Learning how to notarize a document in person and online ensures you can authenticate important paperwork quickly, easily, and securely.


If you were wondering how to notarize a document, the answer is pretty straightforward—you can either visit a notary public in person or use an online notary service to witness your 

Notarization is a legal document verification process that adds an additional layer of security to a transaction. It 

knowingly and willingly signed the document

In this article, we’ll explain the in-person and online document notarization process step by step, detailing the notarization requirements as well as common mistakes. Stay tuned to learn how to notarize a document quickly, easily, and correctly.

. Its point is to confirm that the person signing the document truly is who they claim to be, thus preventing fraud. In addition to verifying the signer’s identity, notarization ensures they understand what they’re signing and that they are doing so willingly—not under threat or pressure.

This process makes the document legally recognized and is typically overseen by a notary public—an official authorized by the government to 

. They’re impartial and don’t give legal advice—their role is to make sure the signer’s mental capacity is sound so that they can make informed decisions about the document.

At the end of the notarization process, the notary public 

 to confirm everything has been done correctly and in accordance with the law.

Notarization is a common practice in business situations but extends beyond them. Here are some outside-the-office documents that need to be notarized:

How to Notarize a Document: Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s see how to notarize a document step-by-step, starting with its preparation and ending with a notary stamp or seal making it official:

To prepare the document for notarization, read it carefully and 

 that could cause problems down the line. Additionally, if the signing of the document calls for witnesses, make sure you have as many as you need and that they’re 

Don’t sign the document at this stage—a notary needs to be present when you do so. Finally, 

 with you since you’ll need it at the time of signing to prove your identity.

Now that your document is ready, it’s time to locate a licensed notary public in your area. They can be found at 

. Before you reach out to them and arrange an appointment, make sure they’re authorized to handle your specific type of document in your state.

wait until you meet the notary to sign the document

 and confirm you’re doing it willingly. If the signing of your document requires witnesses, they also need to be present and ready to sign at this stage. As for the exact procedure, leave it to the notary—they’ll ensure everything is done properly.

confirm you understand what you’re signing

Once everything checks out, they’ll add their own signature and official seal or stamp to the document. This will certify the document as valid and legally recognized, preventing any disputes or fraud moving forward.

When your document receives the official seal or stamp, it’s time to pay the notary fee. The 

amount varies depending on the state and type of notarization

, and in some cases, you may be charged per signature or stamp.

To avoid inconveniences, make sure you ask about the fee beforehand and bring the required payment method.

Once your document is officially notarized and the fee is paid, the notary will hand it back to you. At this point, you can use it for whatever purpose you’ve had it notarized and 

submit it to a legal office, financial institution, or another party

However, before you do that, double-check the notarized document for accuracy and make sure all the signatures and seals are in place.

You can notarize a document online through 

. It makes the process simpler, easier, and faster, as it allows you to complete it from the comfort of your home.

Instead of meeting with a notary in person, RON connects you with a licensed official through a 

. This method is just as valid and secure as traditional notarization and is legal in many states. Needless to say, it’s especially convenient for people with busy schedules and in situations when meeting with a notary in person isn’t practical.

. Choose a reputable platform offering notary services and make sure it’s legally recognized in your state.

. Scan or upload the fully prepared but unsigned document to the platform.

. Upload your ID and answer security questions to complete an identity check.

. Meet with the notary virtually and have them review your document and watch as you 

. After the notary adds their electronic signature and seal to the document, you can download it.

The benefits of online notarization include convenience, easy access, fraud minimization, enforceability, and security.

Let’s explore them in more detail to understand why you should notarize a document online:

—you can notarize your document from anywhere, whether from the comfort of your home or on the go. You don’t need to open a time slot in your schedule for a drive to a notary’s location to meet them in person.

This is especially helpful for busy people or those living in remote areas. To top it off, 

services are available 24/7 on most platforms

advanced tools to minimize the chances of fraud

. Additionally, identity checks involve multiple steps, such as ID uploads, live video calls, and authentication questions. For an extra layer of security, the whole 

—this way, there’s proof of the interaction.

 for notarization add another safeguard, confirming documents are impervious to alteration and legally binding. Thanks to these measures, it’s hard for someone to falsify their identity or forge a document.

Many states and industries recognize online notarization as legally valid. First of all, digital seals and signatures ensure that the 

document can’t be altered after notarization

With the previously mentioned practice of recording sessions and tamper-proof technology, you can rest assured that online notarized documents are secure and enforceable in courts and legal matters.

