Many legal documents require a Notary Public to serve as an impartial third party so that a document can be signed. As per the National Notary Association, "a Notary's duty is to screen the signers of important documents for their true identity, their willingness to sign without duress or intimidation, and their awareness of the contents of the document or transaction."
The Twinsburg Public Library provides free Notary services. We typically have Notaries available during normal business hours. Please call (330) 425-4268 x2 to verify if a Notary will be present. You will need to produce a valid photo ID that includes a physical description, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Notaries must review the entirety of the document to complete the notarization. We cannot notarize documents with missing pages. Notaries adhere to the Ohio Revised Code, Section 147.
Walk-in Service and Appointments
We take walk-ins for any document that requires three signatures or less. Walk-in service is not available the last half hour the Library is open. For documents that exceed three signatures, please call (330) 425-4268 x2 to request an appointment. Anyone who is over ten minutes late to their notary appointment may be asked to reschedule.
Witnesses
If the document requires a witness in addition to a notary, you must provide your own neutral third party witness. The Library cannot provide witnesses, nor can they be solicited from Library patrons.
Communication
According to Ohio law notaries must be able to communicate directly with the person signing the document. If the signer does not speak English, you must call ahead. Arranging translation services is not guaranteed, and if securing a translator is not possible we will need to refer you to another site.
Documents We Will Not Notarize
- Mortgage, housing refinance, and other real estate documents. Signing agents for real estate documents require additional training. Our Notaries are not trained as signing agents. Relocation packages may be notarized by appointment.
- Final wills. We will notarize the signatures of witnesses but not the signature of the testator.
- Notary protests.
- Homeland security I-9 forms. I-9 signatures are not a notarial act in the state of Ohio. We may be able to make an exception by appointment if a managerial member of staff is available to serve as an authorized representative.
- Foreign documents written in any language other than English when the notarial certificate is in a language other than English.
- Automobile, boat, or mobile home titles without buyer address and name (state law requires this section to be complete regardless of circumstance); buyer may be insurance, donation, or salvage company with direct instructions for the signer on how to fill out the title. Notaries are unable to explain the title to the signer.
- Any document where the Notary is asked to notarize their own signature.
We reserve the right to refuse notarizing documents for any reason, including reasons pertaining to Library operation.
Vital Records and Documents: The State of Ohio does not allow Notaries to certify vital records and documents. Vital records include but are not limited to passports, marriage certificates, and birth certificates. Instead, Notaries can notarize a statement by the individual that the photocopy is indeed a copy of the original document.
What does this mean? We cannot certify documents. We can only notarize signatures.
What should I do? If you choose to have your statement notarized, write the following on the photocopy or attached page: I, (your name), attest that this is a true and exact copy of the original document, which is a (type of document, such as a passport), made on (the date you copied it). The Notary may also be able to stamp this copy certification language onto your document if there is not enough room. Do not sign the document until you are in the presence of a Notary. Please bring the original documents with you to the appointment, as the Notary must be able to inspect them.