A notary public is a state-appointed official who verifies and certifies the signing of legal documents. Their main role is to check the identities of the signers and prevent fraud. A notary public acts as a neutral witness to the signing of important documents, ensuring that the signers know and agree to what they are signing. They also administer oaths or affirmations.

Big Sky Notary Services offers flexible hours to accommodate your schedule. Whether you need a notary during regular business hours, after-hours, or even on weekends, Big Sky Notary Services is here to assist you when you need us most. Just let us know what time works for you!

The cost varies by the type of document, the number of signers, the quantity of notarizations, and the distance travelled to the client location. Contact us for an estimate based on your unique situation. 

Payment is due at the time of booking your appointment. After scheduling, you will receive an invoice or a secure payment link via email. We accept various payment methods, including Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal. Once your payment is received, a confirmation email will be sent to you to finalize your appointment. 

By law, a notary cannot explain or interpret the contents of any document for you, nor instruct you on how to complete a document or direct you whether or not you should sign a particular document. You should consult an attorney for all legal matters

Although you can fill in all blank spaces in the document before the notary arrives, DO NOT initial or sign your documents until you are in the presence of the notary. A notary is required to witness the signature after showing valid identification.

You are required to provide a VALID government-issued photo ID, such as: 

U.S. State Issued Driver’s License,

U.S. State Issued Identification Card

U.S. Passport Book

Military ID

Tribal ID

Student ID

In the state of Montana the other two ways to identify a person requesting notarization by Personal Knowledge or by a Credible Witness.

A witness must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid form of identification. They must be impartial and not have any interest or involvement in the document or transaction that they are witnessing. They must be present and observe the signer signing the document. They must sign the document as witnesses and provide their printed name and address. 

The elderly signer must present a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state-issued ID if they no longer drive. Before the notary arrives, the signer should review the documents and complete all blanks except for signatures or initials. They must be alert, understand the document’s purpose, sign willingly, and communicate with the notary in a common language. If these criteria aren’t met, the notary may have to refuse the notarization. If witnesses are required, they must be at least 18, of sound mind, disinterested parties, and not named in the document. Please ensure they are present for the appointment.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a process that allows documents to be notarized electronically without the physical presence of the signer and the notary. Instead, the signer and the notary communicate through audio-visual technology over the internet, using a computer or mobile device.

The signer must have a valid, government-issued photo ID and access to a device with a camera and microphone. U.S. residents will be verified using a Social Security number, ID verification, and Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) questions. Foreign nationals without a U.S. Social Security number can be authenticated using biometric verification with a foreign passport only. See other acceptable forms of identification listed above. Once verified, you will join the notary on a secure virtual platform via audio and video for notarization.

Certain private documents may be copied and certified by a notary in Montana. These typically include driver’s licenses, student and employee ID cards, passports, diplomas, certificates or awards, professional licenses, personal documents, bills or invoices, and photographs. These are considered non-public records and may be certified as true and correct copies when requested. However, notaries may not certify copies of public or official records. These include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, court orders, adoption records, school transcripts, FBI fingerprint cards, motor vehicle titles, and any document that has been recorded with a government agency. Certified copies of these documents must be obtained directly from the issuing authority.