Originally posted 9/9/22

It might surprise most, but inmates at county jails need notarizations just like those outside the county jail system. As a mobile notary, I also specialize in jail notarizations. I do a lot of work in the county jails in and around my area, which is part of my business. Today I want to give you some tips on how to find a jailhouse notary, who is responsible for hiring them, what you should look for, what you should ask, and what you should expect. Let's get to it if you want to learn more about it.

Who Hires Notaries for Jail Signings?

Those who hire notaries for jail signings are not, in fact, the jail itself. It's a mix of family members of the incarcerated and attorneys.

What should you look for when hiring a Jail House Notary?

It takes a special person, a special notary, to handle jail signings. It requires compassion, patience, and an understanding that all people are still human, just like you and me. I have met notaries that treat their experience with inmates like they are doing them a favor, looking and talking down to them. I strongly believe that how you should handle yourself in jail is exactly how you handle yourself in a nursing home. Compassion, understanding, lack of judgment, or superiority. When I walk into jail to get a document signed and notarized by an inmate, I consider several things. First, this is a functioning working jail. Those officers are not there for my benefit or my service. Respecting their time is my number one priority. Second, never ask the inmate, “So why are you here?” I don’t care. It's none of my business. I am here to provide a service for clients; they are my clients. I treat them with respect and kindness. Often they want to chat about their journey and how they ended up there, but I never speak to them about it.

What should you ask your potential Notary at the time of booking?

You need to know a few things when hiring a notary for a jail signing. The first is, do they have a jail pass? Some county jails require notaries to get a jail pass to perform notarizations with inmates. In addition, have they ever done a jail signing? What do they charge? What if they go to jail and can’t get the notarization due to something happening inside? Do you get a refund? Will they go back? Will they charge you again? Remember that jail notarization can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. A notary’s fees will reflect their time commitment.

What should you expect from a Jail House Notary?

Your notary should be clear about his/her fees, refunds, and expectations. They should carry themselves with professionalism and compassion for you and the inmate. They should maintain the integrity of their office in all communications and notarizations. A jailhouse notary should also work with you regarding receiving and returning documents. If you require them to pick up documents from one location, get them notarized at the jail, and then deliver them to another location, expect travel and parking fees in addition to their base fee.

If I could offer you another piece of advice, don’t shop for a jailhouse notary based on price. Those who seem to be priced higher value themselves and their experience, which should also be of value to you.

I hope this information was helpful. Of course, if you need a notary for any county jail in Fresno, Madera, Kings, Kern, or Tulare Counties- I would be happy to provide you with expert and professional service.

If you’d like to book jail notarization services, click here.

Till Next Time,

Jennifer K. Cooper- JKC Mobile Notary