Have you just come across a deed or legal document that requires notarization? Are you wondering how you’d go about looking for a notary public? If you are expecting documentation through FedEx, wouldn’t it better if there was a notary nearby?
If you look around, you’ll realize that finding a notary public near you isn’t a problem. The trick is to find the right one, someone who can deal with your requirements effectively without wasting your time or money.
Which notary services should you go for?
Here are five questions you should ask yourself before picking one:
IS THE NOTARY PROPERLY QUALIFIED
The first thing to do is run a quick online search for “notary services near me”. This should give you a pretty good idea of how many notaries are within a reasonable driving range.
Next, you want to check your selected notary’s qualifications and certifications. All notaries are not the same. So while one service may specialize in estates, they might not necessarily be good with other documents. Your priority should be finding someone with a law degree. Such notaries are bound to have a better understanding of the law, will be more efficient at going through legal documentation and are less prone to making mistakes.
Also ensure that the notary is a member of a relevant professional association. Most of these associations have strict membership criteria, which is a sign that you are dealing with a professional.
IS THE NOTARY FAST?
If having some documents notarized takes up half of your day, you should seriously consider finding a new one. Sometimes the complexities of the case may make it unavoidable, but when that is the case, your notary should inform you of the reasons.
Some notaries might even take up to a day to get back to you. This is a serious no-no.
IS THE NOTARY PUBLIC LOCATED NEAR ME?
One of your priorities should be finding a professional notary public near you – the operative word here being professional. You do want someone located nearby so that you don’t spend half of your day on the road. That’s time wasted which could be spent doing something productive.
In case you can’t find one close, or at least someone you think can perform at the desired level, it is worth your while traveling a little further.
WILL THE NOTARY OVERCHARGE?
Notary fees are dictated by state laws. There is a maximum limit to what a notary can legally charge for services in Maryland. They can charge a convenience fee, but this should be relative to the job. For instance if you’re in for a simple, quick job, you shouldn’t expect to pay a large convenience fee.
Before appointing anyone, make sure you verify what the fee would be. Visit the Secretary of State’s website and find out what the maximum cap is. The last thing you want is to be overcharged just because you didn’t know what is reasonable.
HOW HARD OR EASY IS IT TO REACH THE NOTARY?
So now you know ‘how to find a notary public near me?’ You also know how to make sure that they can handle the task at hand. But how do you make sure that you will find them in office when you visit? How do you make sure that a trip down to them won’t end up being a waste of fuel and time?
Notary publics are notorious when it comes to keeping time. So make sure that your notary is easily reachable.
Give them a call before visiting. A couple of interactions will tell you all you need to know about their availability.
You want your notary to be in office when you visit, especially if you’ve made an appointment. You don’t want to wait around. If I personally find a notary service near me who keeps regular office timings, I stick to them.
At the end of the day, keep in mind that you want to work with people who are willing to accommodate you. This does not only mean that they perform their duties professionally, but also that they are readily available. Finding a notary public near you is half the battle. The other half is about finding someone you can depend on.
Postal Xpress N More in Ellicott City, Maryland offers notary services that you can trust every single time. Our onsite professionals can deal with any type of legal document quickly and we are always there to help. The service goes hand-in-hand with our shipping services which includes being certified shipping centers for United States Postal Service, FedEx, UPS and DHL.