Ernest Adams
Connecticut Mobile Notary Public
(860) 543-2334

All of the answers on this Page apply to Ernest Adams, a Connecticut Notary Public; some may apply to other Notaries Public in other states as well. If you are outside of Connecticut, please consult a Notary Public or attorney in your state. Nothing here should be considered legal advice! Please see the Disclaimer.

The latest questions:

We want to elope in Connecticut. Can you help us?

Congratulations! Yes, I can help you. It was an honor to be appointed a Justice of the Peace. That means I can legally perform marriages and civil unions in Connecticut. Please visit my Connecticut Justice of the Peace Web Site: WWW.NutmegJusticeOfThePeace.Com for details.
 
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We need a Power of Attorney for somebody in the hospital. Can you help? The Connecticut Power of Attorney form looks strange. Do we really need two witnesses?

In reading the following, please remember that I am not an attorney. I cannot give you legal advice. Anyone who is considering granting Power of Attorney is urged to contact an attorney authorized to practice law in Connecticut. The powers which may be granted are very broad and sweeping, and must not be granted lightly. An ill-considered Power of Attorney is a license to steal.
 

The Connecticut Power of Attorney form is very different. It may look like the reverse of what you would expect!

The oddest thing about the Connecticut Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney form is that the person granting the Power of Attorney crosses out and initials the powers that they do not want to give.
 

The form has a list of powers that may be granted, such as real estate transactions, banking transactions, and health care decisions.

I have lost track of the number of times people have filled out the form taking away powers that they wanted to grant, and granting powers that they wanted to withhold.

 

Recently a man who had received Power of Attorney from his mother was waiting in line at his mother's bank. He noticed that the boxes had not been checked and proceeded to check them all. Fortunately for him, the teller did not see him writing on the form. Changing a document once the signature has been notarized is fraud. Also fortunate was the fact that the teller was sympathetic and pointed out the problem rather than notifying the authorities. To make a long, painful story shorter, his elderly mother had to execute a new Power of Attorney.

 

Two witnesses are required for a Connecticut Power of Attorney.

If you bought (or buy) a Power of Attorney form from a stationery store, it may or may not have spaces for the witnesses' signatures and hand-printed names.

The witnesses must not receive any of the powers being granted. (In other words, if two of you are receiving power, you must not attempt to be witnesses for each other!)

 

The following two suggestions are based on personal experience: Keep your original notarized Power of Attorney (let the bank make their own copy, and insist on receiving your original back immediately). Mail a photocopy rather than your only original (not all companies are diligent about returning documents).
 
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I'm working temporarily in Connecticut, I live in Massachusetts, and I've got vacation property in Wyoming. If you notarize my form in Connecticut, will your notarization be valid in my home state and in the state where my property is?

Yes! Any Notary Public in the United States can notarize the signature(s) on a document with a Notarial Certificate. The notarization will be honored throughout the United States.
 
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I got my GED in Connecticut and I moved to Pennsylvania. I need a certified copy of my GED Diploma, but the Pennsylvania Notary says that Notaries in Pennsylvania can't certify copies. Where can I meet you to get you to certify the copy?

You don't need to come to Connecticut! A Notary Public in Pennsylvania (or anywhere in the United States) can help you. I'll describe the procedure here, and if your chosen local Notary Public has questions have that Notary call me.
 
You or your local Notary can print a document that says, essentially, "I, " your name ", of legal age, first being duly sworn, swear that the attached reproduction of " describe the document " is a true and exact copy of the original document. In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name." (Do not use the quotation marks!) Have your Notary Public add the correct wording for a Jurat in the state where the notarization is taking place. You, as the person who made the copy, are swearing an oath that the copy is accurate. Your Notary is simply notarizing your signature.
 
The above instructions are paraphrased from the Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.11, "Certified Copies". Please note that this procedure is not to be used with documents that are considered public records, such as birth, death, or marriage certificates. If your local Notaries Public still refuse to cooperate, please consult an attorney licensed to practice law in the state where you are having difficulty or the state in which the document was issued.
 
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Are you compliant with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act?

Yes! I have passed the background screening through the National Notary Association (external Site). The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act deals with maintaining the privacy of financial and other private information of consumers. Information about the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act can be found at the Federal Trade Commission Web Site (external Site) or by using Google (external Site) or other search engines.
 
