Frequently Asked Questions

A Notary Public is a public officer appointed by the state to serve as an impartial witness during the signing of important documents.A Notary Public helps deter fraud by verifying the identity of individuals signing documents, confirms they are signing willingly, and completes the appropriate notarial certificate. Depending on the document, a notary may administer an oath or affirmation or witness a signature.

A mobile notary is a commissioned Notary Public who travels to meet clients at a mutually agreed-upon location instead of requiring clients to visit an office.Baker Mobile Notary offers convenient mobile notarization throughout North Phoenix, North Scottsdale, and surrounding areas. Appointments can be arranged at homes, businesses, hospitals, care facilities, and other appropriate public locations.

Many personal, legal, financial, and business documents may require notarization, including:Wills, trusts, and estate planning documentsPowers of AttorneyHealthcare Directives and Living WillsReal estate and mortgage documentsCar titles and Bills of SaleAffidavits and sworn statementsSchool and travel consent formsBusiness agreements and contractsDocuments requiring ApostillesNot every document requires notarization, and some documents have specific signing or witnessing requirements.

Yes.An Arizona notary must refuse a notarization in certain circumstances, such as when the signer is not personally present when required, the notary cannot establish the signer's identity, or the signer appears unwilling or unable to understand the transaction.A notary may also refuse when the request does not comply with Arizona law or the notary's impartiality would be compromised.

It depends on the type of notarization. For an acknowledgment, you may sign before meeting with the notary, but you must personally appear and acknowledge that the signature is yours and was made willingly. For a jurat, you must sign in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation.When in doubt, wait to sign until you meet with the notary.

A notary can explain the notarial process and identify where a signature or notarial certificate is required. However, a notary who is not an attorney cannot provide legal advice, choose the appropriate legal document for you, or advise you on its legal consequences.For questions about preparing or selecting legal documents, consult an attorney or an appropriately qualified legal document preparer.

Not necessarily. Notarization verifies certain aspects of the signing process, such as identity, acknowledgment, or the administration of an oath. It does not verify that the information in the document is accurate, that the document is legally sufficient, or that it will be accepted by the receiving organization.

Appointments can be arranged at a location that is convenient and suitable for the notarization, such as:Your home or place of businessHospitals and healthcare facilitiesAssisted living and senior living communitiesLibrariesFedEx Office or other suitable public locationsOther mutually agreed-upon locationsPrivacy, safety, and the ability to complete the notarization properly are important when selecting a meeting location.

Yes.That is one of the primary benefits of using a mobile notary. I travel to appropriate locations, including homes, hospitals, and care facilities, to help clients who are unable to visit a traditional notary location.

A notary may refuse to notarize a document that is incomplete if the missing information affects the notarial act or raises concerns about fraud or improper completion.Please ensure your document is fully prepared, except for any portions that must be completed during the notarization.

No.As a Notary Public, I can perform authorized notarial acts but cannot provide legal advice, select legal documents for you, or draft legal documents unless separately authorized under applicable law.For legal questions about your documents, please consult an attorney or an appropriately qualified legal document preparer.