Where to Get Your Document Notarized for Free

Need to get a document notarized for free? Depending on where you live or who you know, you might have several options. Check out this list of places near you that can notarize your document for free.

1. Your Bank or Credit Union

The first place you should check to get a document notarized for free is your bank.

Bank of America will notarize for free! So will Wells Fargo. Another example is SF Fire Credit Union. Call or check online to see if your bank will notarize for free.

Note that most banks won’t have a notary on site all of the time. Bank of America allows you to make an appointment, so definitely do that rather than just walking in!

Also, some banks won’t notarize wills or real estate documents due to liability issues, so be specific when you call.

2. The Auto Club

3. Public Libraries

Some public libraries will notarize for free. Check the website of your local branches. Some examples include:

1. Central Arkansas Library System
2. La Porte County Public Library in Indiana
3. Mercer County Library in New Jersey
4. The North Kingstown Free Library in Rhode Island
5. Weber County Library System in Utah

Just be sure to call ahead, as there are usually limited staff who are trained as notaries and they are not available at all business hours.

4. Your Real Estate Agent

5. Your Insurance Agent

Check with your insurance agent to see if they’d be willing to notarize your document for free. It worked for reader Dana!

6. Courthouses

Reader Natosha pointed out that some courthouses will notarize for free! I confirmed by checking the New York courthouse, and sure enough, they do it! Check a courthouse near you.

7. City Clerk Offices

Some city government offices offer free notary services. Some examples include the City of Carbondale, IL, the City of Jacksonville, IL, the Town of Hollis, NH, and the Town of Harvard, MA!

The city of Lacy, Washington will notarize for just $3, which is a steal. Google for free or cheap notarizations by your city.

8. County Clerk Offices

Similarly, some county clerk offices offer free notarizations. One example is the Franklin County Clerk/Recorder in Illinois. Just be sure to differentiate between services for notaries (i.e., certificates for people who want to become notaries), and actual notary services.

9. Police Departments

Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed this one, but reader Solyda clued me in. Some police stations offer free notary services.

While not free, the UC San Francisco Police Department offers notarizations for $10.

10. Your Tax Preparer or Accountant

Some tax preparation firms offer notary services. Check to see if yours does. If you give them a lot of business, they might notarize for free.

11. Your Place of Employment

If you work in a large company, odds are there’s a notary working there, either in an official capacity or moonlighting.

12. Colleges and Universities

If you are a student, faculty, or staff member of a college or university, you might be in luck. Just by Googling around, I found a number of colleges and universities that will provide free notary services to teachers, students, and staff, such as Teachers College Columbia University, Western University in California, NC State, and Penn State.

UNC Charlotte offers free notary services to teachers and staff, but not students, unfortunately.

If you are affiliated with a college or university, check to see what notary services they offer. You never know!

13. Lawyers

Many lawyers have the ability to notarize documents (as long as they are not involved in a case involving that document). If you have a friend or relative who is a lawyer, ask them about it.

14. Some Mail Box Stores (for members)

There is an independent mailbox/shipping store near me that offers free notarizations for customers who have a mailbox there. If you renting a mailbox, check to see if they also do free notarizations!

15. Family and Friends

You can post on Facebook that you need a notary and see if a friend near you comes up! You might have a friend who is a notary, real estate agent, lawyer, etc., and is willing to do it for free or for trade. This worked for me, but I made sure to buy her lunch for her trouble!

What are some other places that you’ve found that will notarize for free? Please comment below – Brian.

Non-Free Options

If none of the solutions above work for you, some shipping stores such as the UPS Store notarize for a small fee (you may need to schedule an appointment though). Some currency exchanges also notarize for a fee. Or you can Google around for a notary service in your area. Note, the FedEx store does not notarize anymore due to some legal issues they had.

Skip the Hassle and Notarize Online!

If you don’t have time to drive around looking for a notary in your neighborhood and wait in line, etc., consider using an online notary service like NotaryLive. They notarize 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! It’s not free but the cost is well worth it if your time is valuable! And, with COVID-19 still around, it’s not a bad idea to do as many things virtually rather than in-person as possible:

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