Notary Guidelines

The City of Crystal Lake offers Notary Services, free of charge, to Crystal Lake residents and business owners in accordance with the following guidelines: 

  • Notary Services are available during regular City Hall business hours and subject to the availability of a Notary Public within the Administration, Police, and Fire Rescue Departments. 
  • Individuals must present valid photo identification. Acceptable forms of identification include: State Issued Driver's License or ID, Non-Driver's ID, US Passport, and US Military ID. 
  • Documents must: 
  1. Be signed in person before the Notary, to certify the signature. 
  2. Include text committing the signer in some way. 
  3. Include a notary "certificate", which may appear on the document itself or on an attachment.

Notary Services Not Available for the Following 

  • Deeds
  •  Wills and codicils trusts
  •  Depositions
  •  Certification that a record is an original or true copy of another document
  • Copies of passports
  •  Closing and real estate documents
  • Mortgages
  •  Candidate signature petitions or other election related documents
  • I-9 Forms
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Notaries can refuse to notarize documents when the notary certification can be detached from the document.*

 

Notary Facts You Should Know

Notaries are not Notary Public Signing Agents. 

Notaries are not licensed attorneys and may not give legal advice. 

A City Notary may refuse to serve an individual if he/she is uncertain of the signer's identity, willingness, general competence, or has a good reason to suspect fraud.