What a mobile notary does
A mobile notary is a notary public who comes to you. Instead of you hunting for an office, taking time off work and hoping someone is available, I bring my seal, my journal and my certificates to wherever you are. I'm Teigh Wade, and I've been a notary public serving the Surprise area since 2010.
The job itself is simple, and it matters. I confirm who you are with acceptable identification, make sure you understand what you're signing and are signing willingly, watch you sign, and complete the notarial certificate with my signature and seal. I also record the notarization in my notary journal. That process protects you, the people who will rely on your document and everyone else involved from fraud.
I'm also a REALTOR® with HomeSmart Elite Group, HomeSmart, so I see plenty of real estate paperwork. My notary work goes well beyond real estate, though: a power of attorney signed at a hospital bedside, a business contract signed in a conference room, a vehicle document signed at a kitchen table.
Where I travel
I come to you. Most of my appointments happen in places like these:
- Your home. Sign at your own table, on your own schedule, without loading up the car.
- Your office or business. I can meet one signer or a whole team, so work doesn't have to stop.
- Hospitals. When someone can't leave their room, I come to their bedside.
- Care facilities. Assisted living, memory care, rehab and nursing facilities.
- Jails. I notarize documents for people in jail. Each facility sets its own visiting rules, so we plan these appointments together ahead of time.
- Public meeting spots. A coffee shop, library or other public place that's convenient for everyone.
I'm based in Surprise and work all over the West Valley, including Surprise, Waddell, Wickenburg, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, El Mirage, Goodyear, Buckeye, Litchfield Park and Phoenix. I also offer statewide service, so if your signing is farther out, call and we'll work out the details. I don't publish an office address because the appointment happens where you are.
24/7, short-notice and emergency appointments
Paperwork doesn't always wait for business hours. A loved one is about to be discharged, a deal needs one more signature tonight, or a document has to go out first thing in the morning. I welcome short-notice, last-minute and emergency appointments, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by appointment.
When you call 480-550-2871, tell me what you're signing, how many people are signing, where you are and how soon you need me. I'll tell you honestly whether I can make it, and I'll quote the travel fee before I head your way.
What a mobile notary costs
For most services, my standard is $25: the $10 notary fee plus a travel fee that's usually $15.
Here's how that works under Arizona rules:
- The notary fee is capped by the state. Arizona caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act; for acknowledgments and jurats, that's $10 per notary signature (Ariz. Admin. Code R2-12-1102). If your documents need more than one notarization, the notary fee applies to each one.
- Travel is separate. Arizona law lets notaries charge for travel, up to the mileage and per diem amounts allowed for state employees (A.R.S. 41-316(B)).
- You hear the price first. I quote the travel fee before the appointment, so nothing about the cost is a surprise when I arrive. A longer trip can change the travel fee, and if it does, I'll tell you before we book.
Loan signings are priced differently. See my loan signing agent page for that.
Documents I notarize
- Real estate forms. Forms tied to buying, selling or transferring property.
- Business documents. Contracts, corporate documents, employment documents and financial documents.
- Medical documents. Living wills, powers of attorney and healthcare directives.
- Family documents. Adoption, divorce, domestic partnership documents and wills.
- Motor vehicle documents.
- General notarial acts. Acknowledgments, authorizations, jurats and oaths.
- Passport-related documents.
- Documents for people in jail.
Not sure whether your document needs a notary, or which kind of notarization it needs? Ask the person or office that gave it to you, or an attorney. I can tell you what I need to complete the notarization, but I can't choose the document or the notarial act for you.
Processing papers and translation services
Processing papers. Some appointments come with a stack: several forms, several signers and pages that have to stay in order. I can help you move that paperwork along so every signature that needs a notarization gets one and nothing is missed. What I can't do is pick forms for you, fill in legal content or tell you where or whether to file something. Those decisions belong to you, the office that requested the documents or your attorney.
Translation services. If English isn't your first language, I can help coordinate translation so you understand the documents in front of you. Two Arizona rules are worth knowing. First, a notary can't certify that a translation is accurate; a notarization confirms a signer's identity and signature, not the wording of a translation. Second, if a translator helps during the notarization itself, the translator must be physically present with the signer and me at the time of the notarization. Arizona notaries can notarize a document written in another language, but the notarial certificate has to be in a language I read and understand.
Background clearance and experience
I hold an FBI background clearance card. Hospitals, care facilities, title companies and clients are trusting me with sensitive moments and sensitive paperwork, and I take that seriously.
I've served as a notary public in the Surprise area since 2010, and I completed the National Notary Association (NNA) certified signing agent program, with experience handling mortgage and loan documents. That loan document experience carries into every appointment: careful ID checks, complete journal entries and certificates filled out correctly the first time.
