually reviewed to ensure accuracy, safety, and legal compliance. Your appointment is pending and not finalized until:

• Request Review: We review the details of your specific document or identity service request.

• Availability Verification: We confirm staff or mobile travel availability for your requested slot.

• Official Confirmation: You receive a formal confirmation message directly from us.

This screening process protects you, your documents, and the signer—ensuring seamless logistics, especially for urgent identity verifications and specialized senior-care facility environments.

• California Notary Fee: The standard California notary fee is strictly regulated at $15 per signature/seal. This is billed separately from all ancillary services.

• Standard Convenience Fees: Mobile travel fees, waiting time fees, and office-provided witness fees are standard convenience charges. These apply at their base rate to appointments booked at least 48 hours in advance during regular office hours.

• Emergency & After-Hours Premium: To accommodate last-minute schedules and immediate logistics, an additional premium will be applied to:

  • Appointments requested with less than 48 hours' notice.

  • Appointments scheduled before or after regular office hours.

  • Appointments scheduled on Sundays, federal holidays, or other official holidays.

• Original Documents: We do not edit, rewrite, or alter original, executed legal instruments.

• Template Limitations: All document editing and preparation services are performed strictly using customer-provided details or blank, copied templates as a structural layout guide.

• Errors: Clients are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy of all text and data inside custom letters, forms, or multi-page edits before submission or digital delivery.

We travel to:

• Homes

• Offices

• Businesses

• Senior living communities

• Hospitals & rehabilitation centers

• Caregiver‑supported environments

Travel/convenience fees apply based on distance, time of day, and location. Travel/convenience fees are separate from notarization fees and are due even if the notarization cannot be completed due to issues outside my control (missing ID, incomplete documents, signer unwillingness, etc.).

In‑Person Notarization – Office Hours Policy

Appointments scheduled during regular office hours do not require a deposit and do not incur a cancellation fee.

In‑Person Notarization – Before/After Hours Policy

Appointments scheduled before or after regular office hours require a deposit to secure the time slot.

Cancellations or reschedule requests must be made at least 24 hours before the appointment.

• If the client cancels within the 24‑hour window or does not show up, the deposit becomes non‑refundable.

• If the client cancels more than 24 hours in advance and chooses not to reschedule, the deposit will be refunded.

• If the client reschedules at least 24 hours in advance, the deposit will be applied to the new appointment.

Mobile Appointment Cancellation & Reschedule Policy

Cancellations or reschedule requests must be made at least 48 hours before your mobile appointment.

• If the client cancels within the 48‑hour window or does not show up, the Booking Deposit becomes non‑refundable.

• If the client cancels more than 48 hours in advance and chooses not to reschedule, the deposit will be refunded.

• If the client reschedules at least 48 hours in advance, the deposit will be applied to the new appointment.

The full Convenience Fee will be applied if the appointment cannot proceed due to missing or invalid identification, incomplete documents, unsigned documents, or if the signer is unable or unwilling to sign at the time of the appointment. 

This fee covers travel, time, and appointment preparation. These policies ensure fairness and protect the time reserved for your appointment.

Some documents legally require witnesses to be present during the signing process.

• Provide Your Own Witnesses: You are welcome to bring your own witnesses. They must present a valid government-issued photo ID and cannot be named anywhere within or benefit from the document.

• Office-Provided Witnesses: Our office can provide official witnesses for your appointment upon request for an additional convenience fee.

• Legal Restriction (No ID / Credible Witnesses): We cannot provide witnesses if the signer lacks a valid government ID. In "No ID" scenarios, California law strictly mandates that the Credible Witnesses must personally know the signer.

• Advance Request Required: If you need our office to supply witnesses, please notify us as early as possible. Witnesses are arranged through independent individuals and are subject to availability. Advance notice helps us secure witnesses for your appointment. 

