Approved 8-19-2025

USE-6: Notary Policy

The Lake Bluff Public Library offers free notary services for the benefit of all patrons, in accordance withIllinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312). Library notaries will decline to provide notary services that do notcomply with the provisions of this Act and the Library’s Notary Policy as outlined below.

  • Patrons seeking notary service should call prior to their visit to find out if a notary is available.
  • To ensure adequate time to process the paperwork, patrons must arrive 1 hour prior to closing.
  • Notary service is provided on a first come, first served basis.
  • Valid, unexpired ID with signature and photo with true likeness of the person is required of anypatron seeking notary service.
  • In accordance with Illinois law, all notarial service will be entered in the acting notary’s NotaryPublic Record Book. Notary service will not be provided for a requester who declines to sign therecord book.
  • Lake Bluff Public Library Notaries cannot:
    • Give legal advice, counseling, or interpretation.
    • Use the services of a translator. Illinois law requires that a Notary and patron seeking notarization must be able to communicate directly with each other.
    • Provide Apostilles, or certify documents, so that they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
    • Certify copies of documents or signatures.
    • Serve as a witness or provide witnesses.
      • Witnesses may NOT be solicited from library patrons or staff.
      • In order to serve as a witness, the witness must be personally known to the individual whose document is being notarized and must be in possession of valid photo identification with a signature.
  • Lake Bluff Public Library Notaries will not notarize the following documents, as these types of documents can require technical or legal knowledge that is beyond the scope of this free service:
    • Government Form I-9 or Employment Eligibility Verification
    • Immigration documents
    • Documents of conveyance of real estate, mortgages, other real estate loans, document or transactions or property transfers including but not limited to refinancing or other types of real estate loans, purchases, sales, and beneficial interests in land trusts and deeds
    • Wills, living wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, codicils or depositions
    • Documents recorded by the County (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates)
    • Documents that do not contain notary language or a notary certificate or from which the notary certification can be detached from the document being notarized
    • Documents with any blank spaces
  • In accordance with IL notarial law, notaries will not provide service if the customer, document, or circumstances raise any issue of authenticity, ambiguity, or doubt. The library notary may, at their sole discretion, decline to provide notary service.
  • Documents must be complete and must be signed in the presence of the notary. Documents that have been signed prior to arrival will not be notarized.
  • Documents will only be notarized with the current date
  • A document is invalid if changes are made after the notarization

Please note: In accordance with Illinois Notarial Law the Library Notary may at their sole discretion,decline to provide Notary Service. Notaries are not authorized to prepare or complete documents orrecords for others. A library notary public is not an attorney that is licensed to practice law in Illinois, andmay not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.