I have an upcoming appointment to do a notarization for an estate plan, and the client is blind. Am I able to notarize his signature? Are there any special steps or precautions that I need to take to complete this notarization? — C.M., California
The answer to your first question is yes; you can notarize the signature of a blind client. To your second question, you may ask the signer whether the document was provided to them in braille or if someone has read the entire document to them. You can ask them if they know the title of the document and number of pages. If there is any doubt, you can offer to read the entire document to them before you notarize their signature.
For more information and guidelines for other states, please see our article on notarizing for visually impaired signers.
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 consultants to help you with all of your notarial questions. Call 1-888-876-0827, Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST; Saturday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.