Frequently Asked Questions

The signer, or the person who's signature is being notarized needs to be physically present with a valid government issued photo ID.

If the documents we are signing require a witness(es), the witness needs ID as well.

Valid forms of government issued photo ID are:

Driver License (AZ or any other state)

State Issued Identification Card (AZ or any other state)

Valid Passport

Military ID

(If the signer is signing while incarcerated, their ADOC issued photo ID is sufficient)

If you do not have a valid photo ID from the above list, you will need two other adults who have valid photo ID and are willing to attest to your identity.

In Arizona, a witness must be: 

1. Someone of sound mind 
2. An adult 
3. NOT related by blood or marriage

There are many types of power of attorney documents. The most common are medical or healthcare power of attorney and general or financial power of attorney.

A power of attorney allows one person to give permission for another person to act on their behalf. 

• Medical or healthcare power of attorney allows someone to act on your behalf solely for medical/health related acts. Most healthcare/medical power of attorneys are durable, meaning once signed, they are still effective in the event you become incapacitated or mentally unwell.

• A general or financial power of attorney can allow someone else to act on your behalf for any other acts not related to healthcare such as banking, real estate, your vehicle, etc. This type of POA can either be regular (it has a specified end date) or durable (no specified end date, effective until it is revoked or the principal dies.)

You can make a power of attorney very specific, for one transaction, or very general, for any and all transactions. Granting someone power of attorney is a very serious matter and is not to be taken lightly. Make sure you trust the person you are giving this authority to.

You can change the name on the title of your house by recording a deed. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional who is experienced in real estate and estate planning in order to understand the different types of deeds, how they are used, and the possible repercussions of using a deed incorrectly.

This is a common request and can be done. I offer purchase/sale contracts and recording services. Please give me a call or send an email so that we can discuss your situation specifically.

Arizona requires the seller's signature to be notarized in order to "open" or allow the title to be transferred to a new owner. 

Only the seller needs to be present for notarization, not the buyer.

Yes, we offer copy certifications. You must have the original available for comparison at the time of certification.

An Apostille is a certificate that is attached to a notarized document allowing it to be used in another country. 

In order for a foreign country to accept a document that was: 

• issued as a certified copy from a government agency 
• an original of a document signed and notarized by a US commissioned notary
• a copy of a document that was certified by a US commissioned notary

The document must have an apostille attached if the country is listed in the Hague Convention.

The Secretary of State's office is currently closed to the public and all Apostille applications must be mailed in for Apostille issuance. Please call us to assist with the application to ensure there are no delays in the process.

Yes, please give us a call to inquire and start the process.

Every situation is different and there is no "one size fits all" answer. I am always happy to speak with you about your specific situation and provide a detailed explanation of documents with any  information to help simplify the process of deciding what your best course of action is. Although I have extensive knowledge of legal documents and how to prepare them, I am not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice.

The simplest answer to this is:

Both a trust and a will allow you to decide how you'd like the assets in your estate distributed after you die and to whom.

The difference is:

A trust allows your successor trustee to distribute your estate to your beneficiaries exactly as you designate within your trust privately.

A will also allows you to choose who will distribute your estate (executor or executrix) and to whom. However, a will is simply a letter to the probate court instructing the court how you wanted your estate handled. 

A living will is a written documentation of how you would like your end of life care handled when you are unable to speak for yourself and doctors have determined your condition is not reversible or curable and terminal. You have the option of whether you'd like to be kept alive on a breathing machine or fed through a tube, or, to be kept comfortable until you pass naturally.

A last will is a formal letter in a particular format that is used to inform the probate court how you would like your assets/estate distributed after your death.