What to have ready before I arrive
- Your complete, unsigned documents. Leave the signature lines blank until I'm there. A jurat can't be done on a document with blank spaces or missing pages, so fill in everything else beforehand.
- A valid, unexpired government photo ID for each signer. A driver license, nonoperating ID, U.S. passport or military ID are common choices.
- Every signer, in person. Each person whose signature is being notarized must be physically present with me.
- Witnesses, if your document requires them. The document, or the office that requested it, decides whether witnesses are needed. If they are, have them there and ready.
- A translator, if you need one. They must be present with us during the notarization.
A clear table and a little quiet help too, especially at a hospital or care facility.
What a notary can't do
- Give legal advice. I can't tell you which document you need, what it means for you or what to write in it.
- Prepare your documents. In Arizona, a notary who isn't an attorney or certified legal document preparer may not prepare documents for others.
- Notarize without you present. The signer must appear in the notary's presence. A traditional Arizona notarization can't be done by video call. Remote online notarization is a separate authorization in Arizona; my appointments are in person.
- Certify copies of vital and public records. Arizona notaries can't certify copies of public records such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage and divorce records, court records or recorded deeds. Certified copies come from the agency that keeps the record.
- Issue apostilles. Arizona notaries don't have that authority.
- Notarize when something's wrong. I may refuse if a signer doesn't seem to understand the document or isn't signing willingly, and I'll note the reason in my journal.
I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. If you have a legal question about your document, an attorney is the right person to ask.
How to book
Call my phone at 480-550-2871. Appointments are available Monday through Sunday, and I welcome short-notice and emergency calls around the clock. Tell me what you're signing, how many signers there are, where you'd like to meet and when you need it done, and I'll quote your travel fee before we confirm.
If your signing is part of a home sale or purchase and you'd like to talk real estate too, call or text me at 480-550-2871 or visit my contact page. You'll find more quick answers on my FAQ page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mobile notary cost in Surprise, AZ?
Most of my mobile notary services are $25: the $10 notary fee plus a travel fee that's usually $15. Arizona caps the notary fee at $10 per notarial act, so documents needing several notarizations cost more in notary fees. The travel fee is separate, and I quote it before the appointment so you know the total before I arrive. Call 480-550-2871 for your quote.
Can you come to a hospital or care facility?
Yes. I regularly travel to hospitals, assisted living, memory care, rehab and nursing facilities across the West Valley. The signer must be able to understand the document and sign willingly, and they need acceptable ID. It helps to check the facility's visitor rules and let staff know I'm coming. Call 480-550-2871 and tell me the room or unit, and I'll plan around it.
Do you offer emergency or after-hours notary appointments?
Yes. I welcome short-notice, last-minute and emergency appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by appointment. Call 480-550-2871, tell me what you're signing, where you are and how soon you need me, and I'll let you know honestly whether I can make it. I'll quote the travel fee before I head your way.
What ID do I need to get a document notarized in Arizona?
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as an Arizona driver license or nonoperating ID, a U.S. passport or a military ID. Arizona also accepts certain other government IDs, including some inmate IDs. If you don't have acceptable ID, a credible witness who personally knows you may be able to vouch for you under oath. Call me first so we can confirm what will work.
Can you notarize documents for someone in jail?
Yes, I notarize documents for people in jail. Each facility has its own rules for visits, scheduling and what can be brought inside, so we'll plan the appointment together in advance. The signer still needs acceptable identification, and Arizona allows certain inmate IDs. Call 480-550-2871 with the facility name and what needs to be signed, and I'll walk you through the next steps.
Can you tell me which document I need?
No. Notaries can't give legal advice, choose a document type for you or tell you what to write in it. I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. If you're not sure which form you need or what it means for you, ask the office that requested it or an attorney. Once you have the right document, I'll handle the notarization.
Can you notarize a birth certificate?
No. Arizona notaries can't certify copies of public records, and that includes vital records like birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage and divorce records. If you need a certified copy, request it from the government office that keeps the record. If that office gives you a form that needs a notarized signature, I can notarize your signature on that form.
Can a notary certify a translation in Arizona?
No. A notary can't certify that a translation is accurate; a notarization confirms who signed and that they signed, not what the words mean in another language. I can help coordinate translation so you understand your documents. If a translator helps during the notarization, they must be physically present with you and me at the time of signing.
Should I sign my document before you arrive?
No, please wait. Leave the signature lines blank so you can sign in front of me after I check your ID. Do fill in the rest of the document first, because a jurat can't be completed on a document with blank spaces. If you already signed, call me before the appointment and we'll figure out the right next step together.
Do all signers need to be there at the same time?
Every signer must appear in person in front of me for their own signature to be notarized, with their own acceptable ID. They don't always have to be there at the same moment, but scheduling everyone together is usually simplest and keeps the travel fee to one trip. If signers are in different places, tell me when you call and I'll quote each stop.