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Will you accept the New Haven, CT Municipal Identification Card?

No. As is explained below, the Municipal Identification Card is not included in the list of acceptable forms of identification.
 
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Other questions:

What is a Notary Public?

"The Notary Public is a public official appointed by the Secretary of the State through the power vested in the Secretary by state law. The Notary has the power to administer oaths, take acknowledgments and perform other duties as permitted by law. [...] A Notary Public does not have the training or authority to prepare legal documents or recommend a course of action in legal transactions. Any person who is in need of such assistance should be advised to consult an attorney." (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 1.1)
 
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What is a Mobile Notary Public?

A Mobile Notary Public is a commissioned Notary Public who travels to people who need documents notarized, rather than the people having to travel to a Notary. A Mobile Notary Public is sometimes called a Traveling Notary Public.
 
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Using a Mobile Notary Public sounds expensive. Is it?

Connecticut state law sets the fees that Notaries Public may charge for notarization: "Effective July 1, 2000, the fee for any act performed by a Notary Public, in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes, is five dollars ($5.00) plus an additional thirty-five cents ($.35) for each mile traveled." (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 8.0) Other fees may be charged for photocopying, courier service, et cetera. Most people do not need additional services, so they pay only the statutory fees.
 
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The Notary Public at my bank will notarize documents for free. Why should I pay you?

If you can take the time to travel to your bank during banker's hours and have your documents notarized there, then please do! I encourage people to save money where they can do so without inconvenience or sacrificing quality.
 

If you prefer to have your documents notarized when and where it is convenient for you, then please give me a call at (860) 543-2334.
 
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Does the Notary's seal on an Affidavit (or other document) mean that it is true?

The Notary Public first identifies the document signer(s), looks over the document quickly to be sure there are no blank spaces, administers an oath, watches the signer(s) sign, and fills out the Notarial Certificate. Most of the time the Notary does not read the document, but merely scans it. The signer has sworn that the statements are true, but that does not mean that the Notary is responsible for the statements actually being true. Even so, a Notary Public will refuse to notarize the signature on a document that contains a false statement. The penalties for perjury apply to anyone who swears to a false statement. If you receive a notarized document then you can be sure that the person whose name is listed as the signer actually did sign the document. Having a document notarized does not make it true or "legal".
 
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What is the oath?

The oath used by Connecticut Notaries Public is "Do you solemnly swear that the statements contained herein are true to the best of your knowledge and belief, so help you God?". The signer should answer "I do." (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.8, "Oaths and Affirmations")
 

If the signer is not comfortable with the wording of the traditional oath, an alternative (Solemn Affirmation) can be used. For example, "Do you solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that the statements contained herein are true to the best of your knowledge and belief, upon pains and penalties of perjury or false statement?" The signer should answer "I do."
 

If the Notarial Certificate requires an oath, then an oath or affirmation must be used. I will not notarize such a document without the signer(s) having taken an oath or having made an affirmation. There are no exceptions.
 
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What is a Notarial Certificate?

The Notarial Certificate is almost always pre-printed on the document to be notarized. There are two forms of Notarial Certificate used in Connecticut: An Acknowledgement and a Jurat.
 

An Acknowledgement means that the signer has personally appeared before the Notary, signed in the presence of the Notary, and stated that the act of signing was done of his or her own free will. (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.2, "Acknowledgements") There is no oath or affirmation administered for an Acknowledgement. The focus of an Acknowledgement is that the signature is genuine and the document was signed voluntarily.
 

If the signer accidentally signed the document before meeting with the Notary, it is possible that the signature on an Acknowledgement may still be notarized. Please do not sign your document until we meet in person.
 

A Jurat means that the signer has personally taken an oath (or affirmation) administered by the Notary Public and has signed the document in the Notary's presence. (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.9, "Affidavits") The focus of a Jurat is that the signature is genuine and that the signer has sworn that the statements in the document are true.
 

The signature on a Jurat cannot be notarized unless it was signed in the Notary's presence.
 
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My document doesn't look like it has a Notarial Certificate. Which one should I use?

