The Notary Krewe LLC Offers Notary Services to County Jails and State/Federal Prison Facilities
You should always contact the jail to ensure what days of the week and times they allow visitors.
You should always try to contact the inmate prior to the Notary's visit to the jail to ensure you have gone over why you are sending a Notary to them and what the document will entail. Notaries are not responsible for going over documents with inmates as Notaries are not attorneys and can't offer legal advice.
If your document calls for a witness you should note that many jailers will not act as a witness on your documents. Which means that you may have to pay additional fees if the Notary must bring a secondary witness. Often times, the secondary witness will be another Notary as most jails will only allow multiple people in to see an inmate if they are State officials (like a Notary or an Attorney.
You can either meet the Notary at the jail after the appointment to retrieve the document, provide them with a FedEx or UPS label to ship the document to you, or pay for a FedEx, UPS label (or courier fee) for the Notary to return the document to you.
Many jails will not allow inmates to sign with an Ink pen. This may be alarming, however, no federal laws state that a person's signature must be in ink to be legally binding. If the jail where your notary services are performed does not allow ink signatures, this is not your notary's fault. Your notary's signature and stamp will always be in ink.
Commonly Requested Documents
for Notarization at Jail and Prisons
Power of Attorney (POA)
This legal document grants an appointed agent the authority to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in legal or financial matters. Inmates often need a POA to allow a trusted individual to manage their affairs while incarcerated.
Affidavits
An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, used as evidence in court. Inmates may need to provide affidavits for various legal proceedings or to assert facts in civil or family law cases.
Property Deeds
These documents are used to transfer ownership of real estate. Inmates might need to sell or transfer property while they are incarcerated, requiring notarization of the deeds to ensure legality.
Parental Cosent Forms
These forms grant permission for certain activities involving the inmate's children, such as medical treatment or travel. Notarization ensures that the consent is legally recognized.
Marriage Licenses
Inmates who wish to get married while incarcerated need a marriage license, and in order to validate the identities and consent of involved parties, they typically require notarization.
Divorce Papers
Divorce documents, including petitions and decrees, often need to be notarized to verify the signatures and consent of the parties, ensuring the documents are legally binding.
Wills and Testaments
A will is a legal document that outlines how a person’s assets should be distributed after their death. Inmates may need to create or update their wills, requiring notarization to ensure validity.
Guardianship Papers
These documents appoint a guardian to care for an inmate's minor children or manage their affairs. Notarization is needed to confirm the authenticity and consent of the parties involved.
Inmate Release Forms
These forms are used for various administrative processes related to the inmate’s release, such as transferring custody or arranging for bail. Notarization ensures the legitimacy of these documents.
Business Documents
Inmates who own businesses may need to execute various business documents, such as contracts, partnership agreements, or corporate resolutions. Notarization is required to ensure these documents are legally enforceable.
These documents often require notarization to ensure they are legally binding and properly executed, especially in the context of the inmate’s limited ability to manage their affairs directly.
