A client wants to sign a letter granting permission for his 9-year-old daughter to travel with her aunt to Mexico. Can I notarize a letter for the father without the mother and aunt being present? — J.L., New Mexico
Yes. If the father — not the mother or aunt — is the signer of the document who has personally appeared before you, you may notarize his signature. If the mother and aunt’s signature must be notarized as well, and they are not personally present before you, they must either appear before you to have their signatures notarized at another time or must go to another Notary to have their signatures notarized.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.