Availability
The availability of Notary services is dependent on the availability of our Notary Public staff. Please call ahead at 269-329-4544 and press 1 for the Adult Information Desk to ensure that a notary is available to assist you.
Notary services are free for library district residents and paying non-resident library cardholders. All others will be charged a $10.00 fee per appointment.
Patrons must provide:
- The completed, unsigned, document(s) to be notarized.
- A valid, unexpired state ID, federal ID, or other government ID with signature and photo (accepted forms of ID include the following: driver’s license, state ID card, US military ID, or US passport)
- Witnesses, if required, who must personally know the person
Portage District Library will not notarize:
- Documents that are already signed
- Documents with blank pages, documents or pages not filled in, pages not related to the body of the document, or pages in a language other than English
- Blank documents
- Homeland Security I-9 Forms
- Real estate documents, such as closing documents, mortgages, and deeds
- Trust and estate planning documents such as trusts, living wills, wills, and codicils
- Documents written in any language other than English
Notaries cannot certify or notarize that a document/record is an original or true copy of another record, including birth certificates, death certificates, adoption records, or marriage licenses. In Michigan, a notary can only acknowledge the signature of the issuer or holder (person on the document) making a true copy statement on, or attached to, the document.
Notaries retain the right to refer patrons elsewhere for notary service. A Notary may refuse to perform a notarial act.
For more information, please browse our Notary Public Policy.