FAQ
Straight answers about will and trust notarization in NC
How much does a notary charge for a will or trust signing in North Carolina?
North Carolina law caps notary fees at $10 per notarized signature (N.C.G.S. § 10B-31). A full estate plan usually has 10 to 30 notarized signatures, so the legal maximum runs $100 to $300. I charge a flat $100 for one person's signing (10 or more notarized signatures) and $150 for a couple's (15 or more). Below those counts it is $10 per notarized signature. A notarized signature is each person who signs and swears inside a notary certificate; on a will's self-proving affidavit and on NC health care forms that is you plus both witnesses, which is why a couple's plan usually runs 20 to 30. No travel charge inside Huntersville, Concord and North Charlotte; farther out, mileage at the federal rate, agreed in writing before the trip.
Does a will have to be notarized in North Carolina?
No. A North Carolina will is valid when the person making it and two witnesses sign it. What the notary handles is the self-proving affidavit, where you and both witnesses swear before a notary that the will was properly signed. That affidavit lets the will go through probate without the court having to find your witnesses years later. Almost every attorney-drafted NC will includes one.
Does a living trust need to be notarized?
Trust documents, the certification of trust, and any deed moving your home into the trust are normally acknowledged before a notary so that banks, title companies and the county Register of Deeds accept them. Follow the signing instructions your attorney or online service gave you; I notarize exactly what they call for.
Do you bring witnesses?
No, you provide two adult witnesses. They should not be named in your documents, should not be related to you, and for health care documents cannot be your doctor or anyone employed by your health care facility. I cannot serve as a witness on a document I am notarizing. Neighbors, coworkers and friends are the usual choice. If you truly cannot find two, tell me when you book and we will work it out.
Can you help me fill out or explain my will or trust?
No. North Carolina law (N.C.G.S. § 10B-20(k)) does not allow a notary to draft, complete, select or explain a legal document. Get your documents from an attorney or an online estate planning service, then I notarize what they prepared. If you have questions about what a clause means, ask the person who drafted it before signing day.
Can you notarize my will over video or online?
Not yet. North Carolina has not approved the tools needed for remote online notarization, so estate documents are signed in person. I come to your home, office, hospital or care facility instead.
Do you come to hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes?
Yes, often. The person signing must be awake, alert, able to communicate, and willing. I cannot notarize for someone who is sedated or cannot confirm they understand what they are signing. Call early, because facilities have their own rules on visiting hours and witnesses.
How long does an estate plan signing take?
About 30 to 45 minutes for a couple's full plan when the witnesses are present and everyone has ID. The most common delay is a witness who is late or does not qualify, which is why the
witness checklist matters.
What ID do the signers and witnesses need?
An unexpired government photo ID for every signer and every witness: driver's license, state ID, passport or passport card. Do not sign anything before I arrive. Everything is signed in front of me.
Can you notarize a will or power of attorney that will be used in India?
Yes. I notarize the North Carolina acknowledgment or affidavit. For use in India the document usually then needs an apostille from the North Carolina Secretary of State, which I can point you to. I speak English and Tamil.
My attorney offered to do the signing at their office. Should I use you instead?
If signing is already included in your attorney's fee, use them. If they left you to find a notary, or the office hours do not work for you and your witnesses, that is exactly what I am for.
How do I pay?
Zelle to (980) 334-4072 or cash, at the end of the signing. No card fees, no deposit.
