Military and overseas families
Notary help for military and overseas families
Deployments, overseas postings and long assignments do not pause U.S. paperwork. Here are the routes, in the order worth checking.
Routes to check, in order
- Military legal assistance. Legal assistance offices may offer notary services to eligible people, often free. Ask yours what it covers and who is eligible.
- A U.S. embassy or consulate. The State Department says posts charge a fee for each consular seal, require you to appear in person, and do not offer remote services. Their page has the current rules.
- A notary near you. Rules differ by country, and a foreign notary's work may need extra steps to be accepted in the United States.
- A video session with a New Jersey notary. For documents with a U.S. connection, when the act is not prohibited where you are.
Common documents
- Powers of attorney while deployed or posted abroad
- Documents for a house sale, purchase or refinance
- Bank, brokerage and retirement forms
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Estate documents, which need an attorney's guidance on witnesses
Each has its own page: notarizing U.S. documents from abroad. Or use the quick check.
Before you book
- Ask the receiving party if it accepts a remote notarization.
- Check what the base or host country allows.
- Have an unexpired government photo ID.
- Work out the time difference. Our country pages include a clock table: <a href="/notary/us-citizens-abroad">find your country</a>.
- Have a lawyer draft or review the document. A notary cannot.
Questions
Can a service member get a document notarized for free?
Military legal assistance offices may offer notary services to eligible service members and others, often at no charge. Eligibility and availability depend on the installation, so ask your legal assistance office first.
What if there is no legal assistance office nearby?
A video session with a New Jersey notary is another route, for documents the law allows. Check first that the receiving office accepts a remote notarization.
Do you give legal advice on powers of attorney for deployment?
No. A notary cannot give legal advice. Legal assistance attorneys can advise service members on powers of attorney.
Does a deployed signer have to be in a particular place?
The notary is in New Jersey and you can be anywhere, subject to the rules on this site and to whatever the location allows. Confirm any restrictions on your end before booking.
MCC Solutions is not a law firm and a notary cannot give legal advice, choose the type of notarization for you, or tell you what a document means. Ask the office or person who will receive the document what it needs, and ask a lawyer about the content.