Hotline Tip: How Do I Notarize A Document Signed By Two People In Different Locations?

I have a document needing notarized signatures from two people in different locations. Do both signers have to meet and sign the document at the same time and place, or can their signatures be notarized separately? - A.T., Sioux Falls, South Dakota

You may notarize the signature of one person appearing before you and then the second person can appear before a Notary in their city/state and have their signature notarized.

Each Notary will complete notarial wording for the person appearing before them. The notarial wording should include:

• The location where the notarization was performed (State of......, County of.....);
• The act that was performed (acknowledgment, jurat, etc);
• The date of the notarization; and
• The name of the person whose signature was notarized (".....before me, personally appeared John Doe.....")

This will clearly show that both parties had their signatures notarized — they just appeared at different times/locations before different Notaries.