What Documents Can a Virginia Notary Notarize?

What a Virginia notary actually does

A Virginia notary public is a state-commissioned official who verifies the identity of signers, confirms they're signing willingly and knowingly, and applies a seal that makes the document acceptable in courts, government offices, and international authorities.

A notary doesn't make a document "legal" — the document's content is already governed by Virginia law. What the notary does is create a reliable record that the right person signed it, on a specific date, in their presence.

Common documents Virginia notaries handle

Estate planning

• Wills (note: Virginia wills don't *require* notarization, but a self-proving affidavit does)
• Trusts and trust amendments
• Advance medical directives
• Living wills
• Designations of Health Care Surrogate

Real estate

• Deeds (warranty, special warranty, quitclaim)
• Deeds of trust and mortgages
• Affidavits of title
• Settlement statements
• Closing disclosures

Family and personal

• Power of attorney (general, durable, medical, limited)
• Parental consent for travel
• Affidavits of identity
• Name change documents
• Adoption paperwork (signature only — court action separate)

Business

• Operating agreements
• LLC and corporation formation documents
• Vendor contracts and NDAs
• Bills of sale
• Vehicle title transfers (when DMV requires)

International (for apostille)

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• FBI background checks
• Diplomas and transcripts
• Powers of attorney for foreign use
• Corporate good-standing certificates

What a Virginia notary CANNOT do

Virginia notaries are *not* attorneys and cannot:

• Give legal advice or interpret a document's meaning
• Choose which type of notarization (acknowledgment vs. jurat) a document needs — the signer or their attorney must decide
• Certify copies of vital records, court documents, or recorded instruments (those copies come from the issuing agency)
• Notarize a document for themselves, a spouse, or where they have a direct financial interest
• Notarize a signature if the signer doesn't appear in person (in person can include audio-video for RON)
• Pre-date or back-date a notarial act

I-9 forms

Virginia notaries can act as an authorized representative for I-9 employment eligibility verification — but this is *not* a notarial act. The notary signs as a witness, not under their commission.

Documents that should go to an attorney first

Some documents are technically notarizable but really benefit from attorney review:

• Complex wills and trusts
• Real estate contracts in litigation
• Self-drafted power of attorney for substantial assets
• Cross-border custody or guardianship paperwork

A good mobile notary will flag these and recommend you speak to counsel before signing.

Bring the right ID

For any Virginia notarial act, you'll need:

• A current, government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID)
• The unsigned document — don't sign before the notary arrives
• Any required witnesses (Virginia self-proving wills require two; some POAs do too)
• Payment in the agreed form

When in doubt, call your mobile notary before the appointment and describe the document. A 60-second phone call beats a wasted trip.