WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE OUR VISIT.
A notary public has neither the duty nor the authority to investigate, ascertain or attest to the lawfulness, propriety, accuracy or truthfulness of a document or transaction involving a notrial act.
Every signer must appear in person (face-to-face, in the same room) before the Notary, on the date and in the county stated in the notarial certificate.
The Notary will identify every document signer through personal knowledge, the word of one or two credible identifying witnesses under oath or affirmation, or through reliable identification documents.
Acceptable identification documents are:
A current New Mexico driver’s license/or non-driver’s ID card with a photo, signature and physical description.
A current Driver’s license or non-drivers ID from a foreign country or another U.S. state that meets the criteria for an acceptable card.
A U.S. passport issued by the Department of State of the United States or a foreign passport (passports need not bear a physical description.)
A U.S. Military ID.
An identification card issued by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). The most common is the Resident Alien ID, or “green card.”
The Notary will determine the identity of the signer, the willingness of the signer to sign, and the signer’s ability to understand the consequences of the document.
The signer must be able to respond intelligibly in a simple conversation with the Notary. In a medical environment the signer’s doctor may be consulted for a professional opinion of the signer’s ability to understand. If the Notary is unsure of the signer’s ability at the time, the Notary may postpone the signing or decline to certify the document(s).
If a notarial certificate does not come with the document, and the signer does not know the type of notarization that is required, the Notary will require the signer to contact the document’s issuing or receiving agency to determine or obtain the appropriate certificate.
Unless the Notary is an attorney or certified professional in the field the document is about, the Notary is prohibited by New Mexico law from giving legal advice, preparing or completing documents for notarization.
Special procedures apply to the following:
Signatures by Mark, such as an “X”
Signatures by Proxy due to the signer’s disability
Notarizing for the blind
Notarizing for minors
Documents sent out of state
Documents sent out of the country.
Immigration documents (It is best to consult an expert in the field.)
Some Notary acts require that you make a vow of truthfulness. This can be in the form “I do solemnly swear,” and closing: “so help me God.” Or, “I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm,” and close with: “and this I do under the pains and penalties of perjury.”
New Mexico Notaries have no authority to “solemnize nuptials,” (perform weddings,) unless they are also ministers.
“Electronically enabled notary public,” means a notary public who has registered with the secretary of state the capability of performing electronic notarial acts. The Notary of this company, “Valley Notary Services,” Marion C. Caryl has not registered to perform electronic notarial acts.
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