The Notary Public cannot tell you which form of Notarial Certificate should be used. Doing so would constitute Unauthorized Practice of Law (please see the Disclaimer). The most any Notary Public who is not also an attorney can do is point out the difference between an Acknowledgement and a Jurat and ask you to decide which one you want to use.
 
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Are there documents that you won't notarize?

In general, I do not notarize documents written in a language other than English because I do not read other languages well enough to understand them fully. There may be exceptions.
 

The Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.19, specifically warns against notarizing hand-written Wills, so I will not notarize a hand-written Will. I will notarize a Will that has been prepared by an attorney or one generated by a so-called "Will Kit". I cannot, must not, and will not give any advice about filling out forms.
 

I will notarize a Living Will, Power of Attorney, Deed (or other real estate document), medical document, or any other document presented to me by any person who has valid identification, understands what they are signing, appears competent, and pays the prescribed fees.
 

The only times that I have refused to notarize a signature have been when the (potential) signer has appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, has been unable to answer basic questions about the document (e.g., "What does this paper mean?", "What does Power of Attorney mean to you?"), or could not prove their identity.
 

People in convalescent hospitals sometimes are not oriented in time and place (they don't know what year it is or where they are), do not understand the consequences of signing, or are otherwise confused. I am neither a medical professional nor a mental health expert. I must rely on my layman's common sense when determining whether a person appears competent.
 
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What kind of identification do I need?

You will need two pieces of ID, unless I know you personally. Please note that they must be current, that is, not expired.
 

The primary ID must have been issued by a federal government or a state government. It must have your photograph (or physical description) and your signature on it. The most common examples are passports (issued by the United States or other countries), drivers' licenses (and state-issued non-drivers' IDs), and pistol permits. Military IDs, both active-duty and retired, are also very much acceptable as primary ID. A "Green Card" is also acceptable.
 

The secondary ID does not need to have a photo on it but it must contain your signature; typically used are work IDs and signed credit cards or debit cards.
 

Social Security Cards and Birth Certificates are specifically excluded from use as IDs by the Connecticut Notary Handbook. (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.4, "Determining Identity")
 

The Municipal Identification Card being issued by New Haven, CT cannot be accepted as primary identification. The card (or a similar card issued by another municipality) is neither federal nor state identification, as required by the Connecticut Notary Handbook. If the Connecticut Secretary of State issues a directive stating that the New Haven card is to be accepted, or a future edition of the Connecticut Notary Handbook allows the use of such a card, then I will accept it. You may expect to see that change noted here, if it happens.
 

The identification you present must match the name on the document(s) to be notarized. Your ID may contain more name information than your document, but not less. For example, if your driver's license says "Mary Elizabeth Smith" and the Power of Attorney says "Mary E. Smith", I will be happy to notarize your signature. If, on the other hand, your Pistol Permit says "John M. Jones" and the affidavit you want notarized says "John Morgan Jones" I would not be allowed to notarize your signature unless you could provide additional identification that says you are John Morgan Jones.
 

For people who have changed their names through marriage, divorce, et cetera, you must have identification matching the document(s) to be notarized. A Connecticut Notary Public cannot accept a marriage license plus ID with your previous name. The only exception I can make is if I performed your marriage in my capacity as a Justice of the Peace. In that case, it would be my pleasure to notarize you signature without charge!
 

If you have any questions about acceptable identification that are not answered on this Page please call me at (860) 543-2334.
 
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My grandmother is in the hospital and has no identification. Can you notarize a Living Will for her?

If you and I can find somebody who knows both your grandmother and me personally and is willing to swear that her name is the same as that on the Living Will, yes I can. The key to notarizing a document for someone without the kinds of identification listed above is "... an individual who is 'personally known' to the notary. Like all witnesses, the credible-witness should be honest, competent and ideally, without interest in the transaction." (Connecticut Notary Public Manual, Section 4.5, "Credible Witness Acknowledgement")
 
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Can Connecticut Notaries Public marry people?

There's bad news and good news. Notaries Public are not permitted to perform marriages in Connecticut, but Justices of the Peace are. Because I have been appointed a Justice of the Peace, I would consider it an honor to perform your marriage or civil union ceremony. Please visit my Web Site geared toward weddings and civil unions: WWW.NutmegJusticeOfThePeace.Com or call me at (860) 543-2334.
 
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What is a Notary Signing Agent?

