Library Notary Services
We offer simple notary services by appointment at most library locations.
Please read the terms and conditions, then book an appointment at your local branch using the links below. If you are unsure whether your document can be notarized by the library, please call and speak to a notary in the Adult Services department. Confirmation of a notary appointment does not guarantee your documents can be notarized.
Notary Terms and Conditions
- Notaries may decline to notarize a document if it is prepared in a format unfamiliar to the notary, they cannot be certain of the identity or mental capacity of the signer, or for any other reason.
- Our notaries cannot notarize documents requiring verification of facts, wills, estates, trusts, quitclaim deeds, and any power of attorney documents.
- Our notaries do not act as authorized representatives for employers to verify the employment eligibility of employees, including the I-9.
- Our notaries do not notarize real estate transactions.
- Our notaries cannot act as witnesses to a notarial act.
- By law, Virginia notaries are not authorized to certify true copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates, or court-issued documents. Court-issued documents are not motions, petitions or complaints filed by the parties, but rather orders of court signed by a Judge or Magistrate. Only the Division of Vital Records/Statistics may perform such certifications.
- People seeking notarizations must bring with them their unsigned documents, valid photo identification, and any witnesses required.
- Photo identification should be provided by all signers, even if the signer is “known.” Acceptable forms of ID are: 1) a United States passport, 2) a United States passport card, 3) a certificate of United States citizenship, 4) a certificate of naturalization and green card, 5) a foreign passport, 6) an alien registration card with photograph, 7) a state-issued driver’s license, 8) a state-issued identification card, or 9) a United States military identification card. Photo IDs must be current and written in a language the notary understands. If an ID is not familiar to the notary, the notary has the option to refuse acceptance.
- Notaries may not perform notarizations to individuals with whom the notary cannot communicate, such as a non-English speaker.
- If we are unable to provide notary services for you, we can supply a list of other notaries in the area.
FAQs
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Click here to learn more about our notary services.
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CRRL charges for-profit businesses $10 for notarizations. Aligned with the update to charge businesses for meeting room use, charging businesses for notary services addresses Library Board expectations that the general public and not-for-profits' access to public library resources should be prioritized over those of for-profit businesses.
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Requesting a notary appointment helps ensure that a notary is available at the time you need, and allows the notary to understand what you’re having notarized to determine if your document is something CRRL notaries can do. Booking a notary appointment online also facilitates collecting the notarization fees from businesses.
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An advance appointment ensures that a notary is available and that your document is something that CRRL notaries can do. Walk-ins may be able to make an on-the-spot appointment if one is free.
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CRRL notaries will make every effort to review your request and let you know in advance if it is something we cannot notarize. You can assist in this process by describing the form you wish to have notarized at the time you make your appointment. However, it is not guaranteed that a notary will be able to make that determination before fully reviewing the document in person. If you arrive for an appointment and CRRL notaries are unable to fulfill your request, we will provide you with a list of area notaries to contact as well as a refund if you paid the $10 business fee.