- Home
- Departments
- Library
- Services
- Notary Services
Notary Services
The Forest Grove City Library is pleased to offer free notary services to the community:
- Notary services are available by appointment only on Thursdays 10 am- 12 pm. Make an appointment online or call us at 503 992-3247 for assistance in making an appointment.
- Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
- A library card is not required for notary services.
We are not able to provide notary services in Spanish, but library notaries can refer you to someone who does. Library staff are not authorized to act as notarios publicos, a term used in Spanish-speaking countries to designate highly trained legal professionals akin to attorneys who provide legal advice and draft legal documents. Library staff are not licensed to practice law, draft legal records, or give advice on legal matters, including immigration.
Available Services
The library offers the following notarial acts:
- Taking an acknowledgment in an individual or representative capacity
- Verification upon oath or acknowledgment
- Witnessing or attesting a signature
How to Prepare
- Wait to sign documents to be notarized until you are with the notary.
- Know and understand what type of notarial act you need to be performed.
- We recommend speaking to the business or organization requesting the notarization to obtain this information.
- Visit the Notary Bulletin blog to learn about common types of notarizations.
PLEASE NOTE: IF you are running late or unable to make an appointment please contact us. Your appointment is booked for a specific time slot and we will not be able to accommodate your request for Notary Services if you show up more than 10 minutes late for your scheduled appointment without notifying us.
What to Bring
Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:
- Valid government-issued photo identification, such as a current driver’s license, passport, US military identification card, or tribal ID card OR a credible witness who personally knows the client, can provide valid photo ID, and is able to swear to or affirm your identity.
- All of the documents to be notarized.
Limitations
Library notaries cannot perform the following:
- Notarize Wills, Last Testaments, trust, or probate documents
- Notarize I-9 forms
- Make or note a commercial protest
- Make or certify copies of these vital records:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce certificates
- Prepare legal documents
- Give advice on legal matters, including immigration
- Notarize documents in which they have a personal interest
- Act in the capacity of credible witness and credible witnesses may not be solicited from among patrons in the library
Doubt or Uncertainty
Notaries will not provide service if the document or circumstances of the request for notary service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty for the library. In this event, the notary may decline to provide notary service.
Language and Legibility Requirements
- The notary must be able to read and understand what they have been asked to notarize.
- The library is unable to notarize documents that contain any language other than English.
- The notary and individual whose document is being notarized must be able to communicate directly with each other. Translators are not permitted.
Other Notary Resources
If the library is unable to perform your notarization, you may wish to check with the following:
- Hillsboro Public Library (both branches)
- UPS store
- FedEx (online notarization)
- Credit unions (to members only)
- Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce