Notary Compliance Platform for Document Preparers & Professionals
The user's confusion about notarizing documents they prepare for clients, explicitly stating 'finding mixed answers online' and 'not the principal’s agent or otherwise involved with them,' highlights a significant pain point for notaries and legal/document preparation professionals. There is a clear need for a centralized, reliable, and easy-to-understand resource regarding notarization laws, especially conflict-of-interest rules, which often vary by jurisdiction.
SaaS Opportunity: A subscription-based platform providing a comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge base and decision-making tool for notaries and related professionals (e.g., paralegals, legal assistants, real estate agents, loan officers).
Product Form:
- Jurisdiction-Specific Rule Database: A searchable database of notarization laws, regulations, and best practices, broken down by state/province, with a focus on common tricky scenarios like conflict of interest, personal appearance, acceptable IDs, and remote notarization.
- Scenario-Based Guidance Tool: An interactive tool (potentially AI-powered or rule-based expert system) where users input their specific situation (e.g., 'I prepared the document,' 'client is a family member,' 'client unable to sign') and receive clear guidance on legality and best practices, referencing the relevant statutes.
- Compliance Checklists & Forms: Customizable templates for pre-notarization checklists to ensure all legal requirements are met, reducing errors and liability.
- Updates & Alerts: Notifications for changes in notarization laws and regulations.
- Training Modules: Optional add-on courses for continuing education or certification.
Value Proposition: Reduces legal risk and liability, saves time researching complex rules, ensures compliance, and provides peace of mind for professionals who frequently perform or oversee notarizations.
Expected Revenue: Notaries are required professionals in many transactions. There are millions of notaries in the US alone. Even a small penetration rate could yield substantial recurring revenue.
- Target Market Size: Millions of registered notaries, plus an even larger pool of legal and business professionals who interact with notarization regularly.
- Pricing Model: Tiered subscription:
- Basic: Access to core rule database and search (e.g., $19-$29/month).
- Pro: Includes scenario guidance tool, customizable checklists, and alerts (e.g., $49-$79/month).
- Enterprise: Team accounts, API access, advanced reporting for law firms or large businesses (custom pricing).
- Conservative Estimate: If 5,000-10,000 professionals subscribe at an average of $50/month, that's $250,000 - $500,000 monthly, totaling $3 million - $6 million annually. The critical nature of notarization and the high cost of errors make this a justifiable business expense for the target audience.
Origin Reddit Post
r/lawyertalk
Can I notarize my own documents I make for clients (like power of attorney)?
Posted by u/Ok-Cat-6987•07/19/2025
I am finding mixed answers online. If I prepared the document (but I’m not the principal’s agent or otherwise involved with them) may I notarize the documents? Looking for anyone else who has
Top Comments
u/legitlegist
yes
u/Lit-A-Gator
Depends on jurisdiction
u/MeatPopsicle314
Last I was a notary I did it all the time. Fine in the Jxs I practice in. Don't know about yours.
u/BathtubWine
What insight is needed? Look up the rules. It would take less time than it did to make this post.
u/Lit-A-Gator
Depends on jurisdiction
u/legitlegist
yes
u/gfhopper
It's going to depend on the laws for Notary Public for your state.
I notarized documents for my clients all the time, until I took a look at the time it took. I stopped doing it had had sta
u/MandamusMan
If you are an attorney (which I’m doubting), you would know the answer to your question is going to be different in every state. This is also something that is incredibly easy to find out if
u/Commercial-Cry1724
Just a thought: when you notarize a document you’re volunteering in the future to testify about the signature, in this case, your client’s!
u/Malvania
if there's ever a time to be pedantic about something like this, it's in a room full of lawyers.
I believe you are correct that it should be "notaries public"
u/gfhopper
It's going to depend on the laws for Notary Public for your state.
I notarized documents for my clients all the time, until I took a look at the time it took. I stopped doing it had had sta
u/kitcarson222
If you are not an agent or beneficiary then yes you can notarize document
u/Malvania
if there's ever a time to be pedantic about something like this, it's in a room full of lawyers.
I believe you are correct that it should be "notaries public"
u/Quinocco
Wow. That's a weird one. What jurisdiction? Is it a secret?
u/aSe_DILF
When I retain counsel for personal affairs, I generally assume their research doesn’t involve Reddit threads and the first page of Google results.
u/old_namewasnt_best
>notary publics
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but shouldn't this be "notaries public," like attorneys general? I've never seen the plural, and it caught my eye.
u/MandamusMan
If you’re concerned about harming your clients, I feel like you should probably do what lawyers do and perform jurisdiction specific legal research, with the nuances of your specific situatio
u/old_namewasnt_best
>notary publics
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but shouldn't this be "notaries public," like attorneys general? I've never seen the plural, and it caught my eye.
u/MandamusMan
If you are an attorney (which I’m doubting), you would know the answer to your question is going to be different in every state. This is also something that is incredibly easy to find out if
u/BathtubWine
I’m a state AAG and Attorneys General will never stop sounding weird to me.
