Notary Services

Notary stamping a document

Loudoun County Public Library offers limited, free notary services to its customers. Notary services are provided by appointment at all locations. Walk-in appointments may be taken, but it's best to call your branch first ensure a notary is available.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

Customers seeking notarizations must bring:

  • Unsigned documents to be notarized
  • Originals of any documents to be copied and notarized:
    • Notaries can only notarize certified copies made by library staff.
  • Valid photo identification:
    • Photo IDs must be current and in a language the notary understands. If an ID is not familiar to the notary, the notary has the option to refuse acceptance.
  • Any witnesses required:
    • Library staff cannot serve as witnesses. Customers are not allowed to ask other library patrons to serve as their witnesses.
    • In order to serve as a witness, the witness must be personally known to the individual whose documents are being notarized.
    • All witnesses must bring valid photo identification as described above.
 

DOCUMENTS THE LIBRARY CANNOT NOTARIZE

Notaries will NOT be able to notarize the following documents:

  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Gun sales
  • Deeds
  • Real estate transactions
  • Titles
  • I-9 forms
  • Depositions
  • Any documents requiring verification of facts
  • Any documents in other languages than English
  • Post- or pre-dated documents
  • True copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates, which—by law—Virginia notaries are not authorized to certify
 

LIBRARY NOTARY GUIDELINES

Please be aware that LCPL notaries follow these guidelines:

  • Notaries may decline to notarize unfamiliar documents or any notarization that would exceed the appointment parameters.
  • Notaries may decline to notarize a document if they are uncertain of the identity or mental capacity of the signer.
  • Notaries do not act as authorized representatives for employers to verify employment eligibility (specifically, USCS Form I-9).
  • Photo identification should be provided by all signers, even if the signer is “known.” Acceptable forms of ID include:
    • United States passport
    • United States passport card
    • Certificate of United States citizenship
    • Certificate of Naturalization
    • Foreign passport
    • Alien Registration Card with photograph
    • State-issued Driver’s License
    • State-issued Identification Card
    • Uniformed Services Identification Card.
  • Notaries may not administer an oath to a non-English speaker.

A notary public is not duly trained or certified to practice law. Therefore, notaries are unable to provide assistance in prescribing or determining the particular document a customer may need; selecting the type of notarization or certificate for a given document; preparing a document or giving advice on how to fill out, draft, or complete a document; providing legal counseling or advice in a legal matter that may or may not involve a notarial act.