Welcome
You never know when you will need the services of a Notary Public. When you do, Brake Mobile Notary Services is ready to serve all your notary and signing needs. Where you are and when you need them.
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When will you need a Notary Public?
Here are a few of the most common documents that require notarization in the State of California.
- Mobile Loan Signings for Residential Purchases
- Refinances
- Reverse Mortgages
- HELOCS
- Seller Signings
- Apostille Services
- Wills (Estate Planning Documents)
- Trust Documents
- Power of Attorney
- Advanced Health Care Directive
- Travel Consent Forms
- Affidavits
- Adoptions
Brake Mobile Notary Services provides all services promptly and efficiently with the highest degree of confidentiality.
FAQs
What is a Notary Public?
A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by Secretary Of State — to serve the public as an impartial witness (duty-bound not to act in situations where they have a personal interest) in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts.
What is an Acknowledgement?
It is a notarial act in which a Notary certifies having positively identified a document signer who personally appeared before the Notary and admitted having signed the document freely. Shows that the acknowledging party appeared personally before the officer (e.g. Notary Public) taking the acknowledgement. Identifies the acknowledging party by name corresponding to the acknowledged document. Signed by the officer taking the acknowledgment. Sealed with officer’s official seal (if applicable). Proves the document signature’s authenticity. Essential elements of the Certificate of Acknowledgement: Entitles document to be accepted for filing and recording. In order for a notary to issue an acknowledgement, it is not necessary for the document to be signed in his or her presence. However, the signer must still appear before the notary at the time of the acknowledgement to swear he or she freely signed for the purposes stated in the document under his or her own will.
What is a Jurat?
It is a notarial act in which a Notary certifies having watched the signing of a document and administered an oath or affirmation. Compelling a document signer to be truthful is the main purpose of the notarial act called a jurat. The Notary’s function in executing a jurat is to appeal to the signer’s conscience and to initiate a process that could result in a criminal conviction for perjury if the signer is found to be lying under oath. A jurat requires the wording “subscribed and sworn to” on the document just above where the Notary Public signs his or her name.
In executing a jurat, the Notary must watch the person sign the document, then have the signer make either a solemn, oral promise of truthfulness to a Supreme Being (called an oath) or a promise on one’s own personal honor (called an affirmation). The oath and affirmation have the same legal effect.
Jurats are common with documents that may be used as evidence in court proceedings, such as depositions and affidavits.
What is an Apostille?
Apostille (pronounced ah-po-stee) is a French word which means a certification. In notary language, it refers to a certificate issued by the Secretary of State to authenticate and/or legalize the signature of a notary public and other public officers placed on documents that are to be sent to a foreign country. The Apostille certifies that the notary’s commission is current and the notary is
in good standing.
Reasons Why People May Need an Apostille?
- Attending school in another country
- Adoption related documents
- International business documents
- Banking
- FBI Criminal Background Checks
- Making Aliyah to Israel
- Working in a foreign country
- Teaching overseas
- Destination weddings & more!
What Form of Identification Can I Use?
All IDs listed below must be current or issued within the last 5 years:
- CA Driver’s license or ID Card
- United States Passport
- Drivers License or ID card issued by a state in the U.S.
- A valid consular ID issued by a consulate from applicant’s country of citizenship
- ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government
What if I don't have a Photo ID?
If a signer does not have a state or government issued photo ID that is not expired, then he or she will need two people as credible witnesses present who will swear to his or her identity in order to be certified. The oath of a certifying witness is satisfactory evidence for certification. Those two witnesses will have to have proper ID. Medicaid cards, social security cards, credit cards, work IDs are not valid forms of identification.
Why do I have to show my ID to have a document notarized?
Effective January 1, 2008 per the State of California, any acknowledgement or jurat may only be executed with proper identification.
Can you Notarize a Fax or Copy of a Photocopy of a Document?
A photocopy or fax may be notarized, but only if it bears an original signature. That is, the copy must have been signed with pen and ink. A photocopied or faxed signature may never be notarized. Care should be taken to copy faxes from thermal paper to regular paper before proceeding in having a document notarized in order to avoid rejection by public recorders.
Can you give Legal Advice?
No. As a Notary Public, I am not an Attorney, I am not licensed to practice law and cannot give legal advice. For legal inquiries, please contact an Attorney or your local Bar Association.
