Posted by Anthony Correale on 1/22/07 8:13am
Msg #172006

VA Notary Question

Howdy All - I am a VA Notary (live in VA) working for the federal government in DC. I've looked through the VA Notary Handbook a couple times and still can't seem to find details on what exactly I can do while in DC.... I know it is limited.

Recently a coworker came to me asking if I could notarize a release form for her... however, she is a DC resident, the other party is also from DC dealing with an event that happened in DC... Am I correct in telling her I can't notarize it being a VA notary?

Any help or links would be greatly appreciated!

Reply by PAW on 1/22/07 8:31am
Msg #172007

My understanding (and this is an opinion only) is that for documents (other than VA recordable documents, being recorded in VA) that are signed and notarized in Washington D.C., must be notarized by a duly commissioned notary public in and for D.C. (See the VA Notary Public Handbook, Jurisdiction section.)

If you have any questions, contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virgina or contact the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications for Wash. D.C. at (202) 727-3117.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/22/07 8:56am
Msg #172008

PAW, as far as I know, your assessment is correct.

Reply by aatatusko on 1/22/07 9:00am
Msg #172009

PAW and Cooperhead are correct. Anthony, because you work in DC you can get commissoned there as well as VA, unlike Virginia I think DC requires a test.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/22/07 9:27am
Msg #172013

Hi Anthony - I think we all assumed you were asking if you could notarize as a VA notary while physically present in DC. But after re-reading it, I'm wondering if you're asking if you can notarize the document even though the parties are DC residents or even though the event took place in DC? If that's what you are asking, my opinion is that yes, you can notarize for them if the notarization act takes place at a location that is physically located in Virginia.

Reply by PAW on 1/22/07 10:08am
Msg #172016

The way I read it was he was in DC and needed to do the notarization in DC. He stated:

"... working for the federal government in DC." and "... a coworker came to me asking if I could notarize a release form for her ..." and "... even though the event took place in DC?"

Those three statements to me implied that he was at work, in DC and that a fellow employee, while at work, approached him for the notarization.

You are correct in your assumption if the act takes place in VA, but that's not the way I read it.