Can a Notary Notarize a Handwritten Document? 📃
Not every important document is created on a computer.
People write letters, statements, agreements, permissions, and other documents by hand every day.
So can a handwritten document be notarized?
Potentially, yes. The fact that a document is handwritten does not by itself necessarily prevent an authorized notarization.
However, there are some important distinctions to understand.
The Notary Is Not Approving the Document
A notarization does not mean that the notary has reviewed the document and determined that it is legally valid, enforceable, or properly drafted.
The notary's responsibility is to perform the requested notarial act in accordance with applicable law.
That distinction applies whether the document is professionally prepared, typed at home, or handwritten.
The Document Should Be Complete
A notary may be unable or unwilling to proceed with a document containing significant blank spaces or other issues that make the requested notarization improper under applicable rules.
Before your appointment, review the document carefully.
However, don't sign prematurely when the particular notarial act requires signing in the notary's presence.
What About the Notarial Certificate?
The document must still support the appropriate notarial act.
If you don't know which type of notarization is required, the notary generally cannot make a legal decision for you by choosing an act when doing so would constitute unauthorized legal advice.
Contact the receiving organization, document preparer, or a qualified attorney if you need guidance about what the document requires.
Identification Still Matters
A handwritten document doesn't change the notary's responsibility to properly identify the signer when identification is required.
Bring acceptable identification and any other items required for the appointment.
A document doesn't necessarily have to look like a formal legal form to be presented for notarization.
But notarizing a handwritten document doesn't validate its contents or transform it into a legally effective agreement.
The notary performs the notarial act, not legal document review.
