Public Notary
Notary service is offered at Quincy Public Library as a service to the community. Notary service is available during most Library hours. However, we strongly recommend you make an appointment to ensure a notary is available at a time that is convenient for you. Please call (217) 223-1309 ext 502 or ext 201 to schedule your appointment. The service is offered at the Reference Desk (under the “Ask Here” sign) and in the Library’s Administration Office.
The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. A notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of persons who comes before the notary for a specific purpose. Notaries do not have authority to provide legal advice unless he or she is also an attorney.
Please review the following information in order to use our notary service:
- Please do not sign your documents before you come to the library. We are required to see you sign your documents.
- Each person signing the document must be present for us to notarize each individual signature.
- A current ID with your signature is required so that we can verify your identity. PLEASE NOTE: State law requires the ID must be issued by a state or federal government agency and must bear the photographic image of the individual’s face and signature. Examples of acceptable IDs are those that are issued by a state or federal government agency that contain both a photographic image and signature such as a valid (unexpired) state driver’s license or ID card or valid (unexpired) passport. The ID must also be issued under the name you are using on the form to be notarized.
- Examples of IDs we cannot accept are Social Security cards, a United States passport card, current military IDs, or student IDs that do not bear a photographic image and/or signature.
- If your document requires witnesses as well as your own signature and notarization, please bring with you a sufficient number of people willing to serve as your witness.
- Notaries at the Quincy Public Library cannot sign government I-9 forms, nor can we provide an Apostille. An Apostille is a form that certifies the authenticity of a document that is issued in one country to be used and considered valid in another.
- Illinois law does not authorize a notary public to certify copies of any document. Persons requesting certified copies of documents will be referred to the official who has custody of the original document or to the office where the document has been officially filed.
- Notaries at the Quincy Public Library reserve the right to refuse to sign any document that they deem questionable and/or may refuse to perform notary services when the identity of the person requesting notarization has not been positively established using acceptable IDs.
Questions? Please call the Library at (217) 223-1309 ext. 201 or ext. 502.