The office always abbreviates it as AAsG too
u/Hot_Brick_7030
Some places have restrictions on this, but most don't. Check the statute on notary publics. My jx has a provision that says if an attorney-notary drafts an affidavit, the attorney-notary cann
u/old_namewasnt_best
>notary publics
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but shouldn't this be "notaries public," like attorneys general? I've never seen the plural, and it caught my eye.
u/HalachicLoophole
Huh! TIL!
u/MeatPopsicle314
Last I was a notary I did it all the time. Fine in the Jxs I practice in. Don't know about yours.
u/Hot_Brick_7030
Some places have restrictions on this, but most don't. Check the statute on notary publics. My jx has a provision that says if an attorney-notary drafts an affidavit, the attorney-notary cann
u/Ok-Cat-6987
I expected there would be several miserable commenters who would say something like this. Both obvious AND unhelpful. If you don’t want to help and the post upsets you, then just don’t respon
u/Quinocco
Wow. That's a weird one. What jurisdiction? Is it a secret?
u/old_namewasnt_best
>notary publics
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but shouldn't this be "notaries public," like attorneys general? I've never seen the plural, and it caught my eye.
u/kitcarson222
If you are not an agent or beneficiary then yes you can notarize document
u/Quinocco
Wow. That's a weird one. What jurisdiction? Is it a secret?
u/HalachicLoophole
Huh! TIL!
u/caneguy87
Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Just a bad idea looking for a problem. Get a secretary or clerk certified or make a friend in another office that will perform the service.
u/catsandcars
In CA yes.
u/legitlegist
yes
u/MandamusMan
If you’re concerned about harming your clients, I feel like you should probably do what lawyers do and perform jurisdiction specific legal research, with the nuances of your specific situatio
u/Malvania
if there's ever a time to be pedantic about something like this, it's in a room full of lawyers.
I believe you are correct that it should be "notaries public"
u/MeatPopsicle314
Last I was a notary I did it all the time. Fine in the Jxs I practice in. Don't know about yours.
u/BathtubWine
What insight is needed? Look up the rules. It would take less time than it did to make this post.
u/321Couple2023
You're finding mixed answers online, so you're checking REDDIT?
u/Lit-A-Gator
Depends on jurisdiction
u/gfhopper
It's going to depend on the laws for Notary Public for your state.
I notarized documents for my clients all the time, until I took a look at the time it took. I stopped doing it had had sta
u/Hot_Brick_7030
Some places have restrictions on this, but most don't. Check the statute on notary publics. My jx has a provision that says if an attorney-notary drafts an affidavit, the attorney-notary cann
u/321Couple2023
You're finding mixed answers online, so you're checking REDDIT?
u/MandamusMan
If you’re concerned about harming your clients, I feel like you should probably do what lawyers do and perform jurisdiction specific legal research, with the nuances of your specific situatio
u/aSe_DILF
When I retain counsel for personal affairs, I generally assume their research doesn’t involve Reddit threads and the first page of Google results.
u/Commercial-Cry1724
Just a thought: when you notarize a document you’re volunteering in the future to testify about the signature, in this case, your client’s!
u/gfhopper
It's going to depend on the laws for Notary Public for your state.
I notarized documents for my clients all the time, until I took a look at the time it took. I stopped doing it had had sta
u/legitlegist
yes
u/Ok-Cat-6987
I expected there would be several miserable commenters who would say something like this. Both obvious AND unhelpful. If you don’t want to help and the post upsets you, then just don’t respon
u/Lit-A-Gator
Depends on jurisdiction
u/catsandcars
In CA yes.
u/gfhopper
It's going to depend on the laws for Notary Public for your state.
I notarized documents for my clients all the time, until I took a look at the time it took. I stopped doing it had had sta
u/Hot_Brick_7030
Some places have restrictions on this, but most don't. Check the statute on notary publics. My jx has a provision that says if an attorney-notary drafts an affidavit, the attorney-notary cann
u/321Couple2023
You're finding mixed answers online, so you're checking REDDIT?
u/MandamusMan
If you are an attorney (which I’m doubting), you would know the answer to your question is going to be different in every state. This is also something that is incredibly easy to find out if
u/Quinocco
Wow. That's a weird one. What jurisdiction? Is it a secret?
u/catsandcars
In CA yes.
u/MandamusMan
If you’re concerned about harming your clients, I feel like you should probably do what lawyers do and perform jurisdiction specific legal research, with the nuances of your specific situatio
u/Hot_Brick_7030
Some places have restrictions on this, but most don't. Check the statute on notary publics. My jx has a provision that says if an attorney-notary drafts an affidavit, the attorney-notary cann
u/Ok-Cat-6987
I expected there would be several miserable commenters who would say something like this. Both obvious AND unhelpful. If you don’t want to help and the post upsets you, then just don’t respon
u/Commercial-Cry1724
Just a thought: when you notarize a document you’re volunteering in the future to testify about the signature, in this case, your client’s!
u/caneguy87
Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Just a bad idea looking for a problem. Get a secretary or clerk certified or make a friend in another office that will perform the service.
u/legitlegist
yes
u/HalachicLoophole
Huh! TIL!
u/kitcarson222
If you are not an agent or beneficiary then yes you can notarize document
u/Commercial-Cry1724
Just a thought: when you notarize a document you’re volunteering in the future to testify about the signature, in this case, your client’s!
u/BathtubWine
I’m a state AAG and Attorneys General will never stop sounding weird to me.
The office always abbreviates it as AAsG too
u/HalachicLoophole
Huh! TIL!
u/Malvania
if there's ever a time to be pedantic about something like this, it's in a room full of lawyers.
I believe you are correct that it should be "notaries public"