How to get a document notarized for someone in Cook County Jail

Why jail notarizations take planning

Cook County Jail is run by the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 2700 S. California Ave. in Chicago. Families need notarized documents for real reasons: a power of attorney so someone can pay bills, a vehicle title, a lease, guardianship papers for children, or an affidavit for a court case.

The notarization itself takes a few minutes. Getting the notary, the document and the ID into the same room is the hard part. Every facility sets its own rules, and those rules change. No notary can promise access to a jail, and I won't pretend otherwise.

What I can do is explain the process honestly, show up with my journal and seal when the visit is approved, and handle the notarization correctly. My jail notary service page covers pricing and what I bring.

How to get a document notarized at Cook County Jail, step by step

1. Find the person and their booking numberUse the Sheriff's online Individual in Custody Locator or call the jail's information line at 773-674-5245. Write down the full name exactly as the jail has it, the booking number and the housing division.
2. Get the document finished, but unsignedAll blanks filled in, every page present, signature lines empty. If it's a legal document, have the person's attorney or the party requesting it prepare it. I can't fill it in or choose the form.
3. Ask how an outside notary gets inCall the jail, or better, ask the person's defense attorney or public defender. Ask how a notary visit is approved, when it can happen, and how the paper document must be submitted ahead so staff can inspect it.
4. Sort out identificationThe signer needs government-issued photo ID that's valid at the time of signing. Their ID is often in their property from booking. Ask whether staff can make it available for the visit. A jail wristband usually isn't enough; see my Illinois notary ID guide.
5. Arrange witnesses if the document needs themSome documents, like a power of attorney for property, need a witness as well as a notary. The witness has to be approved to enter too, so ask about that at the same time.
6. Book the visit with meCall (708) 787-8868 with the booking number, the facility's instructions, the document type and the number of signatures. I'll quote the total before I go.
7. Sign, notarize, and get the document outThe person signs in front of me, I complete the certificate and record it in my journal. Ask in advance how the signed original leaves the jail: with me, with the attorney, or by mail.

What to have ready before you call me

• The person's full legal name and booking number.
• The name of the jail and division, plus whatever the facility or attorney told you about scheduling.
• The finished document, unsigned, and how many signatures need notarizing.
• Where the person's ID is, and whether it's current.
• The name of any witness who will attend.
• Who will receive the signed original afterward.

Documents families commonly need notarized at a jail

• A power of attorney for property, so a family member can manage bank accounts, bills, a lease or a car. In Illinois it needs a witness and a notary.
• A vehicle title transfer or a letter authorizing someone to pick up a vehicle.
• Consent or guardianship papers for the person's children, usually prepared by an attorney or the court.
• Affidavits and sworn statements for a court case, prepared by the person's attorney.
• Bank, insurance or employer forms that the institution says must be notarized.
• Whatever the document, the same rules apply as anywhere else. The signer needs valid ID, must understand what they're signing, and must sign willingly. See what a notary can and cannot do.

Do you really need a notary?

Before you go through all of this, ask the person or office requesting the document whether a notarized signature is actually required. Courts, attorneys and agencies sometimes accept other forms for people in custody. Only they can answer that, and a short call can save you a trip.

If it does need notarizing, a power of attorney is the most common jail document I see. It lets a family member handle bank accounts, bills or a car while the person is in custody.

Other jails near Chicago: MCC Chicago, Will County and DuPage County

MCC Chicago. The Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown is a federal jail run by the Bureau of Prisons, and federal rules apply. Start with the person's attorney, who usually knows how legal paperwork is handled there. Call me once the attorney has confirmed an outside notary visit is possible.

Will County Adult Detention Facility. The Will County jail is at 95 S. Chicago St. in Joliet. Call the facility first to ask how outside notaries and documents are handled.

DuPage County Jail. The DuPage County Sheriff runs the county jail in Wheaton. Same advice: confirm the facility's process before booking.

Suburban police lockups usually hold people only briefly. If someone is in a local lockup, it's often quicker to wait until they're transferred or released, unless the document truly can't wait.

How much does a jail notary cost?

Jail visits are priced like other facility visits. Illinois caps the notary fee itself at $5 per notarial act (5 ILCS 312/3-104).

Questions people ask

Sources

1. WBEZ, Sheriff stops lawyers from entering jail with documents (April 2023)
2. Cook County Sheriff, Individual in custody mail FAQ
3. Cook County Sheriff, Individual in custody visitation schedules
4. 5 ILCS 312/6-102, Notarial acts and identification
5. 5 ILCS 312/3-104, Illinois notary maximum fee

Written by Alex G Koch, Illinois notary public (commission no. 1040610, verify with the Illinois Secretary of State). This guide is general information, not legal advice.

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