3 Mistakes to Avoid During the Notarization Process

The most common mistakes to keep an eye out for during the notarization process include signing the document too early, using invalid identification, and failing to notice the document is incorrect or incomplete.

As previously mentioned, signing the document before meeting with the notary defies the whole purpose of notarization. Namely, the 

notary needs to witness you signing the document

 to ensure you’re doing it willingly and knowingly and verify the signature’s authenticity.

With this in mind, if you sign the document too early, it’ll likely get rejected, forcing you to go through the process again. To avoid this, wait until you meet the notary, whether online or in person, to have them watch you sign the document.

Next to the paperwork you need notarized, your ID is the most important document you must have with you when meeting with a notary. An expired or incorrect ID, like a school card instead of a government-issued one, will either cause a delay in the process or a rejection of your document.

. As for the type, you can bring a passport, driver’s license, or ID card.

Missing pages, blank spaces, errors, and typos can make your document invalid. Namely, notaries can’t notarize incomplete and incorrect documents. To save yourself the hassle of repeating the process, review the document carefully before meeting with the notary. See if all 

Prepare Your Document for Notarization With PDF.net

Now that you know how to notarize a document online, you need to carefully prepare your paperwork before meeting with the notary. Fortunately, there’s a perfect tool for that—

. Upload your file, edit it, and ensure everything is in order so that you’re ready for a smooth notarization process.

Here’s why you should use this PDF editor to prepare your document for notarization:

: Security is one of the primary concerns when it comes to notarization, and PDF.net has encryption and authentication features to protect your documents. Rest assured, no one can access the file you’ve uploaded.

: Whether you have experience with notarization or not, PDF.net will make the preparation of your document simple and easy. You can upload, review, and 

: Notarization can be done from anywhere, so it’s only logical that we make the preparation just as convenient. You can access PDF.net from any device, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone, and edit your file wherever you are.

#1. How do you format a document that needs to be notarized?

To format a document that needs to be notarized, you need to have a clear title at the top to indicate its purpose, use paragraphs and numbering to make the content readable, leave space for signatures, and include the notarial certificate at the bottom.

You can notarize a document online through an online notary service. After you upload the document to the platform and verify your identity, you’ll meet with the notary via video call and sign the document.

You can notarize a PDF document through a trusted online notary service. Before you do, make sure it’s organized—a PDF tool such as PDF.net can help you edit your file and prepare it for notarization.

How to Notarize a Document in Person and Online in a Snap

Some of the most prominent ways to remove signatures from PDFs include conversion to editable format and flattening and redacting them.

To remove a signature from PDFs, you can undo changes on a freshly signed document, edit out signatures, convert them to editable format, delete them, and flatten and redact your document.

You may need to delete signatures from PDFs after accidentally signing them, or you may want to 

by replacing one signature with another. However, PDF signature removal may not always be possible due to high-security levels.

Read on to discover more about which signatures are removable, how to remove them, and how to protect your documents from unwanted signature removal.

 depends on their type. Signatures are usually classified according to how they are produced and their security levels.

Digital signatures are electronic data transferred to an online document that proves someone’s intention to sign it. There are three types of digital signatures—

Their security levels differ; simple signatures have the lowest, advanced ones boast high, and qualified signatures have the highest security levels. In general, you can remove an e-signature from your document right after signing it, as the signing process is not complete, and the platform allows you to revoke your action. Alternatively, you can delete simple signatures from documents someone else has signed using editing tools, such as PDF.net.

In contrast, if someone sends a signed document, especially one with an advanced or qualified signature, it will be impossible to remove PDF digital signatures 

. You can create electronic signatures by typing your name and positioning it in a document. You can also use a signature image and insert it into a PDF document.

Unlike most digital signatures, you can remove electronic signatures from PDFs by editing them out. Specifically, our 

allows you to find, select, and delete text or image-based signatures.

 include printed PDF copies that people manually sign. Editing a hard copy online is impossible, and modifying it physically could leave marks (e.g., scribbles) and lower its credibility.

Alternatively, you can edit hand-drawn signatures by scanning a hard PDF copy. After you do this, you must use 

 to mark the signature and make it invisible by matching its color with the background.

It is important to note that erasing signatures in PDFs can invalidate documents. Most tools can detect signature removal since signatures use 

 and revoke document trust, which means they can restrict their services for the document.

Also, once documents that must be signed (e.g., legal real estate documents) lose the signature, they also

4 Methods for Removing a Signature From a PDF

There are several ways to remove signatures from PDFs, allowing you to revise and revamp your documents.

