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Notary Services at the Post Office: What You Need to Know
Does the Post Office have a Notary?
Well, the answer is sometimes. The United States Postal Service (USPS) occasionally offers notary services at select locations for documents and letters to be mailed domestically or internationally. To have your documents notarized at the post office, we highly recommend reaching out ahead of time. Depending on the distance to your Post Office, it may be in your best interest to simply get your document notarized online. Online notary services provide a convenient alternative, allowing you to securely verify your identity and sign documents digitally from anywhere. You will need to provide valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, regardless of whether you are notarizing online or in person at the post office. The notary officer will verify your identity to notarize the documents. If you decide to make the trek to the post office and spend the extra time driving and waiting in line, you will need to be sure not to forget the documents that need to be notarized. Heaven forbid you make the trek twice. Only documents with an original signature can be notarized. The notary officer will not notarize copies or faxes of documents. There is a small fee for most notary services at USPS locations. Fees will run from $5-$20 per signature depending on your location. Since most post office locations do not accept debit or credit cards, payment is often made in cash. Be sure to call ahead and check with your local post office for their fees.Does the Post Office do any type of Notarization?
Not all post office locations offer notary services or the same type of notary services. Be sure to make sure they can check with the Post Office that they offer support for the exact kind of notarization you need, such as an oath, jurat, or acknowledgment. Many locations require you to make an appointment for their notary services. By following the steps above and below and ensuring you have the proper identification and documents, you can have your letters or documents notarized at select USPS locations for your mailing needs. Utilizing the convenient notary services at your local post office can save you money, but it will likely not save you any time. As we all know, time is money. For that reason, we recommend taking a look at the option below.
Using an Online Notary Instead: The Pros and Cons
Using an online notary service instead of going into a physical post office location does have some advantages and disadvantages to consider:- Convenience. Online notary services allow you to get documents notarized remotely via live video chat without leaving your home or office. This can save you time and hassle, especially if the nearest notary public or post office with notary services is far away or has limited hours.
- Lower costs. Some online notary services charge lower fees than traditional notaries. The services are often more affordable since they have lower overhead costs without the need for physical office space, staff, or transportation.
- Perfectly Legal. It is best to check with your receiving party as to any hangups regarding electronic and remote notarization, but generally speaking, cross state notarization has long been recognized as legal and RON is approved in the vast majority of states with Online Notarization Laws passed in the House as well.
- Decreased risk of fraud. There is a lower potential for deception and fraudulent activity with electronic notarization since the authentication is run by advanced security systems. With 10 years of video storage as well it’s hard to argue against online notarization providing more security.
- On-demand assistance. With instant chat support, you can speak with someone to assist you through the technical aspects of your notarization. The notary will help you the rest of the way with hands-on guidance.
