Timing: choose the person's strongest hour
Ask the care team or family when the person is most rested and clear, and book near that time. Many people are more alert in the morning. Tell the notary what the usual rhythm is, including medications, naps and visiting rules, so the visit does not collide with care.
Plan for a visit that is unhurried. The notary may need extra minutes to speak with the person directly and to let them rest. If the person tires, stopping and returning another day is usually better than pushing through.
Identification comes first
Every signer needs acceptable identification, usually a current government-issued photo ID. This is the item that most often causes a visit to fail. Look for the license, passport or state ID before the appointment, and check that it is current. Do not assume a notary can accept an expired card or a hospital wristband.
If the person has no usable ID, tell the notary when you book. State rules allow only narrow alternatives, and the notary can explain what applies. Do not ask the notary to make an exception, because the notary cannot.
Willingness and awareness
A notary has to be satisfied that the signer grasps what the paper is and is signing freely. The New Jersey notary manual lets a notary refuse when not satisfied about a signer's capacity or about whether the person is acting knowingly and voluntarily. The notary will usually ask simple, gentle questions in a conversation, such as who is here and what are you signing today.
This is not a medical test, and the notary is not deciding anything about the document. If the person is too drowsy or confused to answer, or seems to be signing because someone is pressing them, the notary will decline. That is protective, and it is better handled with the care team and the family's attorney than argued at the bedside.
Privacy and family in the room
Family often wants to be present, and the signer may want that too. The notary may ask others to step out for a few minutes so the signer can speak freely, especially if anyone is named in the document or stands to benefit. Please do not take it personally.
The notary will not discuss the contents with the room and will not read documents aloud unless asked. The signer's name and the type of act go into the notary's journal, as the rules require. Facility staff may have their own rules about outside visitors, so tell the front desk or nurse in advance.
What a notary will decline
A notary will not explain what a document means, suggest which form someone needs, or fill in blank spaces. A notary will not notarize for someone who is not present, will not complete a certificate on a document that is unfinished, and will not accept a signature on the signer's behalf unless the rules for that situation are met. Some documents need witnesses, and a notary cannot choose them or advise whether a person qualifies.
If the person cannot hold a pen, tell the notary beforehand. There are state rules for signing by mark or at the direction of a signer, and the notary can explain which steps the notary can take. Whether the document itself allows that is a question for the attorney who prepared it.
Booking on short notice
When you call, have these ready: the facility name and room, or the home address; the number of people signing; the titles of the documents, not their contents; whether witnesses are needed and who they are; each signer's ID; and the deadline, if any. Ask who will meet the notary at the door.
Say plainly that time matters. MCC Solutions tries to make room for urgent visits when the schedule allows, and will tell you honestly if it cannot be done that day. Also tell the notary if the document must be returned to someone, so that mailing or scanning can be arranged.
Common questions
Can a notary come to a hospice facility or home?
Yes, mobile notaries travel to homes and care facilities. Check the facility's visitor rules first, and book the time with the care team.
What if the person is sleepy during the visit?
The notary may wait, or reschedule. The notary needs the signer to understand and agree to what is being signed. It is safer to return another day than to rush.
Can the notary tell us which documents to sign?
No. Which papers to sign is a question for an attorney. The notary completes the notarial act on documents you already have.
More notary guides
- Getting a Notary for Homebound Seniors: A Caregiver's Guide
- Satisfaction of Mortgage and Lien Release Signing
- Signer Capacity and Willingness: Notary Questions
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation.