Are you in need of reliable and professional notary services in California? Look no further! Shanea O’Connor Services is dedicated to providing efficient and accurate notarizations for individuals and businesses across the state. We understand the importance of your documents and are committed to ensuring a smooth and secure process.

What is a California Notary Public?

A California Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the California Secretary of State whose primary duty is to prevent fraud. We act as impartial witnesses to the signing of important documents, verifying the identity of the signer and ensuring they sign willingly and knowingly. Our official seal and signature add an extra layer of authenticity and legal validity to your documents.

Documents a California Notary Public Can Notarize

A wide range of documents require notarization to be legally binding. At Shanea O’Connor Services, we are equipped to notarize most types of documents. We specialize in and have extensive experience with estate planning documents and real estate deeds.

Here are some common examples of documents we can notarize:

• Estate Planning Documents:

• Trusts (Living Trusts, Revocable Trusts)

• Wills

• Powers of Attorney (General Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney for Health Care / Advance Health Care Directives)

• Guardianship Documents

• Affidavits of Heirship

• Real Estate Deeds:

• Grant Deeds

• Quitclaim Deeds

• Interspousal Transfer Deeds

• Deeds of Trust

• Loan Documents (for purchases, refinances, etc.)

• Other Common Documents:

• Affidavits and Sworn Statements

• Parental Consent for Travel Minors

• Bills of Sale

• Commercial Documents (leases, contracts)

• Passport Applications (for initial applications)

• Copy Certifications (specifically for Powers of Attorney, or by document custodian for other documents)

• And many more!

Types of Notarial Acts We Perform

As a California Notary Public, we perform various acts, each serving a specific purpose:

• Acknowledgments: This is the most common notarial act. We verify the identity of the signer and confirm they willingly signed the document. We do not need to witness the actual signing for an acknowledgment, but the signer must appear before us.

• Jurats: For a jurat, the signer must sign the document in our presence. We administer an oath or affirmation to the signer, affirming that the contents of the document are true to the best of their knowledge. This is typically used for affidavits and sworn statements.

• Oaths and Affirmations: We administer formal declarations where individuals swear or affirm to the truthfulness of a statement.

• Copy Certifications: In California, Notaries can only certify copies of specific documents, primarily Powers of Attorney. For other documents (like driver's licenses or birth certificates), the document's custodian can present a photocopy and a sworn statement affirming it's a true copy, which we can then notarize with a jurat.

What a Notary Public Cannot Do for You

It's crucial to understand the limitations of a California Notary Public. We are impartial witnesses and cannot:

• Provide legal advice: We are not attorneys and cannot advise you on the content, purpose, or legality of your documents. If you have legal questions, please consult with a qualified attorney.

• Draft or prepare legal documents: Our role is to notarize, not to create or fill out documents for you.

• Choose the type of notarial act: You (or the requesting party) must specify the type of notarization required (e.g., Acknowledgment, Jurat).

• Notarize incomplete documents: All blank spaces in a document must be filled in or marked out before notarization.

• Notarize a document if there's a conflict of interest: We cannot notarize documents where we have a direct financial or beneficial interest.

• Notarize your signature if you are not physically present: All signers must personally appear before the notary.

• Notarize documents without acceptable identification: Identity verification is a cornerstone of our service.

What You Need to Bring for Your Appointment

To ensure a quick and smooth notarization, please bring the following to your appointment:

1. The document(s) to be notarized: Please ensure all documents are complete and ready for signing. Do not sign the document(s) beforehand if a Jurat or oath is required, as your signature must be witnessed by the notary. For acknowledgments, you can sign in advance, but you must still appear before the notary to acknowledge your signature.

2. Valid and acceptable identification for each signer: California law requires satisfactory evidence of identity. Your ID must be current or issued within the last five (5) years, contain a photograph, a physical description, and your signature.Accepted ID Types Include:

• California Driver's License or ID Card

• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card

• Foreign Passport (stamped by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)

• Driver's License issued by another U.S. state, or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue driver's licenses

• U.S. Military Identification Card (must contain photograph, description, and signature, and be current or issued in the past five years)

• Inmate Identification Card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (if the inmate is in custody)

• Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff's department (if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility)

• Employee ID card issued by an agency or office of the state of California, or by an agency or office of a California city, county, or city and county.

• Consular identification document (must be current or issued within the last 5 years)

• ID card issued by a federally-recognized tribal government.

If you do not have one of the above IDs, identity may also be established through:

• The oath or affirmation of one credible witness personally known to the notary, who presents an acceptable ID.

• The oaths or affirmations of two credible witnesses who personally know the signer and can present acceptable IDs.

3. Payment: We charge $15 per signer and document. There is no charge for witnesses (if required by the document, not as a means of identification).

Contact Shanea O’Connor Services Today! We look forward to assisting you with your notarization needs. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Notary Services