Letter notarization
Where to get a letter notarized
Start with the instructions from the person or office receiving your letter. If they need an original paper document signed in ink, arrange an in-person notary. If they accept online notarization, you may be able to complete the signing in a live video session.
Choose an option
Local or online: check what your recipient accepts.
Local or in-person notary
Choose an in-person appointment if the recipient requires a wet-ink paper original or you prefer to meet locally. Confirm the notary can complete the required act and certificate before you travel.
Online notary
If the recipient accepts online notarization, you may sign in a live video session. Confirm that the provider can serve your location, verify your ID, and handle your document.
Document review
If the wording, format, apostille, or recipient instructions are unclear, have the document reviewed before booking. Include any written instructions from the receiving office.
Before visiting a store
Call the location before you travel.
Participating UPS Store locations and some independent shipping stores offer in-person notarization. A local bank, credit union, law office, or mobile notary may also be an option. Confirm availability for your document rather than assuming a notary will be there when you arrive.
An independent store that accepts FedEx or USPS packages may offer its own notary service. Check with that business directly. A carrier logo or package drop-off service does not tell you whether a notary is available.
FedEx Office does not provide in-store notarization. Its online service connects you to Notarize/Proof on your own audio-video-capable device. Printing and shipping are separate services.
USPS does not offer notarization as a standard Post Office retail service. Mailing, passport services, and USPS Form 1583 requirements are separate from a notarial act.
Limited Alaska postmaster exception
39 CFR 222.2(c)(1) gives postmasters in Alaska notarial authority within Alaska when certification is necessary to meet federal or Alaska law, without a fee. The Alaska Court System identifies a postmaster as an option for its marriage-license application. This is not a general USPS walk-in notary service.
Questions to ask
Will a commissioned notary be available at my appointment time?
Can you complete the required notarial act and certificate for this letter?
What ID should I bring, do I need witnesses, and what is the total fee?
What notarization does
What is a notarized letter?
A notarized letter is a letter or statement with a completed notarial certificate. Depending on the required act, the notary may witness your signature, take your acknowledgment, or administer an oath or affirmation. The notary checks your identity and completes the required process; notarization does not guarantee the truth of the letter or its acceptance everywhere.
Ask the recipient for written instructions, including any required wording or notarial certificate. A school, bank, court, government office, or foreign recipient may also require witnesses, wet ink, translation, an apostille, or a certified record. Notarizing a personal statement is not a substitute for obtaining an official record.
Choose your next step
Ready letter and online notarization accepted: upload it.
Unsure about wording, apostille, or recipient acceptance: request review.
Organizing for someone else: the signer must still attend the session.
Prepare for your appointment
Have the letter, ID, and recipient instructions ready.
Complete the letter without signing it, and keep the recipient instructions with it. Confirm the notarial act and certificate wording before the appointment. Bring an acceptable original ID or passport, and arrange any required witnesses with the provider.
For an online session, you will also need a device with a working camera and microphone and a reliable internet connection. Confirm that the provider can serve your location and verify your ID. If the letter needs an apostille, legalization, or special paper handling, request review before booking.
If you are helping someone else, the person whose signature is being notarized must complete their own identity-document step and appear in the live session. You cannot attend or verify identity in their place.
Before you upload
Document complete.
Document unsigned.
Signer available.
Original ID or passport in hand.
Recipient expectations understood or sent to review.
Compare options
Which option fits your letter?
Choose based on the required document format and the service actually available. Printing an electronically notarized PDF does not turn it into a wet-ink original or automatically make it suitable for an apostille.
| Option | What it usually means | Best fit | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notary Geek online notarization | Upload your letter, complete the signer identity-document step, and attend a live audio-video session. | Ready signer-created letters, affidavits, consent letters, company letters, and similar documents where online notarization is acceptable. | Use document review if apostille, foreign use, recipient wording, or acceptance is uncertain. |
| FedEx Office online notary | FedEx Office offers access to remote notarization through Notarize/Proof on the customer's device. It does not provide in-store notarization. | Letters that the provider can handle online and the recipient accepts in electronic form. | Confirm ID requirements, signer location, certificate wording, and any apostille needs with the provider. |
| UPS Store or local in-person notary | The UPS Store offers notary services at participating locations through independently owned franchise stores. Other independent shipping stores may also have a notary. Call ahead. | Signers who need or prefer wet-ink paper handling, local witness coordination, or an in-person notary. | Confirm the appointment, acceptable ID, document and certificate, witnesses, and fees. |
| USPS / post office | USPS handles mailing, certified mail, passport services, and postal requirements. Notarization is not a standard Post Office retail service. | Mailing the final document, confirming postal requirements, or working through USPS Form 1583 for mailbox authorization. | If the issue is USPS Form 1583, use the 1583 wizard instead of generic document upload. |
Common letter types
Some letters need extra preparation.
Travel consent, school, immigration, and company letters may come with specific recipient instructions. For a company letter, check who is authorized to sign. For use abroad, confirm the destination country and any authentication requirements. For USPS Form 1583, use the dedicated mailbox form.
Notary Geek does not draft the legal content of your letter or decide whether the receiving party must accept it. We can help with the notary workflow, document routing, apostille review, and practical next step when the file and recipient instructions are provided.
Useful related pages
Start with Notary Geek
Upload your letter, or ask for review first.
If your letter is ready and the recipient accepts online notarization, use Upload or register. If Notary Geek already has your document from an organizer, use the Signer details form and name the organizer in the notes. Otherwise, upload the document first.
If you are unsure about the required format, certificate wording, apostille, or recipient instructions, use Document review and include the instructions you received.
Source links
Official service information
Check current provider requirements and local availability before booking. The receiving office can confirm what it needs from your completed letter.
Before you book: Know who will receive the letter, what format they require, and whether your chosen notary can complete the required act.