Does the library have a notary public?

JMRL has notary publics on staff at each location for your convenience. Appointments are recommended, but not required, at all branches. Contact your local branch for more information on branch-specific notary availability and services offered.

IMPORTANT: If witnesses are needed, you must provide your witnesses. 

Please call your local library branch to confirm a notary will be available when you arrive, or to make an appointment.

NOTICE: JMRL staff who are notary publics reserve the right to refuse notarization of documents for any reason. 


Prepare For Your Notary Visit

  • All notarizations must take place in person. 
  • Do not sign documents before the appointment; signatures must be witnessed.
  • If documents are not in English, call your local branch to see if they have staff to assist you. 
  • Bring the document to the appointment and a non-expired picture ID from the list of acceptable documents below.
  • Again, if witnesses are needed, they must come with you, and the witnesses must also bring an ID type from the list below.
  • Library staff and library customers may not serve as witnesses.
  • JMRL cannot notarize the following documents:
    • I-9 forms.*
    • Documents issued by a Virginia Circuit Court, the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records, or the State Corporation Commission. They are required to be issued within the past 12 months. 
      • Examples of those documents are:
        • Vital Records (birth, death, marriage, divorce, single status).
        • Marriage records issued by a Virginia Circuit Court (You must ask for a triple seal to be attached to your marriage record. It will be returned if there is no triple seal).
        • Virginia issued circuit court documents (divorce decree, name change, single status).*
        • Virginia State Corporation Commission issued documents.


*-I-9s are not a notarized document. They can be completed by any person authorized by the company requiring it. 

**- Notary publics can sign a request form for a divorce or name change. The actual divorce decree, when court-ordered, remains in the custody of the court.

 

Accepted Photo Identification (must be valid and non-expired):

  • U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
  • State-Issued ID Card
  • Certificate of Naturalization
  • Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
  • Foreign Passport
  • U.S. Green Card with Photograph
  • U.S. Military ID Card
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