Do banks notarize wills?

Distributing assets and property after a loved one has passed on is often difficult and tricky. The good news is that you can make things simpler for your family by creating and notarizing a will that clearly outlines or specifies how you want your estate and assets to be distributed to your legal beneficiaries after your death. If you are thinking about notarizing your last will and testament, you may wonder, “do banks notarize wills.” Notarizing a will isn’t necessary; if your will has been properly drafted and witnessed, then the court will consider it a valid and legally binding document.  

However, notarizing a will is important as it prevents fraud by establishing its authenticity. And most banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions provide notary services and notarize documents, such as wills and power of attorney.

Do banks notarize wills?

While banks aren’t required to provide notarization or notary services, they most certainly have notaries available in at least one of their locations or branches. Notary services offered by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions include certifying legal documents for the transfer or purchase of real estate, refinance loans, and mortgage loans.

Other documents that can be notarized include equity line of credit, deeds, escrow documents, trusts, wills, and powers of attorney.  

However, you may need to schedule time for an appointment with a notary public to get your document notarized at a local bank.

You can get your will notarized at various places, such as a local AAA office or at real estate offices or public libraries in your area. Learn more about who can notarize documents.

While most banks and other financial institutions provide notary services, this does not mean that notary services are available to anyone who walks through the front door. This is why it is vital to schedule an appointment with a branch manager to expedite the notarization process.

You can visit your local bank when you need to get an important document notarized. Most banks have at least one employee or staff member who is certified as a public notary and can help you with a notary signature. Also, you will be happy to know that there is usually no charge for notary services if you’ve an account with the bank.

However, if you’re not a customer, you might be charged a small fee or asked to visit your own bank. In many cases, banks charge between $2 and $10 per signature. Many banks and credit unions usually charge a nominal fee of about $15 to $20 per document. 

Some banks may have an internal policy prohibiting or restricting their personnel from witnessing last wills and notarizing self-proving affidavits. This is why you should consult with an experienced estate planning attorney or lawyer who can help you execute your will. It is best to seek legal counsel to avoid any issues later on.

Does a will have to be notarized?

There are many good reasons to have your will notarized, whether it is required by law or not. Notarized wills and documents help verify that you’re the one signing the legal document. One of the main purposes of notarizing a will is to prevent any type of document fraud or identity theft by preventing somebody from presenting a fake or forged document.

A last will and testament must be witnessed and notarized by a notary public to guarantee its validity. Unfortunately, the inherent nature of a will means that you won’t be there when it goes into effect. As a result, you must take the extra step when writing your will to prevent the risk of any future disputes and questions.

If you would like to make the last will and testament self-proved and speed up and simplify the complicated probate process for your loved ones and family after you die, you should notarize the will.

Keep in mind that notarizing your will is inexpensive and generally costs less than $20. The presence of a notary seal on any document confirms to the court that the signatures in the document were placed by a genuine person and it is not forged or fabricated. You can also use mobile notaries and ensure your will is legally valid.

Wondering how to notarize a document? Notarizing documents, such as wills, involves ensuring that the person signing the document is who they claim to be and requires a government-issued photo ID.

How to get a will witnessed and notarized

Many documents, such as affidavits, are not legally binding and valid until they have been notarized. While this doesn’t apply to all legal documents, a notarization is still valuable and beneficial. This is because a notary stamp and signature improve the document’s inherent value as well as authenticity.

Notarizing a self-proved will

The most common and simplest way to notarize your will is by adding a self-proving affidavit. You can use a self-proving affidavit to increase the validity of your will. It is a short statement that’s either included in or added to a last will and testament. A self-proving affidavit bolsters the will’s validity at the time of signing.

Here is what to expect if you need your will notarized:

Step 1

The parties involved in the transaction must be together in person. However, remote notarization and online notarization have become prevalent now.

Step 2

The will is reviewed to ensure it explains the kind of notarization required and conforms to the state’s law and other requirements.

Step 3

The notary public verifies the signers’ identity. A notary can rely on identification documents, personal knowledge, or a credible and impartial witness who can vouch for an individual’s identity.

Get a Will Notarized Online With PandaDoc Notary

Preparing a will helps protect your legacy by directing assets and property to the beneficiaries of your choice. Having a will notarized means the witness signatures don’t have to be proven by a judge. It can also be helpful since it averts legal issues. Notarizing a will may also make it harder for somebody to contest it.

Some US states allow for remote or online notarization, also known as electronic notarization, of a will. In these cases, a certified notary or notary public performs the process remotely, usually through video, with two witnesses present.

Banks and credit unions offer free notarization services to their account holders and clients. You may even get free notarization services even if you are not a client or account holder. However, keep in mind that most banks provide notarizations for a fee. 

If you are looking for online notary services, you can use PandaDoc Notary to quickly and easily get your will and other documents notarized without your leaving home. PandaDoc Notary is an online notarization service dedicated to offering the most convenient, professional, and efficient notarization, witness, and signing services.

With a simple, secure, and convenient online platform and flexible times that fit your unique schedule, PandaDoc Notary makes things simple. To get started, you can register and request a notary appointment. 

Discover how simple it is to notarize any document, such as a will or real estate documents, with PandaDoc Notary. Notarize your last will and testament with PandaDoc and enjoy peace of mind!