With that in mind, let’s examine the top four methods to extract a signature from a PDF document:

#1. Remove the Signature Using the Undo Option

You can undo a PDF signature using the same option on an online PDF editor. This process is simple—click the 

This will automatically clear the signature from your document. If you have multiple signatures on your file, you can repeatedly click the 

icon until all of them are removed. Once you delete the signature, you can continue editing your file and download it afterward.

#2. Delete a Signature From an Editable PDF

You can edit a signed PDF and remove a signature if it is not encrypted. For instance, if a signature is typed and placed into a document as a fillable form, you can use the selection tool to select a signature and remove it by clicking on the 

 icon in the upper-right corner of the toolbar.

You should repeat this process for every signature in the document, after which you can download your PDF file. In addition to this removal method, you can delete signatures on mobile devices, as our platform also allows 

#3. Convert the PDF to an Editable Format

To edit out signatures from non-editable PDFs, you must enable the editing option first. If you want to make an image-based PDF editable, you can OCR it to detect and extract its content. Then, you can find, select, and remove signatures from it.

Additionally, you can convert PDFs to other editable formats. For instance, 

 will make all its contents editable (including fillable text forms with signatures). Afterward, you can select the signature and use the 

 on your keyboard, or right-click it and click the 

#4. Flatten the PDF and Use a Redaction Tool

Another way to unlock signed PDFs is to make layers uniform by flattening them. PDF.net allows you to flatten the entire document or only fillable text forms, which will also flatten PDF signatures.

You can flatten fillable text forms to remove typed-in signatures. Moreover, to erase other types of removable electronic signatures, you must flatten the entire document. To do so, visit our website, upload your document, select the flattening tool, and choose between the 

complete or fillable form flattening option

Following this, you should use the redaction tool to select the document parts with signatures and remove them by activating the reduction option. This will automatically

 match the signature color to the background color

How to Prevent Removal of Signatures From PDF Documents

To prevent the removal of signatures from PDF documents, you should use highly secure digital signatures and protect your files with security tools.

Let’s examine these methods in greater detail:

. Digital signatures are non-removable due to high encryption. Therefore, look for a platform that offers digital signatures instead of electronic ones. These signatures also use 

, which enables only the sender and receiver to see the signed document.

. You can lock your PDFs with a password and make them accessible only to specific users. Plus, you can 

 in different ways—disable printing, copying, and adding comments or make them non-editable and read-only. These security measures add more protection to your PDF documents and prevent the removal of signatures.

Using PDF.net for Flawless Signature Removal and Protection

Cheap tools with limited signature removal features and low protection can be burdensome for people who want to modify PDFs. A 

 offers various options for signature removal, including a 

, flattening software, and conversion and redaction tools.

In addition to using our software to delete removable signatures, you can have a non-removable signature on your document if you use our signing tool. This is because we provide advanced and qualified signatures with 

high encryption and public key technology

, our tools can help you password-protect your PDF files, set restrictions (e.g., copying and printing restrictions), and disable editing on your document.

#1. How do I delete a digital signature from PDFs?

You can delete a digital signature from PDFs only if it is text-based and added as a fillable text form. To do this, you can use our PDF editor to

You can edit a signed PDF in a standard way 

using a PDF.net editor and all available features

 (draw, highlight, etc.), provided it is editable. If a PDF is non-editable, you can OCR it or remove editing restrictions using our software to make it editable.

#3. Why can’t I remove a signature from PDFs?

You can’t remove a signature from PDFs because it may be advanced or qualified, meaning that it uses 

high encryption, preventing the removal process

. Using cheap tools instead of reliable ones may also prevent signature removal.

#4. Will removing a signature make a document invalid?

 if it requires signing to be valid (e.g., business contracts). Also, some software may detect the previous signature’s existence and restrict the availability of its options, rendering it untrustworthy.

#5. Can I remove a signature from a scanned PDF?

Yes, you can remove a signature from a scanned PDF using our tools to convert it into an 

. You can also OCR your scanned document and remove signatures from it afterward or use a redaction tool to erase signatures without conversion or OCR feature.

How to Remove a Signature from a PDF: 4 Easy Methods

Need to save a file as a PDF? Learn how to convert documents, images, and more to PDF on Windows, Mac, and mobile with our guide.

To save as a PDF, you can use a PDF.net converter, the built-in features on Windows and Mac, Google Drive, third-party apps for Android, or the Print option on iOS.

Saving a document as a PDF allows you to preserve its formatting regardless of the device on which it loads. In addition, the PDF format is highly secure (e.g., you can add password protection or restrictions), making it suitable for

 business, school, and other similar uses

This guide will help you learn more about saving as a PDF, as we share the easiest methods to streamline this process based on your preferred device.

