Most deeds I notarize don't involve a bank or a closing table. A parent adds a child to the title, a couple moves the house into a trust, or a seller sells to a neighbor without an agent. Deeds are signed in front of a notary before they're recorded, and I can bring that step to you.
Real estate notary or loan signing agent?
If a lender is involved, such as a purchase with a mortgage, a refinance or a home equity line, the title company usually sends a full closing package and hires a signing agent. That's a mobile loan signing, and it has its own process.
This page is for the rest: deeds and real estate papers without a lender. Quit claim deeds between family members, adding or removing a spouse, deeds into a living trust, transfer on death instruments, and for-sale-by-owner paperwork. These are often one or two documents, signed at home, and they still need a proper notarization before they're recorded.
Real estate documents I notarize
- Quit claim deeds, including deeds between spouses, parents and children, or ex-spouses after a divorce.
- Warranty and special warranty deeds.
- Deeds into or out of a living trust, usually prepared by your estate attorney.
- Transfer on death instruments (TODIs) and TODI revocations.
- Affidavits a title company or attorney asks for, such as owner's or seller's affidavits.
- Powers of attorney that let someone sign real estate papers for you. See power of attorney notarization.
- Easements, releases and other recordable documents your attorney prepares.
Who prepares the deed?
Not me. Choosing the type of deed, describing the property and deciding how title should be held are legal decisions, and Illinois notaries can't make them for you. A real estate attorney can prepare the deed and tell you how to record it. That's the most common route in Chicago, and it's worth it for something as valuable as a house.
Once the deed is signed and notarized, it's recorded with the county. In Cook County, recording is handled by the Cook County Clerk's office. Your attorney or title company can tell you about any transfer declarations or fees that go with it.
Does an Illinois transfer on death instrument need witnesses?
Yes. An Illinois TODI (a transfer on death instrument, sometimes called a transfer on death deed) lets you name who gets your home when you die, without probate. To be valid, the owner signs it in front of two credible adult witnesses and a notary. A beneficiary or a beneficiary's spouse shouldn't serve as a witness. And the TODI must be recorded with the county before the owner's death, or it doesn't work.
Line up the two witnesses before I arrive. I'm the notary, so I can't also be a witness. The witnesses sign in front of me too, and they should bring photo ID. If the owner is in a hospital or nursing home, I can do the signing there; see nursing home notary visits.
How a deed signing works
- Have the deed preparedYour attorney or title company prepares the deed with the correct legal description and a notarial certificate for each signer.
- Call me with the detailsTell me how many owners are signing, whether witnesses are needed (for a TODI, yes) and where the signing is. I'll quote the total.
- Check names against IDsThe name on each signer's ID should match the name on the deed. If it doesn't, for example after a marriage, call me before booking.
- Sign in front of meEvery owner who signs appears in person with a current photo ID. I complete the certificate, seal it and make the journal entry.
- Record the deedYou, your attorney or your title company records the original with the county. A deed that isn't recorded doesn't protect anyone.
How much does a deed notarization cost?
Each signer's notarized signature is a separate $5 notarial act. The travel and service fee is agreed before I drive.
| Example | Total | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| One owner signs a quit claim deed at home | $125 | $120 travel and service + $5 |
| Husband and wife both sign a deed at home | $130 | $120 + two notarizations at $5 |
| TODI signed by an owner and two witnesses at home | $125 and up | $120 + $5 for each notarized signature the certificate covers |
| Deed signed at an office, hospital or nursing home | $150 | $145 travel and service + $5 |
| Signing in Aurora, DeKalb or far Will County | Quoted | Added mileage agreed before I leave |
Selling by owner (FSBO)? Line these up first
- An Illinois real estate attorney. Even without agents, most Chicago-area sales use attorneys on both sides.
- A title company to handle the title search and closing, if you're using one. They'll tell you which documents need a notary and may arrange the closing themselves.
- Every owner on title. If three siblings inherited the house, all three sign, each in front of a notary.
- Current photo ID for each signer, with names that match the deed.
- A clear idea of the deadline. If it's tomorrow, see same-day notary appointments.
Where I notarize deeds
At your kitchen table, your attorney's conference room, or at the bedside if the owner is ill. I'm based in Oak Lawn and cover Oak Lawn, Beverly and Mount Greenwood, Orland Park, the rest of Cook County, and Will and DuPage counties. For pricing on every visit type, see my prices.
Deeds: questions people ask
Does a quit claim deed need to be notarized in Illinois?
In practice, yes. Illinois deeds are signed and acknowledged before a notary, and recording offices and title companies expect it. Each owner who signs appears in front of the notary with a current photo ID. Your attorney or the county recorder can confirm any other recording requirements.
Can you prepare my quit claim deed?
No. Preparing a deed is legal work, and Illinois notaries can't give legal advice or draft legal documents. A real estate attorney can prepare it; I notarize the signatures once it's ready.
How many witnesses does an Illinois TODI need?
Two credible adult witnesses, in addition to the notary. A beneficiary or a beneficiary's spouse shouldn't be a witness. The TODI must also be recorded before the owner's death.
Do you take a thumbprint for Cook County deeds?
No. The Cook County thumbprint requirement in the Illinois Notary Public Act stopped applying on July 1, 2018, and current journal rules don't allow fingerprints. I record each notarization in my journal as Illinois requires.
How much does it cost to notarize a deed?
A home visit starts at $125: $120 for travel and service and $5 for the notarization. Each additional notarized signature, such as a second owner, is $5. Offices, hospitals and nursing homes start at $150.
Can you notarize a deed at a nursing home or hospital?
Yes. The owner must be alert, understand what they're signing, and have a valid ID. Facility visits start at $150.
Who records the deed after you notarize it?
You, your attorney or your title company. In Cook County, deeds are recorded with the Cook County Clerk's office. I don't record documents.
What if my name on the deed doesn't match my ID?
Call me before booking. Small differences can sometimes be handled, but a name change after marriage or divorce may need your attorney's input on how the deed is drafted.
Where I do deeds visits
These are the places I'm called to most for this kind of visit. I cover all of Chicagoland from Oak Lawn.
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