Notary Service

The Fort Dodge Public Library has a staff member commissioned by the Iowa Secretary of State to serve as a notary in accordance with Iowa State Code Chapter 9B and Iowa Administrative Rules 721 – Chapter 43.

Notary service is free of charge and subject to staff availability (generally Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.).  The notary is not always available when the Library is open so it is strongly recommended that you call ahead (515-573-8167 ext. 6224) to confirm their availability. 

Please Note: 

  • The Library notary may, at their sole discretion, decline to provide notary service to anyone for any reason.

  • Library staff are not attorneys licensed to practice law in this state; are not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities. (Disclaimer required by Iowa Code 2025, Section 9B.25)

Notary Service Guidelines:

  • The Library adheres to Iowa State Code Chapter 9B with regards to identification of the person seeking notary services and will not provide witnesses, nor may witnesses be solicited from other persons using the Library.

  • All document signers, including any witnesses, must personally appear before the notary with a current government-issued photo ID that includes a signature.

  • All document signers, including any witnesses, must demonstrate competency and a willingness to sign. 

  • The Library notary must be allowed to make an entry of the act in the notary journal.

  • Before meeting with the Library notary, the person who will be signing the document must be sure it is completely filled out, with no blanks other than where they will sign and date the document.

  • All information must be clearly written. 

  • The Library notary and the person requesting notary service must be able to clearly communicate directly with each other. Notaries are not permitted to make use of a translator or third party to communicate with the person requesting notary services.

  • The Library notary will only place their seal or stamp on a page containing a valid certificate of notarial act.  This may also include requiring the signer to give a verbal oath or acknowledgement.

Additionally:

  • The Library notary will not provide service if the person, document or any circumstances of the request for notary service raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt or uncertainty for the notary.

  • The Library notary will not notarize any document with blank spaces.

  • Notaries cannot pre-date or post-date any action.

  • Notaries cannot prepare a legal document or give advice on legal matters.

  • Notaries cannot notarize any document in which they have a personal interest.

  • Notary service is not available for the following types of documents:

    • Government form I-9s

    • Wills or codicils to wills

    • Depositions

    • Handwritten deeds

    • Documents of conveyance of real estate, mortgages, and other real estate loans, documents or transactions of property transfers, including but not limited to refinancing or other types of real estate loans, purchases, sales, and beneficial interests in land trust or deeds

    • Documents written in any language other than English

  • Certain public documents cannot be copied and/or notarized including:

    • Birth certificates

    • Death certificates

    • Adoption records

    • Marriage licenses

    • Deeds

    • Court records

    • Photocopies of public documents

 

Notary services may also be available at the following locations:

  • Banks and Credit Unions

  • County Courthouse

  • Tax Preparers/CPAs

  • Real Estate Offices

  • Insurance Agents/Companies