Tips for getting a hospital notarization

When you're in the hospital, you may find that you need paperwork with a notarized signature. This is to help prevent fraud, since a notary's job is to establish that the person signing is who they say they are, and that they are aware and consenting to sign the document. Hospitals have their own rules about establishing who can visit which usually don't need a notary, but certain situations it can be helpful to have something like a medical power of attorney or hospital visitation form notarized.

Waiting in the hospital is a pain. Hiring a notary doesn't have to be.

If you do find yourself needing a notary in the hospital or medical facility, this information me be of value to you:

• Make sure you have ID for everyone who is signing. Check out the FAQs for more on what IDs are allowed.

• Ask your nurse if there's a notary on staff. Sometimes there is, and it may be a faster way to do what you need. It's also usually free.

• If there isn't a notary available now, search for "hospital notary near me". There may be someone close by, and they may be able to see you sooner than someone on staff. 

• If the doctor has judged the patient to be incompetent to make medical decisions but a judge has not assigned someone else to make those decisions, there may still be time to get paperwork in order for signing in front of a notary. Because notaries are not medical professionals, and therefore cannot be expected to understand the nuance of any particular diagnosis, we can only determine by our best judgement if the person in front of us is consenting and understands what they're signing in that moment.

• Use your judgement here – if your loved one is not lucid and not expected to recover, it may unfortunately be too late. In that case, you'll want to seek legal advice on how to proceed. If they have many lucid periods that last for an hour or more, there is still probably time to sign paperwork. But we don't want to waste your time or charge you a travel fee if it really isn't possible.

  

  Signers should be alert and understand what they are signing. Notaries will not proceed if there's any indication of hesitation or coercion.

• There's a fine line between medicating the pain so you can think clearly, and medicating such that you can't consent. Only the patient and their medical team can determine what the best medication management system is, but if you know you need something notarized, they can hopefully help you find a way to ensure you're mentally focused for your notary appointment.

• When hiring an outside notary, a clear picture of the situation is helpful. Let them know if you are calling on behalf of someone else, if there are cognitive issues going on, and if anyone might be pressuring your loved one to sign something they're not comfortable signing. 

• Please include detailed information about where to meet you, especially if you don't have a room number or are in the emergency department where you may be moved on short notice.

• Expect to let the signer speak for themselves. This is critical in establishing whether the person is aware of what they're signing, understands it, and consents to do so. We understand that it's uncomfortable to see your loved one in pain or distress, and in order to make the process as quick and painless as we can, it helps to let us lead the meeting and let the signer do the talking.

• Depending on the situation, some folks might be exhausted or in pain afterward. Try to give everyone lots of grace and space to rest for the day.

Emergencies happen. If you need to cancel your appointment, please let us know.

Some general reminders that might also help:

• It's the notary's responsibility to discuss any travel fees with you before we set out to the appointment. Of course, you're always welcome to ask what to expect the costs will be. Michigan regulates a maximum of $10 per notarization but travel fees are often based on factors like time of day, whether the notary has to pay for parking (or valet if parking is not accessible), and how far away they are before heading to you.

• If you need something printed, many notaries are happy to provide that service. However, you will be required to supply the document to print. The notary will not be able to look up, for example, a power of attorney form because we aren't lawyers to know if it's legally compliant or if it's the best option for your situation. If you send the link, however, they can print it out for you. Printing usually has a fee attached so be sure to ask about that before deciding. (The clerks at the hospital may be able to help too.)

---

Subscribe to our newsletter