A Notary Signing Agent is a commissioned Notary Public who has had special training in the handling of loan documents (mortgages, refinances, reverse mortgages, et cetera). Almost always a Notary Signing Agent is also a Mobile Notary Public.
 
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What is a Certified Notary Signing Agent?

There is no government agency which certifies Notary Signing Agents. Several private organizations, including the National Notary Association (WWW.NationalNotary.Org [external Site]), sell certification based on tests they have devised. Such "certification" is worth only the reputation of the certifying organization. Some certifications are worthless, and mean only that the "certified" Notary Public has paid a fee.
 
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Are you a Certified Notary Signing Agent?

Yes, I am certified by the National Notary Association (external Site).
 

The National Notary Association's Certification Test does have value. Not everyone who takes the test passes. It is not a take-it-until-you-pass test, as some others are. While the test is somewhat biased toward California law, it does require real-world experience with loan closings in order to score well. Also, one must re-certify periodically.
 
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Will you charge more because you are a Certified Notary Signing Agent?

No! I took the certification examination more out of curiosity than anything else. I found it interesting to test my knowledge of loan documents and signing procedures. My fees did not change, nor will they.
 
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What is a Notary Signing Service?

Sometimes "Notary Signing Service" is used as another term for a Notary Signing Agent. Other times "Notary Signing Service" may mean a signing service, a firm that finds Notary Signing Agents to perform loan signings.
 
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You don't have an email address listed on your Site. Why not?

There are three main reasons for having no email address listed here: First, I receive more than enough spam already. Second, because I am frequently traveling between appointments I might not be able to respond quickly enough, leading you to believe that I did not care about your needs. Third, several people have written email messages (sometimes attaching legal documents) asking for legal advice, which I cannot and will not give.
 
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Why don't you have an office address listed?

For your convenience I travel to you! There is no office address listed because I do not have an office. My family prefers that I do not see clients in our home.
 
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I am from out of state. If you don't have an office, how can you help me?

We can meet at a library, mall, coffee shop, or other public place. In general, meeting at a restaurant is not a good idea; servers (reasonably!) expect people to order food and/or beverages, which could spill on documents.
 
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I live in Middletown in Middlesex County and your Web Site says that you live in New London County. Can you help me?

Yes! Connecticut Notaries Public are authorized to perform Notarial acts anywhere in Connecticut.
 
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I live in Rhode Island and work in Connecticut. Can you notarize a document for me?

Yes! As long as we meet in Connecticut, I can notarize your document. I cannot notarize any document when I am physically outside the borders of Connecticut. If you need help finding a Notary Public near you, I will do my best to help you find a local Notary.
 
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I have seen "Notary Publics" and "Notaries Public" both as the plural of Notary Public. Which is correct?

"Notaries Public" is correct. "Notary Public" is one of the terms in which the adjective follows the noun, therefore the plural goes with the noun not the adjective. Think of it as being similar to Attorneys General and mothers-in-law.
 
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I have heard people say "Notary Republic". Is that wrong?

In the United States, only "Notary Public" (or "Notaries Public") is correct. "Notary Republic" is based on mishearing "Notary Public", or thinking about "... for the Republic for which it stands ..." in the familiar Pledge. Despite being able to find the term "Notary Republic" on the Web, and it having been used by people who should know better, only "Notary Public" should be used.
 
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Is a "Notary Republic" the same thing as a "Notario Publico"?

No! "Notario Publico" is a Spanish term for an special attorney who is similar to a government official. A Mexican Notario Publico has far more responsibility and authority than a Connecticut Notary Public! A Notario Publico is a very powerful person who can give legal advice, intervene in court proceedings, and ensure that a document conforms to the law. For a Connecticut Notary Public to take similar actions would be thoroughly illegal! ¡Yo no soy Notario Publico!
 
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I am proud to support the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce (external Site) by being an active member.

If you are new to Southeastern Connecticut, are visiting or planning on visiting, or are starting your own business, the GNACC can help you. Please call (860) 887-1647 to talk to caring, professional people!

I am not an attorney. ¡Yo no soy Notario Publico! I cannot give legal advice. If you need legal help, please consult an attorney authorized to practice law in Connecticut (or the state in which you live). All opinions expressed on this Site are that of a layman, except where cited sources are clearly noted.

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