If you are wondering does the post office has a notary – the answer is not that simple. Some post offices have a notary, while others do not. So, it depends on the postal service you’re using.
Postal service has been around for a long time, and one of its most significant advantages is the ease of shipment they provide. It’s a secure way of sending valuables or documents across states. This public facility also helps you send packages conveniently from home.
The following article will help you understand if the facility provides a notary facility and why notarization is essential in the first place.
Does the Post Office Have a Notary – Understanding Notarization
Notarization is the process of verifying the authenticity of a document. Usually, government/official documents require notarization for legal purposes. A notary public is responsible for certifying the authenticity of a signature on a document.
Notarization is a sign for the government to witness authentic signatures on legal attestations. Notaries are government agents who look after the process and authenticate the signature.
When a document has notarization, it carries a lot of weight as it acts as a third-party witness to the authenticity of one or more parties.
Standard documents that need notarization include:
- An affidavit
- Attestation
- Agreement,
- Wills
- Deeds
- Bonds
- Original documents
- Salary certificates
- Bank account opening forms, among others.
Importance of Notarization in Legal Documents
Notarization is essential in legal documents for the following reasons:
- Ensures proper transactions: Notaries can oversee the proper execution of transactions. Notarization helps in conducting transparent transactions without any ill will or malice attached to it.
- Prevents frauds: Fraudulent activities are on the rise, and people get scammed occasionally. To prevent this, notarization is a foolproof method. The proper use of this process is to prevent forgery, thereby assuring that the document is legitimate.
- Increases confidence: Notarization helps increase the confidence that a document is signed by all the parties involved.
But apart from courthouses and government offices, where else can one get their documents notarized? Some post offices offer this service!
Does the Post Office Have a Notary Service? Answering the Question
Agencies such as UPS and AAA, law firms or real estate offices offer notary services. You would find that hardly popular post offices provide notarization as a service. Thus, whether the post office has a notary is subjective to the area you go to.
The general answer is that post offices have distinct differences from agencies offering notarization. Moreover, UPS offers notarization and includes a range of services, including logistics and shipping.
USPS, a popular postal service, does not offer notarization, which is difficult for those who rely on it. It is one of the most widespread postal services in the country that also offers international shipping, so that’s a plus!
Here are some alternatives that offer notary services:
- Local government offices: Some city or town offices offer notary services available to the public.
- Libraries: Yes! These offer free or low-cost services that include notarization!
- Credit unions and banks: Several banks offer free notary services to their customers.
- Online notaries: Some states allow notarization through online platforms such as DocuSign and Notarize.
The best option is to call ahead and confirm ahead with these establishments. This will also allow you to ask for the required documents.
Availability of Notary Services at Post Offices
Notaries are essential for certifying documents, and many wonder if the USPS offers this service. However, USPS does not provide notary services. Thankfully, there are alternatives, such as private postal centres, online notary services, and banks.
So, even though you won’t find a notary service at the post office, you will definitely find an alternative that is accessible and easy to use.
Fees for Notary Services:
As the USPS does not neutralize documents, you may need to opt for alternative providers, and their fees vary accordingly.
Some of the fee structures for these alternatives are:
- Banks and credit unions offer free notary services for account holders
- The UPS stores typically charge 5 to 15 dollars per signature
- Online notary services may cost you around $ 25 to 50 per notarization
- Other providers can charge different fees depending on their location and state regulation
Required Documentation:
To have your document notarized, you must ensure the following:
- Valid government-issued ID such as a passport or a driver’s license
- Ensure not to sign the document beforehand, as it must be signed in the notary’s presence. So, carry a fresh document without any signatures.
- Carry the notary’s fee with you as per the requirement.
- Some documents need additional witnesses, so you may need to bring the required witnesses to the office.
These are all the document-related requirements when you want notarization done on an agreement or will, et cetera.
Alternatives to Post Office Notary Services
As mentioned earlier, if the answer to whether does post office provides notary service is unfulfilled around you, you can opt for the following alternatives. As below:
- Online notary services: Many states allow online notarization providing convenience and flexibility to the residents. Platforms such as document files, or one notary also annotated documents remotely via video calls. A few advantages of this service are 24/7 availability and the option to get your document notarized at home.
Disadvantages include that only certain documents can be notarized through online procedure and very few States allow this.
- Other alternatives include UPS branches with notaries available
- Banks and credit unions that offer low-cost or free notary services for its members
- Libraries and town halls, amongst other options
- You can even get property-related documents notarized at the real estate or title offices
Pros and Cons of Using Post Office Notary Services
If the answer to does the post office has a notary service is a yes for you, then the pros for this are:
- Convenience me not be present with options such as UPS or other local options as you may have to search for them and travel a distance to reach them.
- Cost saving: You may get free to low-cost services at the post office, similar to alternatives such as banks.
- You can even get the notarization of document properties done at these centres without having to visit a real estate office.
Cons:
- The cons include no USPS option, and you may have to see external providers if the post office does not provide notary service in your area.
- The costs can vary depending on the location and regulations they are under. Thus, fees can be higher for private notaries.
- Online notaries allow only limited document types, which is an inconvenience if you do not have a post office that provides a notary service.
FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions we get about notary services:
No, the USPS does not offer notary services. However, you may visit other providers such as UPS stores, banks, and online notarization.
As USPS does not neutralize documents, you should bring a valid ID, your document, and the required payment. This is in case the answer is yes to whether does post office provides a notary service. If you opt for other services, you may verify the requirements by calling ahead.
The fees for document notarization at the post office may range from $5 to $50
No, you may need to use other options, such as online platforms or UPS stores. Not all documents can arise from the post office, so check the requirements with the branch near you.
In comparison to post offices such as USPS, online notary services offer flexibility, 24/7 availability, and convenience. They are ideal for urgent notarization. However, not all states all documents are eligible in this format.
Wrapping It Up!
That was all on does post office has a notary and the alternatives in case the one around you does not provide the service. Notarization of documents is an important requirement in many cases, such as wills, deeds, and agreements, among others.
When you opt for notarization, ensure you have an authentic provider for this service. Call ahead and check all the requirements before you drop by. It will help you avoid the hassle of delaying the process.
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