The Chatham Area Public Library offers free notary public service to the community. A public notary is almost always available during Library hours, but those interested should call before visiting the library to be certain that we can assist.
The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. A notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of persons who comes before the notary for a specific purpose.
Please review the following information in order to use our Notary Services:
- Please do not sign your documents before you come to the library. We require that we see you sign your documents.
- Each person signing the document must be present for us to notarize that signature.
- A valid photo ID with your signature is required. PLEASE NOTE: Recent state law requires the ID must be issued by a state or federal government agency and must bear the photographic image of the individual’s face and signature.
- EXAMPLE: A valid state driver’s license or ID card, a United States military ID, or valid passport.
- WE CANNOT ACCEPT Social Security cards, a United States passport card, or student IDs that do not bear a photographic image or signature.
- If your document requires witnesses as well as your own signature and notarization, please bring with you a sufficient number of people willing to serve as your witness.
- The library cannot notarize government I-9 forms, nor can we provide an Apostille.
- An Apostille is a form that certifies the authenticity of a document that is issued in one country to be used and considered valid in another.
Questions? Please call the Library to talk with a Reference Librarian at (217) 483-2713.