NOTARY PUBLIC & INSPECTION SERVICES AVAILABLE

  A notary who is not an attorney shall not assist another person in drafting, completing, selecting, or understanding a document or transaction requiring a notarial act. Subsection 1 of this section shall not preclude a notary who is duly qualified, trained, licensed, or experienced in a particular industry or professional field from selecting, drafting, completing, or advising on a document or certificate related to a matter within that industry or field. Missouri notaries can only notarize documents in Missouri. Proper notarization must include proper notary wording (acknowledgment, jurat or copy certification and any other act authorized by Missouri law), the notary’s seal/ stamp and official signature. A notary cannot notarize his or her own signature. A notary is to be an impartial witness. A Missouri notary may notarize documents that originate in other states as long as the document is being signed and notarized in Missouri. The best form of identification is one that includes a photograph and signature. A valid driver’s license is a good source of identification. The person can also be personally known to the notary or can be identified by an individual personally known to the notary. If the notary certificate states “Subscribed and sworn to/affirmed before me”, etc., then the document must be signed by the signer in the presence of the notary. An oath or affirmation must be administered to the person whose signature the notary is notarizing. If a document is already signed when it is presented for notarization, the notary should ask the person to resign the document again in their presence.