Knowing how to save as a PDF helps you preserve file formatting and make your documents easier to share and use while ensuring their security.

for Word, Print to PDF on PC, Print option on iOS, in-built ‘Save as’ feature on Mac, and Google Drive or third-party apps to save as a PDF on Android.

 after conversion, which help you adapt your documents for various uses.

How to Save as a PDF on Different Devices

Saving as a PDF on different devices is possible with the 

Google Drive, and other designated software

Let’s examine each method more thoroughly:

To save a PDF to a computer (but on Windows), you can use the 

Using the Print to PDF feature on Windows is easy; all you need to do is follow these steps:

 button in the lower-left corner, which will automatically save your file as a PDF on your device.

Additionally, you can use MS Word to save as a PDF. Just right-click your document, choose 

. Select the destination folder, name your file, and select 

Another way to save as a PDF on a PC is to use PowerPoint or Excel. This process is similar to that for MS Word in both programs—open your document, select 

 option. Then, name your file, choose the location to save it, select 

You can easily save various documents (images in 

 button to open the drop-down menu and select 

Add the title or any optional elements, such as the author, subject, and keywords, and click 

 to save files as PDFs. To do this, right-click your document, hover your cursor over the 

 on Pages after naming your file to finalize this process.

Saving as a PDF on a Mobile (iOS & Android)

To save files as a PDF on your phone, you can use the

 or third-party apps on Android. Let’s see how to do this on iOS:

Open the document you want to save as a PDF and tap the 

 button to select a location for your PDF file and store it.

Here are the steps to follow if you want to use 

Open Google Drive, find your document, and tap the 

 option will be automatically selected, tap the 

Choose the folder to save your file and tap

for saving documents as PDFs on Android, in addition to Google Drive. As not all of them are equally efficient, we recommend using reliable software, such as PDF.net, instead.

Convert Different File Types to PDF with PDF.net

Conversion is another way to obtain PDF files and save them in this format. For this purpose, you can use our tool to convert both images (such as 

As DOC and DOCX files are among the most popular formats, we offer an easy way to transform them into PDF using the 

. In addition, to get PDFs from images, you can 

The software is easy to use and allows you to streamline the format-changing process with several clicks. All you should do is open the conversion software you need, upload your document, activate the tool, and download your PDF file in the end!

With PDF.net, you can trust that your files are handled with the highest security standards. Our advanced encryption methods and strict privacy policies ensure that your documents are protected throughout the entire conversion process.

Above all, the technologically advanced PDF.net tools provide fast conversion (which is especially useful for large files) and keep your document formatting and quality intact.

Beyond Converting PDFs: What Else Can PDF.net Help With?

Effortlessly saving files as PDFs is only one of the services we offer; there are many other handy tools PDF.net has in store that can help you modify and improve your documents.

Let’s take a look at some other popular features for perfecting your PDFs it boasts:

. Before saving your file as a PDF, you can 

 text in it. Additionally, you can draw on your document, place sticky notes, and create new fillable text forms.

 using our AI tool. You can ask as many questions as you wish and request analysis in different formats.

. You can also use our tool to place a digital signature on your documents. We use 

 to protect your files during and after the signing process.

Saving files as PDFs is important because this format offers easy sharing methods, high security, and great document quality with stable formatting.

Furthermore, finding the right tool to convert and save files to PDF is another crucial aspect for practical usage. This is why we recommend PDF.net, as its software allows for 

simple and fast PDF conversion and download

. Besides that, you can use many other PDF.net tools to edit your documents and ensure they are suitable for different purposes (e.g., sharing via email).

#1. Why can’t I find the ‘Save as PDF’ option on my device?

 option on your device because you may use software without the built-in ‘Save as PDF’ feature. Another reason for this may be using an unreliable or cheap PDF reader, which you can 

replace with highly functional PDF.net tools

#2. How do I save a Google Docs file as a PDF?

To save a Google Docs file as a PDF, go to Google Drive, find the document, and open it. Then, use the

, which will convert and store your file on your device.

#3. Will saving as a PDF change my document’s formatting?

Blog

How to Notarize a Document in Person and Online in a Snap

How to Remove a Signature from a PDF: 4 Easy Methods

How to Save as a PDF: Quick & Easy Methods for Any Device

How to Merge PDF Files: Fast and Secure Solution with PDF.net

How to Change Fonts in PDF Documents: Fast and Easy

How to Password-Protect a Word Document on Windows & Mac

How to Merge Word Documents: With or Without Microsoft Word

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