Getting a document notarized in New York City is straightforward once you know the four things that decide whether it works: who can notarize it, what you have to bring, which certificate the document needs, and where the notarization has to happen. Get those right and it takes minutes. Get one wrong and you make the trip twice.
Step 1: Read the document first
Look for the notarial block, usually near the signature. It tells you what is required.
If it says something like subscribed and sworn to before me, that is a jurat, and you will be swearing the contents are true. If it says personally appeared and acknowledged, that is an acknowledgment, confirming you signed voluntarily.
Also look for witness lines. If the document needs witnesses, you have to arrange them, and the notary is generally not one of them unless the document specifically allows it.
If there is no notarial wording at all, ask the party receiving the document which certificate they want. A notary cannot choose for you, because selecting the certificate is a legal decision and choosing on your behalf would be practising law.
Step 2: Do not sign it
Fill the document in completely, then stop at the signature line.
The notary has to witness your signature or administer the oath as you sign. A document signed in advance cannot be given a valid jurat, and this is the single most common reason an appointment is wasted.
If you have already signed, print a clean copy. Do not scratch out and re-sign.
Step 3: Bring acceptable identification
Every signer needs current, unexpired, government issued photo identification. A driver license, a state ID card, a US or foreign passport, a military ID, a government employee ID, or IDNYC.
The name on the ID should match the name on the document. Where it does not, because of marriage, a middle initial or a misspelling, that is fixable with a one and the same person affidavit, but it is better sorted before the appointment than during it.
An expired ID cannot be accepted under any circumstances. Check the date. It is the second most common reason an appointment fails.
Step 4: Choose how you want it done
You have three realistic options in New York City.
Online. A video session, from anywhere in the United States, usually about fifteen minutes, no appointment needed. Cheapest and fastest for most documents. See how it works.
Mobile. A notary travels to your home, office or a hospital. Right for estate documents, witnessed signings, and anyone who cannot easily travel.
In person at a fixed location. Banks, shipping stores and some libraries. Free or cheap if you are an account holder, but constrained by hours, staffing, and a willingness to decline unfamiliar documents. See our guide to finding a notary near you for the fastest option wherever you are.
Call and describe the document. We will tell you whether online or mobile is right, and what it will cost, before you book anything.
What it costs in New York
New York caps the notarial act itself. $2 per signature for a traditional in-person notarization, and up to $25 per notarial act for electronic notarization, inclusive of all costs.
What you actually pay reflects the service around the act. A mobile appointment adds a travel fee, from $40 to $110 by distance, plus evening and weekend surcharges. Our online pricing is $25 for the first document, $15 for documents two through seven, and $10 for document eight and beyond, with $10 per additional signer.
See full pricing.
Step 5: The appointment itself
The notary confirms your identity, satisfies themselves that you understand what you are signing and are doing so willingly, watches you sign or administers the oath, then completes the certificate with the venue, the date, their signature, stamp and commission expiration.
The notary also records the act in a journal. For online sessions the whole thing is recorded and retained, and your document comes back with a tamper evident digital certificate and an audit trail.
What a notary will not do
This is where people get frustrated, so it helps to know before you arrive.
Give legal advice. A New York notary may not tell you which document you need, draft one, explain what a document does, or choose the certificate. That is practising law.
Notarize a document you did not sign in front of them.
Certify a copy of a vital record. Birth, death and marriage certificates come from the issuing agency. A notary cannot certify that a copy is true.
Proceed where something is wrong. If a signer appears not to understand, seems pressured, or the identification does not hold up, the notary declines. That protects you as much as it protects them.
Documents we sign in person rather than online
We sign wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and DNR consents on paper, in person. New York State Technology Law § 307 lists these among documents excluded from electronic signature, so we take the cautious route. This is our practice rather than legal advice, and your attorney may direct otherwise.
Everything else, affidavits, contracts, travel consents, vehicle release letters, small estate affidavits, apostille documents, can be handled online.
One question that prevents most problems
Before booking, ask whoever will receive the document two things: which certificate do you need, and do you accept a remotely notarized document.
Their answers decide the whole appointment, and both take thirty seconds to obtain.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get something notarized in NYC?
Online, a mobile notary who comes to you, or a fixed location such as a bank. Banks usually serve account holders and keep limited hours.
How much should it cost?
The act is $2 per signature in person, or up to $25 per act online. Travel and convenience are what vary.
Can I notarize a document for someone who is not present?
No. The signer must appear, in person or by approved video.
What if my name changed?
Bring identification in your current name and consider a one and the same person affidavit if the document uses a former name.
Do I need witnesses?
Only if the document requires them. Read the signature page, and arrange them in advance.
Can a notary notarize for a family member?
Best practice is to avoid notarizing where you have an interest. Use an independent notary.
What to do if the notarization is refused
It happens, and knowing why turns a wasted trip into a short delay.
The usual reasons are an expired identification, a document already signed, a name that does not match the identification, blank spaces still in the document, a missing or incorrect notarial certificate, or a signer who does not appear to understand what they are signing.
Most are fixable the same day. Print a clean copy if you signed early. Bring a different unexpired identification. Complete the blanks, writing N/A where a field does not apply. Ask the recipient which certificate they want and add the correct wording. For a name mismatch, a one and the same person affidavit usually resolves it.
The one that is not a paperwork problem is capacity. If a signer does not understand the document or appears to be under pressure, a notary must decline, and pushing for a different notary is the wrong response. That refusal is what keeps the document standing when a bank or a court examines it later.
Keep a record
Photograph or scan the completed document before you hand it over, including the notarial certificate. Note the date and who notarized it. If the receiving party later queries the notarization, that record and the notary’s journal entry are what resolve it, and for online sessions there is also a retained recording.
Related reading
- Online notary service
- Mobile notary across NYC
- What can be notarized online
- How much a notary costs in NYC
- Notary FAQ
This is general information, not legal advice. A notary public cannot select a document or certificate for you, or explain its legal effect.
See also: mobile notary vs online notary · what a notary public actually does