North Carolina Notary Questions & Answers

North Carolina caps the notarial fee at $10 per signature notarized (N.C.G.S. 10B-31). Because I come to you, there's also a travel fee — and North Carolina only allows that travel fee when you agree to it in writing before I travel. So a typical appointment is the per-signature fee plus a distance-based travel fee, and you'll know the total before I head out. Use the quote calculator or call or text 980-505-8050.

A nursing home or assisted-living visit is priced the same as any other mobile appointment: the $10-per-signature notarial fee plus a travel fee you agree to in advance. There's no special "facility" surcharge — the cost depends on the number of signatures and the distance I travel. For an exact quote, call 980-505-8050 or see the nursing home notary page.

No. Under North Carolina's Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a financial (general) power of attorney must be signed by the principal and acknowledged before a notary — N.C.G.S. 32C-1-105. It does not require witnesses. It's also durable by default (N.C.G.S. 32C-1-104) — it stays effective if you later become incapacitated unless the document expressly says otherwise. A health care POA is different; see the medical section. More detail: Power of Attorney in North Carolina.

A typed (attested) will must be signed by you and by two competent witnesses (N.C.G.S. 31-3.3) — it's the witnesses, not a notary, that make the will valid. Notarization isn't required for the will itself, but adding a notarized self-proving affidavit (N.C.G.S. 31-11.6) is strongly recommended: it lets the will clear probate faster because the court doesn't have to locate the witnesses years later. See which documents require a notary.

Two. A North Carolina health care power of attorney must be signed in the presence of two qualified witnesses and acknowledged before a notary (N.C.G.S. 32A-16). Both the two witnesses and the notary are required — unlike a financial POA, which needs only the notary. Please arrange your own witnesses; I do not provide them.

Yes. A North Carolina living will (an advance directive, also called a "Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death") must be signed in the presence of two qualified witnesses and proved before a notary public (N.C.G.S. 90-321). So like a health care POA, it requires both two witnesses and a notary.

Usually not. North Carolina disqualifies many people from witnessing a health care POA or living will — including your spouse or heirs, anyone with a claim against your estate, the health care agent you're naming, and your attending physician or their employees (N.C.G.S. 32A-16). That rules out most close family members. Choose neutral adults who aren't related to you and don't stand to inherit. I don't provide witnesses, so please line yours up before the appointment.

No. HIPAA does not require a medical-records authorization to be notarized — it only needs the required elements and the signature of the patient (or their representative). Some hospitals or offices ask for notarization as their own policy, but that's an institutional preference, not a legal requirement. If a facility does request it, I'm glad to notarize one for you.

Yes — as long as the patient is alert, understands what they're signing, and signs willingly. I regularly handle bedside signings for powers of attorney and health care directives. North Carolina notary law requires me to confirm the signer is aware and acting of their own free will, so if a patient is heavily sedated or unable to communicate, I legally can't proceed. Bring a valid photo ID, and for a health care POA or living will, arrange your two qualified witnesses in advance. See the hospital notary page.

Yes. I travel to hospitals and care facilities throughout the Charlotte area, including Atrium Health and Novant Health locations. I coordinate with nursing staff and follow each facility's visitor policies. Because hospital staff usually aren't permitted to notarize patients' personal legal documents, a mobile notary is often the practical solution. Call or text 980-505-8050 to arrange a bedside visit.

Yes. A deed transferring North Carolina real estate must be signed and acknowledged before a notary to be recorded at the county Register of Deeds — without that acknowledgment, the Register of Deeds won't record it. I notarize deeds your attorney has prepared (I don't draft deeds or give legal advice). Related reading: beneficiary deeds in North Carolina.

A loan signing agent is a notary with extra training in mortgage and refinance document packages. If you're closing a home purchase or refinance outside a traditional settlement office, a mobile loan signing agent brings the documents to you, guides you through where to sign, notarizes what's required, and returns the completed package on time. Learn more on the loan signing agent page.

Often, yes. My standard hours are Monday - Saturday: 9:00am - 7:00pm, with after-hours appointments available in the evening (typically until 11 PM). Hospital, hospice, and nursing-home signings are handled 24/7 because those are frequently time-critical. Sundays are generally reserved for emergencies. Call or text 980-505-8050 to check availability for your time.

Right here. I'm a mobile notary based in the Charlotte metro and I travel to all of those communities, plus Concord, Pineville, Harrisburg, Stallings, Waxhaw, and the surrounding areas across Mecklenburg, Union, and Cabarrus counties. I come to your home, office, or care facility. See the areas I serve.