Payment is due at the time of service. A receipt is provided for every appointment.
Accepted forms of payment include:

• Cash

• Credit/Debit Card

• Digital payments

• PayPal

• Zelle

• Apple Pay

• Venmo

• Check

• Checks & Cashier's Checks

(Please note: Any check returned due to insufficient funds will result in a $35 returned‑check fee, in addition to any bank penalties. Payment must be re‑submitted in cash, card, or certified funds.)Card

Booking Deposit Policy

A $20 Booking Deposit is required to secure the following appointment types:

• Before‑hours appointments (7:00 AM – 8:00 AM)

• After‑hours appointments (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

• Holiday service

• Mobile appointments

• Urgent or same‑day mobile notarization

How the Deposit Is Applied

• The $20 deposit is applied toward the Convenience Fee once the notarization is completed. For in-office appointments scheduled before or after regular office hours, the deposit will be applied toward the applicable after-hours appointment fee. 

• If the client requests to reschedule, the deposit will be applied to the new appointment.

Refunds & Cancellations

• If the client cancels 48 hours in advance for mobile notary appointments and 24 hours in advance for extended-hours in-person appointments and chooses not to reschedule, the deposit will be refunded.

• The deposit becomes non‑refundable in the event of a no‑show or a late cancellation (within 48 hours for mobile notary appointments and within 24 hours for extended-hours in-person appointments.

An additional $20 Priority Service Fee applies to:

• Same-day appointments

• Urgent appointment requests

• Federal or recognized holiday appointments

• Appointments scheduled before or after normal business hours

This fee is separate from any notarization fees, travel fees, witness fees, parking reimbursement, or other applicable service charges.

When office-provided witnesses are requested for an urgent, same-day, weekend, holiday, or before/after-hours appointment, an additional $5 Priority Witness Fee per witness will apply.

Important Information

• Priority service fees apply to both mobile notary appointments and in-office appointments when expedited scheduling is requested.

• All additional fees will be disclosed prior to confirming the appointment.

• Priority service fees are separate from standard notary, witness, travel, and parking-related charges.

By scheduling an urgent, same-day, weekend, holiday, or before/after-hours appointment, the client acknowledges and agrees to the applicable priority service fees.

Client Delay

If the signer, documents, or required identification are not ready at the scheduled appointment time, a waiting fee * may apply after a 10‑minute grace period.

This helps ensure fairness and keeps appointments running smoothly.

Notary Delay

If the notary arrives late to the appointment, the time delayed will be deducted from the Convenience Fee.

This ensures transparency, fairness, and respect for the client’s time.

Examples:

• Notary is 10 minutes late → $10 deducted from the Convenience Fee

• Notary is 20 minutes late → $20 deducted from the Convenience Fee

This policy reflects Identified’s commitment to professionalism and accountability.

• A waiting fee of $1/minute will apply if the appointment extends beyond 10 minutes past the scheduled start time. 

A waiting fee of $1/minute will apply if the appointment extends beyond 10 minutes past the scheduled start time. This fee helps compensate for the reserved time and any inconvenience caused by delays, ensuring fair scheduling for all clients. Please contact us if you have questions about this policy or the applicable rates.

As a notary, I cannot:

• Provide legal advice

• Explain the legal effect of a document

• Recommend which document you should use

• Decide whether a document is “correct”

If you need legal guidance, please consult an attorney or the document issuer.

Community discounts are offered to seniors, veterans,  and military personnel. Only one discount may be applied per transaction. Discounts cannot be combined with other coupons or promotions and must be presented at the time of service. 

Discount Changes

Discount amounts, eligibility, and availability may change at any time for operational, seasonal, or community‑related reasons.

Any updates will be posted on Identified’s website, Facebook page, or Google Business Profile to ensure transparency.

Right to Modify

Identified reserves the right to modify, pause, or discontinue any discount or promotional offer at any time.

We serve Artesia, Cerritos, Cypress, Lakewood, Norwalk, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma, Paramount, and nearby surrounding cities. 

For everyone’s safety:

• I may request a well‑lit environment

• I may decline service if the environment is unsafe

• I may require a caregiver or family member to be present for vulnerable signers

Safety is a priority for both clients and the notary.

• Present a valid, unexpired ID for every signer

• The notary will verify identity and willingness to sign

• Documents must be complete (no blank spaces)

• You will sign in front of the notary

• The notary will complete the journal entry and apply the official seal

• The notary cannot choose the notarial certificate for you

• It is the signer’s responsibility to know which notarial act is required

• You may consult your lawyer, attorney, or document preparer for guidance

• Payment is collected after the notarization is finished

• Additional signers or witnesses may require extra time