Am I allowed to notarize a copy of a passport? — J.S., New York
When someone asks you to "notarize a copy of a passport," they are usually asking you to certify a copy of that passport. New York Notaries are not authorized to certify copies of any documents. The signer's citizenship status has no impact on this. If, however, you are being asked to notarize an indivdual's signature on a statement asserting that the attached copy of the indvidual's passport is a true copy, you may do so.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
Confronted with a tricky notarization? Unsure how to proceed? NNA members have unlimited access to our expertly trained NNA Hotline counselors to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.