The National Notary Association has named Laura Biewer, of Modesto, California, as the 2026 Notary of the Year, recognizing her decades of steadfast ethical leadership, professional mentorship, and service to vulnerable signers.
For 22 years, Laura Biewer has served as a California Notary Public, educator, and mentor, with a clear sense of purpose: to protect vulnerable signers and ensure access to ethical, professional notarial services.
Over the years, she has taught thousands of Notaries to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards when serving the public. To her, being a Notary is not simply a business. It is a calling.
A calling rooted in compassion
Laura’s path to becoming a Notary was shaped by her early work experiences. While running her own assisted living facility, she witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for seniors and medically frail individuals to obtain urgently needed notarizations, and how vulnerable they were to document fraud.
Instead of dismissing this as someone else’s problem, Laura became a Notary so she could help. She built her early Notary career around serving individuals in assisted living communities, hospitals, and care facilities in her community.
Many of these signers faced significant difficulties — limited mobility, serious illness, or lack of transportation. Laura would travel to them wherever they were, often waiving her notarization fees to ensure they got the services they needed and were protected against exploitation.
“One of my most rewarding experiences involved a hospice patient living more than 200 miles from his family,” Laura said. “His wife was recovering from surgery and unable to travel, and he was the only patient in a newly opened hospice wing. After completing the notarization, I realized how isolated he was. Since I lived nearby, I offered to check in on him.
“Over the following months, I visited several times, helping with small tasks and simply providing conversation. The last time I saw him, he shared that his wife was finally strong enough to visit. That experience reminded me that notarization can be a doorway to compassion and human connection.”
Elevating professional notarial standards
Compassion for signers in need is only one part of Laura’s professional identity. She’s also well-known for her rigorous commitment to proper Notary procedures and ethical best practices.
“Notaries hold the public trust,” she said. “We serve as impartial guardians of authenticity, ensuring that documents are signed willingly by the right person. That responsibility is both humbling and powerful.”
As the founder and owner of “At Your Service Mobile Notary” and the “Coach Me Laura” Notary mentoring service, Laura maintains a meticulous journal of every notarization she performs, follows California Notary law rigorously, and clearly informs signers that she cannot provide them with unauthorized legal advice.
Notaries are often under pressure to take shortcuts and ignore proper procedures, but Laura’s example reinforces the importance of doing the job correctly — every time. She always strictly follows a Notary’s duty to remain impartial, ensure signers are properly identified, and protect the integrity of every transaction.
A mentor to thousands of Notaries
In 2006, Laura became a Certified Instructor for the National Notary Association, beginning what would become one of the most influential chapters of her career. As an educator, she has trained thousands of Notaries, focusing on technical accuracy, legal compliance and ethical conduct.
As a trusted guide for new and experienced Notaries alike, Laura has contributed to The National Notary Bulletin and authored books for Notaries, including Beyond Loan Signings and The Compassionate Notary: A Field Guide to Signings in Hospitals, Hospice and for the Homebound.
Her instruction goes beyond the basic mechanics of notarization. She teaches Notaries how to serve with compassion in complex and sensitive environments such as hospitals, long-term care facilities and correctional institutions, and how to properly address any unusual or problematic issues that arise during notarizations.
Through her specialty Notary education programs and personal coaching, she empowers Notaries to build sustainable businesses grounded in professionalism and integrity. Many Notaries have gone on to launch successful professional careers under her tutelage.
“My proudest achievement is building community and collaborating with other leaders in the Notary world — and bringing Notaries together to learn from each other rather than seeing them as competition,” she says.
Strengthening access to Notary services and inspiring integrity in her colleagues
What sets Laura apart is not simply the longevity of her career, but the clarity of her mission. She has expanded access to notarization for those who might otherwise go without it. She has modeled uncompromising ethical standards. She has invested in the growth and success of fellow Notaries.
Above all, she has reinforced public trust in the essential role Notaries play in safeguarding important life documents.
As the 2026 Notary of the Year, she reminds us that the Notary seal and journal represent more than a procedure — they represent a promise to protect the public through professional excellence and integrity.
About the Notary of the Year Award
The National Notary Association selects the Notary of the Year annually to recognize outstanding service, contributions to the Notary Public office and community service.
If you would like to nominate someone as a candidate for the 2027 Notary of the Year, please complete and submit our online NOTY nomination form.