NOTARY SERVICES

Need a document notarized?
The Fairhope Public Library is proud to offer this FREE service to the community!
A notary’s signature is required on many legal documents such as wills, trusts, deeds, contracts, and affidavits.

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

The Fairhope Public Library offers Notary Public services for no charge. The Notary witnesses the signing of a
document or signing of a sworn statement on a document. NOTE: Notary services require an appointment and are dependent on the Notary’s
availability. Please email adminasst@fairhopelibrary.org, or circ_asst@fairhopelibrary.org, or call 251-928-7483 and ask for the Administrative Assistant or Circulation Assistant to schedule an appointment.

Other commitments may supersede the following schedule.  General availability is on:

Tuesdays and Fridays at 9:30am, 10am.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 2:30pm, 3:00pm.

NOTARY SERVICE GUIDELINES

The Library’s Notary is simply witnessing the signing of a document and is only verifying the following:

  1. The signer of the document appeared before the Notary.
  2. The Notary positively identified the signer.
  3. The signer both acknowledged the signature is his/hers, and that the signature was made willingly.

ITEMS NEEDED

  1. Bring a current/valid government issued photo ID for every person who will be signing the document. This
    requirement also applies to witnesses. Expired IDs cannot be accepted.
  2. If there is more than one party signing a document, all parties must appear before the Notary at the same
    time in order for a notarization to be completed.
  3. If the document is clearly meant for two separate signers to sign at different times with different
    notarizations, the signatures may be made at separate times.
  4. Bring the document requiring notarization, filled out completely, with you. All blanks in the document must
    be filled in before notarization; place “N/A” in blanks if not applicable.

WITNESSES

  1. If your document requires witnesses, you are responsible for providing them. Witnesses may not be solicited
    from patrons or staff in the library.
  2. A witness must: Be personally known to you.
  3. Be willing to stand up in court on your behalf, be at least 18 years of age, and have a current/valid government
    issued photo ID.

INFORMATION AND DETAILS

  1. Please do not sign any documents until the Notary is present.
  2. Notary Publics are prohibited from offering legal advice to the public. Please consult with your attorney, real
    estate agent, or other legal professional if you have any questions before presenting a document for
    notarization.
  3. All documents to be notarized must be in English. Notaries are not permitted to make use of a translator to
    communicate with a Notary client.
  4. Notaries will not provide service if the customer, document, or circumstance of the request for notary service
    raises any issues of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty for the Notary. The Library’s Notary may at
    his/her sole discretion, decline to provide notary service.