Notary guides for Illinois families
Plain answers to the questions people ask before they call a notary: what it costs, what ID works, how jail and hospital signings go, and what a notary can and can't do in Illinois.
Does an Illinois health care power of attorney need to be notarized?
No.
7 min readHow to get a document notarized for someone in Cook County Jail
Find the person's booking number, get the document ready but unsigned, confirm with the jail (or the person's attorney) how an outside notary visit and the paperwork must be scheduled, make sure the person's ID is available, then book a mobile notary.
7 min readHow much does a mobile notary cost in Illinois?
Illinois caps the notary fee at $5 per notarial act (5 ILCS 312/3-104), and a mobile notary adds a travel and service fee for coming to you.
6 min readWhat ID do you need for a notary in Illinois?
In Illinois, a signer needs government-issued identification with a photo and signature that is valid at the time of signing, such as a current driver's license, state ID card or U.S.
6 min readHospital notary checklist: what to bring and what to expect
For a hospital notary visit, have the patient's current government photo ID, the finished but unsigned documents, and any required witness who isn't a relative or an agent, and schedule the visit for a time when the patient is awake and alert.
6 min readWhat a notary can and cannot do in Illinois
An Illinois notary public verifies a signer's identity, watches them sign or acknowledge a document, administers oaths, and completes the notarial certificate.
7 min read