Getting something notarized is the formal process of having an action witnessed by a third party who attests to the veracity of the agreement.
This might involve custody agreements or car title transfers, as two examples. One thing is for sure, finding a notary when you’re busy or in a hurry can be a hassle.
It might make you wonder: Does USPS notarize? They have locations in nearly every town, so it would be convenient. Here’s what you need to know.
Does USPS Notarize?
Unfortunately, the USPS does not notarize documents. As a federal government entity, USPS is unable to perform notarization services, which occur at the state level. Instead, interested parties can visit any number of local notaries or other places of business that offer notarization, such as banks, UPS stores, or online.
To learn more about why USPS doesn’t notarize, where you can find notarization services, how much those might cost you, and whether you can notarize documents online, keep reading!
Why Doesn’t USPS Notarize?
Before we examine why the USPS doesn’t notarize, let’s go over what notarization is in the first place.
According to the National Notary Association, notarization is “the official fraud deterrent process that assures the parties of a transaction that a document is authentic and can be trusted.”
As NNA states, there are three parts to the notarization process: vetting, certifying, and keeping records.
This includes ensuring that everyone is who they say they are (with IDs) and that the documents are authentic and entered into with the agreement of all parties.
It then provides an official record of the signing so that in the future, it may be provided as proof of the agreement.
Each state operates its own commissioning authority to regulate the laws of notarization, including who can become (and stay) a Notary Public.
This brings us to why USPS does not provide notary services.
As I mentioned, notaries are overseen on a state basis; the Postal Service is part of the Executive Branch of government, just like the Office of the President.
Federal and state governments, in the instance of the USPS, are not set up to interact in this capacity.
However, some people mistakenly believe that USPS does notarize. According to my research, this is because some notaries set up shop in the same building as the Postal Service.
Actually, some of them might even be contracted with USPS to provide customers with convenient adjacent services.
With the two offices operating so closely and with people often visiting the notary before mailing off the documents at the post office, it’s easy to see why the connection is made.
But any notary employee with whom you might interact is not a USPS employee, and the notary is not owned by USPS.
Where You Can Get Notary Services Instead Of USPS?
So you can’t get your documents notarized at the post office. Where can you go?
There are actually lots of places that offer notarization, starting with small local offices.
Alternatively, you might prefer to try a bank, including big names like Wells Fargo and Bank of America (check your nearby locations for availability and to make an appointment).
You could also try Libraries; AAA offices; Universities; and Accounting services.
Or, perhaps the most natural choice if you were looking for notary services at USPS, you can get documents notarized at UPS!
How Much Does UPS Charge To Notarize?
UPS, or the United Parcel Service, offers notarization at more than 3,900 of their locations across the U.S.
The prices for these notarization services are partially set by each individual state – as you can see on the chart here, some states charge $2 maximum per signature.
Others, like Florida, may charge as much as $10 per signature. And some allow notaries the complete freedom to set their own prices.
So if you want to get an idea of how much your document with cost to notarize at UPS, you can check your state’s maximum.
But you will also want to consider what type of document you’re having done.
UPS notarizes Wills, Trusts, Deeds, Contracts, and Affidavits, all of which could require numerous signatures.
If you have questions, you can go to UPS or give them a call before setting your appointment.
Can You Notarize Online?
While the Postal Service offers many tools online, they do not offer notarization.
But some companies are filling that void with online notaries. These businesses connect you with remote Notaries Public, who walk you through the steps for an affordable rate.
You can try sites like OneNotary.us or DoNotPay.com. But do be cautious and perform your due diligence before handing over your credit card number to a website.
To find more, you can also see our posts on whether or not USPS requires a signature, if USPS delivers to PO boxes, and also if USPS forwards IRS & government mail.