Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) offers free notary services to the public at select locations. Patrons may schedule an appointment through our online reservation system.
Eligibility & Limitations
- Notary services are available to all patrons ages 18 and older.
- Patrons may have up to three (3) documents notarized per day.
- The signer(s) must be present and provide valid identification.
- Notaries cannot provide legal advice, draft documents, or interpret their content.
- The person requesting the appointment must be the same person who needs document(s) notarized.
Appointment
- Reservations are required and must be made online.
- Patrons should arrive on time for their scheduled appointment. If a patron is more than 10 minutes late, the appointment may be canceled.
Please Note: Documents must be in English language only. The person seeking to utilize this service must be able to communicate with the notary. Translators are not permitted.
Required Identification & Documents
- All signers must present a valid form of photo ID, such as:
- State driver's license or ID card
- U.S. Passport or foreign passport with U.S. entry stamp
- U.S. Military ID
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- State, county, and local government IDs, including IDNYC
- Documents must be completed before arrival, except for the signature(s), which must be signed in front of the notary.
- The notary will not notarize blank, incomplete, or pre-signed documents.
- The notary will not print out any documents.
Notary Limitations
Notaries at BPL CANNOT:
- Notarize certain legal or specialized documents, including:
- Wills, Living Wills, Codicils, Trusts, Powers of Attorney & Depositions
- I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Forms
- Birth, Marriage, or Death Certificates
- Real Estate Documents, including but not limited to: Deeds, Mortgages, Satisfaction of Mortgages & Lease Agreements
- Purchasing Agreements
- Titles
- Liens
- Releases
- Real Estate Contracts and Disclosures
- Any documents in languages other than English
- Notarize documents that require witnesses unless the patron brings their own witnesses, who must also present valid photo ID.
- Provide certified copies of official records.
Library & Notary Rights
- Notaries may refuse service if:
- The signer is unwilling or unable to sign the document freely.
- The ID provided is invalid, expired, or insufficient.
- The document is incomplete or raises legal concerns.
- The service requested is beyond the notary's authorized duties.
- Notaries are not responsible for errors in notarized documents. It is the patron's responsibility to verify legal requirements before notarization.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.bklynlibrary.org/notary-reserve.
- Brooklyn Public Library Notary Services Policy
Brooklyn Public Library ("Library") employees who hold a valid New York State Notary license are available to provide limited notary services via a scheduled free appointment at the participating locations. Notaries complete notarial certificates using their official notary stamp and signature. Library notary publics must follow all New York State and applicable local laws and regulations governing notary services.
Notary services are available to patrons who have scheduled an appointment, subject to the following parameters:
- Notary services are offered for a limited number of hours. Brooklyn Public Library makes no guarantees or warranties concerning the availability of notaries at any given time. Currently, notary services are on an appointment-only basis and subject to the availability of the notaries.
- A patron is limited to three (3) notarizations per day. A notarization consists of one signature and one stamp.
- The library does not charge for notarization services.
- Any patron utilizing the library's notary services must personally appear, present a valid government-issued photo identification (e.g., passport or State-issued identification card).
- Patrons seeking to use the library's notary service must sign document(s) in front of the notary public. Notaries will not notarize pre-signed documents.
- You must bring the complete document, with blanks filled in (except the signature).
- Original documents must be provided. Notaries cannot certify copies of documents.
- The library's notary service is not available for deeds, and other real estate documents (i.e., mortgages and satisfactions of mortgages), wills, living wills, trusts, codicils, powers of attorney or depositions.
- Library notaries will not act as affiants for the purposes of executing affidavits of comparison, or the like.
- The library will not provide witnesses, and witnesses may not be solicited from other staff members or patrons using the library. In order to serve as a witness, the witness must personally know the person whose document is being notarized and must be in possession of a valid New York State driver's license or other government-issued photo identification.
- Documents in any language other than English will not be notarized at the library.
- The person seeking to utilize this service must be able to communicate with the notary. Translators are not permitted.
- Notaries cannot give legal advice.
- Notaries may refuse to provide notary services if they have a conflict of interest, are a party to the document, or have reason to believe that the document is false, misleading, or fraudulent.
- In its discretion, the library reserves its right to decline to provide notary services to a patron for any lawful reason.
- By using the library notary services, patrons acknowledge that the library and the individual notary public are not liable for any damages or losses incurred as a result of the notary services provided.
- The library and the notary public are not responsible for the content or legality of the document being notarized.
In some Spanish-speaking countries, a Notario Publico is a legal advisor, but in the United States, a Notary Public is not and may not give legal advice, draft legal papers, or review documents for legality.
Find information on how to notarize documents in languages other than English.