San Francisco Notary Public
“Musts”
Notarization rules and notary basics

The notary document signer must personally appear before the Notary at time of notarization – not before, and not after. A telephone call from the signer or the Notary's familiarity with a signature is not a personal appearance

The Notary must identify the signer through either (1) personal knowledge or (2) vouching of personally known, reliable, uninvolved witness who is under oath or (3) current government-issued ID card with photograph, signature and physical description

The Notary must be impartial and disinterested and not notarize a document bearing Notary's name or Notary signature or that of Notary's spouse or relative, or notarize any document which will in any way benefit the Notary

The Notary must make a record of each notarization and require document signer to affix signature – and if necessary thumb print – in official journal of notary acts

The Notary must hold and scan document to note unfilled blanks and glean information (title, name of signer[s], number of pages, etc.) for recording in journal of notary acts

The Notary must not certify a copy of a birth certificate or other vital record or of a recordable document such as a deed. Copies of these documents must be issued only by the appropriate public records custodian, and not by the Notary.