Posted by John Humphrey on 10/14/05 9:36am
Msg #70454

Jail House Wedding

I received a call last night from a nice young lady who asked if I would be available to notarize the documents she had in connection with her upcoming wedding to a county jail inmate. I have never encountered this situation before, and I'm seeking information or advice as to the handling of a matter such as this.

Apparently I would meet her at the jail and notorize the marriage certificate after the jail's Chaplain performed the ceremony. She also asked me to accompany her to the local county recorder's office when she files the paperwork to ensure that everything would be acceptable to the county. I told her to give them a call so that they could explain the procedure, and make certain she has the proper and required documents.

The wedding would take place later this month at a Riverside County, California facility.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 10/14/05 11:58am
Msg #70499

Notarizing the signatures on any document is what a notary must do. Place and signer's post in life are immaterial, so there should be no problem in performing your duties as a Notary Public. (Just stay within the confines of the law as it pertains to your official acts and responsibilities.)

That is where I would stop.

I would not accompany her to the local county recorder's office "to ensure that everything would be acceptable to the county." It is not up to you to make sure of anything, except your small piece of it. If she wants assistance, then she should seek the advice of legal counsel.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 10/14/05 4:54pm
Msg #70553

As regards the mariage certificate - what exactly are you notarizing????? Why would it need notarizing?
The chaplain performs the ceremony and then sends the certificate in for recording - or are things different CA that a notary needs to notarize??????

Reply by John Humphrey on 10/14/05 10:19pm
Msg #70630

Sylvia, that is a most interesting question to which I do not have an answer. This young woman simply told me what she had been told. This is new ground for me, but I can hardly wait to see what comes of it - a new experience as it were.

Thank you PAW and Sylvia for responding to my question. As soon as this particular assignment pans out (if it does), I'll post what I have learned from this.