Prepare Your Document
A short checklist that keeps a Maryland notarization or apostille on schedule — what to bring, what to leave blank, and what to have ready before the notary arrives.
Quick Answer
Have four things ready: a current, unexpired government photo ID for every signer; the complete document with every page, filled in but NOT signed; any witnesses the document requires, present in person; and, for an apostille, the destination country and your deadline. The full fee is confirmed in writing before the appointment.
Bring the right photo ID
- A current, unexpired government-issued photo ID for every signer — a passport, driver license, consular identification or government non-driver ID card, as Maryland law describes (Md. Code, State Gov't § 18-206(b))
- The ID must bear your photograph and signature, and it must be satisfactory to the notary
- The name on the ID should match the name on the document — if it does not, call before the appointment
- No acceptable ID? Maryland law allows a credible witness who knows you and appears in person — arrange it in advance by calling (202) 899-0067
- For an online (RON) session, the same ID is presented remotely and goes through credential analysis and identity proofing (§ 18-214)
Complete — but unsigned
- Bring the complete document with every page; missing pages are the most common reason an appointment has to restart
- Fill in the document's content in advance if you can — names, dates and details
- Do NOT sign anything before the notary is present: most notarial acts require signing in the notary's presence
- Leave the notarial certificate section blank as well — the notary completes it
- Already signed? Tell us when you book — an acknowledgment can sometimes recognize an earlier signature, and we will plan the right remedy
The signer must be present and aware
Every signer must appear in person (or by live video for an online session) and sign in front of the notary — a signature cannot be notarized for someone who is not there.
The notary must be able to communicate with the signer and be satisfied the signer understands the document and is signing knowingly and willingly; under § 18-207 the notary may decline to proceed when that standard is not met. Services are offered in English, Russian, Hebrew and Spanish — arrange interpretation for any other language in advance.
Witnesses, when your document needs them
Some documents — wills and certain estate, real-estate and facility forms among them — require witnesses in addition to the notarization. Check your document (or the office that gave it to you) before the appointment, and tell us when you book so the witnesses are coordinated and present when the notary arrives.
Witnesses should bring their own photo ID and be present for the signing itself; a witness who arrives after the signature cannot witness it.
Getting a document apostille-ready
- Know the destination country — the apostille chain is built around where the document will be used
- Have the document type clear: vital record, court record, corporate record, school record or a document that first needs notarizing
- A notarized document is certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary was commissioned before the Maryland Secretary of State apostilles it — allow the chain its steps
- Some documents need a certified copy or a prior certification first; we confirm exactly what your document needs at review, before anything is filed
- Tell us your deadline when you book — state and federal queues move at their own pace, and translation or multi-document files add time
Payment and what happens next
You receive the full fee in writing and agree to it before any service begins — the notarization charge itself is set under Maryland law, and a mobile appointment adds a separate travel or convenience charge based on location, timing and document volume. Payment methods: Cash, Zelle, Venmo and Credit Card.
Questions while you prepare? Call or text (202) 899-0067 — appointments run 7 AM to midnight, seven days a week, and a two-minute check before the visit prevents the problems that restart the clock.
Request an Appointment
Tell us what you need — we reply with a written quote and the next available time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ID do I need to bring?
A current, unexpired government-issued photo ID with your photograph and signature — for example a passport, driver license, consular identification or government non-driver ID card — as § 18-206(b) describes. If you have no acceptable ID, call (202) 899-0067 before booking: Maryland law allows identity to be established through a credible witness who knows you and appears in person.
Should I sign the document before the notary arrives?
No. Leave every signature line — and the notarial certificate section — blank until the notary is present, because most acts require signing in the notary's presence. Fill in the rest of the document in advance if you can, and bring every page.
Who has to be there for the signing?
Every signer must be present and able to communicate with the notary, understand the document and sign knowingly and willingly (§ 18-207). If your document requires witnesses, they must be present for the signing too — tell us when you book so everyone is coordinated.
What do I need ready for an apostille?
The destination country, the document itself (the right original or certified copy), and your deadline. A notarized document first goes to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for certification, then to the Maryland Secretary of State for the apostille; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State instead. We confirm your exact chain at review.
How do I pay, and when do I know the fee?
The full amount is disclosed in writing and agreed before any service begins. Payment methods are Cash, Zelle, Venmo and Credit Card. Call or text (202) 899-0067 with your city and document type for the written quote.
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