* No Fees
Best Believe
a Community-Service Notary
A notary is an impartial witness to other people's transactions, to make sure people are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly, and to deter fraud. Documents that are commonly notarized include deeds, contracts, powers of attorney that authorize someone else to represent you, and written statements made under oath.
I notarize documents without charging fees, as a community service to my neighbors and network. I can:
certify your identity as the signer,
certify that you affirmed that the statements in the document are true,
certify copies of powers of attorney and of entries in my notary journal
...and that's it! I am not a loan signing agent, civil law notary or an attorney, and I cannot give legal advice, prepare legal documents, issue marriage licenses, or certify copies of any birth, fetal, death or marriage records.
Need a Notary? Keep scrolling to make an appointment, learn about the process, and decide which form of identification to bring to our meeting. I have a full-time job and notarize on the side by appointment only, so if your need is urgent or it's just more convenient for you, consider calling your bank or credit union about notarization; some of them provide this service to customers for free.
Make an Appointment
How Notarization Works
1Prepare the Document
Make sure you've completed the document to be notarized, without any blanks or sections missing. If you need to swear that the contents are true, you should wait for our meeting to sign and date the document
2Choose a Form of ID
Bring one form of ID to establish your identity. If you don't have any from the list below, you need to bring to the appointment one or two people who know you and have acceptable ID
3Make an Appointment
Agree on a time and place to meet me. No notarization by phone or video call, sorry. Be sure to bring to the appointment the complete document and one form of ID from the list below
4Meet in Person
We'll meet in person to complete the notarization. I will check the document is complete, adminster any oaths, and you will need to sign the notary's journal
Types of Identification
The signer of the document needs to bring one of these forms of identification to establish your identity. The name and signature on the ID should closely match those on the document. Bring the original form of ID and not a copy
An ID Card or Driver's License issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles
Valid or issued within the last five years
A U.S. Passport
Valid or issued within the last five years
An ID Card or Driver's License issued by
another U.S. state
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
Valid Passport or Consular ID Document issued by your country of citizenship
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
Driver's License issued by an authorized Canadian or Mexican public agency
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
U.S. Military Identification
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
An Employee ID Card issued by any public agency or office in California, at the local or state level
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
An ID Card issued by a federally-recognized tribal government
MUST include your photo, signature, an identifying number AND a physical description of you, such as your height, hair and eye colors, etc.
What if I don't have an ID that meets the criteria?
That's OK too. If we know someone in common, that person can serve as a witness, as long as they don't have a financial interest and are not named in your document. Or you can bring two witnesses to the appointment who know you but not me. Your witnesses need to provide an acceptable form of ID, would affirm under oath that various statements are true, and will need to sign the notary's journal.
I know you IRL; can you notarize for friends and neighbors?
Yes! I can notarize for people I know, as long as I am not named in the transaction and do not have a direct financial or beneficial interest. I typically notarize near the Dimond District or at the Oakland Museum of CA gardens. Feel free to suggest a local meeting spot, like a park, library, or your porch or yard. If we meet indoors, I will wear a mask as a cold-flu-COVID precaution.
What about languages besides English?
You should find a notary who speaks a language in common with the person requesting notarization, rather than use an interpreter. I can notarize documents in languages I cannot read, as long as the written certificate I generate is in English.
What do you mean "no fees"?
I won't ask for any money in exchange for notary services, travel expenses, or my time. If you really want to give money, make a donation to Cycles of Change, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights or Sogorea Te' Land Trust. If you end up paying any notary public in California, the most they can charge is $15 for every acknowledgement certificate, oath, or jurat they complete.
Photo of Benita by Sarah Deragon