What to have ready before I arrive

A traditional appointment goes more smoothly when the papers and the people are ready before I get there. I come to you in Lubbock and the South Plains. I do not keep walk-in hours. The time we set is the time the act is meant to happen.

Every person who signs must be in the room. Government Code § 406.0091 requires personal appearance. I cannot take a signature from someone who has stepped out, and I cannot notarize a signature that is already on the page unless that person is present to acknowledge it. If two people must sign, both of them need to be there for their own signatures.

Each signer needs a current government photo identification. Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 121.005 and 1 Texas Administrative Code § 87.40 are the rules I use. A driver's license, a state identification card, a passport, or another unexpired government photo ID is the usual evidence. An expired card, a damaged card, or a card that does not match the name on the document is not satisfactory. I compare the ID to the person in front of me. I do not copy the identification number into the journal. Government Code § 406.014 and 1 Texas Administrative Code § 87.50 prohibit an identification number and a fingerprint.

Bring the complete document. A missing page, a blank that still has to be filled in, or a notarial certificate with no document attached will stop the act. I do not draft the missing pages, and I do not tell you what should be written in a blank. If you are not sure the document is finished, settle that before the appointment.

Tell me the address, how many people will sign, and what the document is when you book. If the appointment is at a hospital, a nursing home, or a jail, say so. Those places take longer to enter, and the location fee is separate from the notarial act. If you expect me to wait, waiting is also a separate charge. The first 15 minutes are $10, and each additional 15-minute period is $10.

Weekday appointments are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Weekend appointments are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. I do not take an appointment outside those hours. There is no deposit. Sending a quote does not hold the time. I hold it when I confirm the appointment.

If the identification is missing, the document is incomplete, or a signer will not sign, I cannot perform the act. There is no charge for an act that is not performed. If you need advice about what the document means, ask a licensed attorney before I arrive. I am not an attorney, and I do not give legal advice.