Nobody’s first notary appointment should feel like a test

You text or call

Say roughly what you have: “a power of attorney,” “a title transfer,” “a form for my kid’s school.” If you’re not sure whether it needs an acknowledgment or a jurat, take a photo of the last page and send it. I can read the certificate that is already printed there and tell you which one it calls for. I cannot tell you which one to use if the page has no certificate on it at all, since that decision belongs to you and whoever is receiving the document. Tell me what part of town you’re in and when you’re free.

Text rather than call if you can. I may be with another client or on the road, so a call can land in voicemail while a text gets read at the next stop. Send one at any hour and I will answer as soon as I can.

I confirm what you’ll need, and what it costs

I’ll check that your document has a notary certificate on it, tell you which ID to have out, tell you whether to leave it unsigned, and let you know if the document needs witnesses you’ll have to arrange.

Then I put the figures in writing: notarial fees, trip fee, any surcharge, listed separately. If your address means paid parking, a downtown garage or a hospital deck, I will say so at this point too. That quote holds unless what you are signing changes, for example extra signatures or a second document turning up on the day. If that happens I tell you what it adds before I notarise anything.

You reserve the window

I send a Square payment link for the trip fee. Once that’s paid the time is yours and I’m not taking another job in that slot. Notarial fees are handled on arrival.

I come to you

I text when I’m leaving and again when I’m outside. Meet me wherever is comfortable: your dining table, your office lobby, a hospital room, a parking lot. All I need is a flat surface and enough light to read by.

We sign

I look at your photo ID and compare it to you and to the name on the document. I ask whether you’re signing willingly and whether you understand what it is. For a jurat, I’ll read you a short oath and you answer “I do.”

You sign. I complete the certificate, sign it, and apply my seal. I record the act in my notary journal, which Texas requires me to keep, and hand you an itemised receipt. Straightforward appointments are usually short, though I never rush a signer.