Notary Services

Bowling Green Public Library offers notary services free to all patrons. Notary services are available on an as-needed basis, as not all staff can notarize documents. 

What to bring

• Your completed, unsigned document(s)* to be notarized
• A witness or witnesses, if required by your document
• A valid, unexpired state ID, federal ID, or other government ID with signature and photos (such as a driver’s license, state ID card, US military ID, or US passport)

We cannot notarize

• Documents that are already signed* (The Notary Public must witness signatures)
• Documents that are not in English
• Documents with blank spaces other than the space for signature
• We cannot make certified copies of documents in which the original document is held by a governmental or other entity, a so-called vital record or public record. 

*For Acknowledgements ONLY–Can be signed prior to appearing before a notary.

Other things to know

• Missouri law regulates notaries. We will not notarize documents that do not follow such laws and regulations. Notaries will not prepare or complete documents for you, nor can they give legal advice on a matter.
• Per Missouri law, notaries will not provide service if the document or circumstances of the request for notary service raise any question of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty for the library. In this event, the notary may decline to provide notary service at their sole discretion.