How to Notarize a Power of Attorney Online (Step-by-Step)

A power of attorney (POA) is one of the most important legal documents you can create. It grants someone you trust — your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact" — the authority to make decisions on your behalf.

While not all states require notarization for every type of POA, notarization is strongly recommended for all powers of attorney for several reasons:

• Legal requirement in most states: Many states require notarization for durable and financial POAs to be valid
• Bank and institution acceptance: Financial institutions typically refuse to honor POAs that haven't been notarized
• Fraud prevention: Notarization verifies the identity of the principal (the person granting authority) and confirms they're acting voluntarily
• Court validity: If a POA is ever challenged in court, notarization provides strong evidence of authenticity

All major types of power of attorney can be notarized through remote online notarization:

• Durable Power of Attorney — Remains in effect even if you become incapacitated. The most common type, covering financial and legal decisions. Almost always requires notarization.
• Medical/Healthcare Power of Attorney — Authorizes someone to make healthcare decisions if you cannot. Requirements vary by state — some states require notarization, others accept witnesses only.
• Financial Power of Attorney — Grants authority over specific financial matters: banking, investments, real estate, taxes. Banks almost universally require notarization.
• Limited/Special Power of Attorney — Grants authority for a specific transaction or time period. Common for real estate closings, vehicle sales, or business transactions. Notarization is typically required.
• Springing Power of Attorney — Only takes effect when a specific event occurs (usually incapacity). Requires notarization in most states.

1. Prepare your POA document — Make sure all sections are filled in: the principal's name, the agent's name, the powers being granted, and any limitations. Leave the signature line blank — you'll sign during the notarization session.
2. Upload to Notara — Create a free account and upload your POA as a PDF. The platform will identify the signature fields and notarial sections.
3. Complete identity verification — Answer Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) questions and scan your government-issued photo ID using your webcam.
4. Connect with a notary — Join a live video call with a commissioned notary public. They'll confirm your identity, verify you understand the document, and confirm you're signing voluntarily.
5. Sign electronically — Apply your electronic signature on camera. The notary witnesses the signing in real time.
6. Receive your notarized POA — The notary applies their digital notary seal and certificate. Download your tamper-evident, legally binding notarized power of attorney immediately.

The entire process takes under five minutes from upload to download.

With Notara, notarizing a power of attorney costs $25 per notary seal. Most POAs require only a single seal.

If your POA includes multiple signature pages or requires acknowledgments from multiple parties (e.g., both the principal and a witness), additional seals are $15 each and additional signers are $10 each.

Compare this to alternatives:

• Attorney's office: $50–$200+ (plus the cost of the appointment and travel)
• Mobile notary: $75–$200 (includes travel fees and often surcharges for evenings/weekends)
• Bank or UPS Store: Free–$25 (but limited hours, often requires an appointment, and you need to travel)
• Online with Notara: $25 (no travel, no appointment, available 24/7)

While all 50 states recognize powers of attorney, the specific requirements for notarization vary:

• States requiring notarization for durable POA: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
• States requiring witnesses (in addition to or instead of notarization): Some states require one or two witnesses to sign alongside the notary. Check your specific state's requirements.
• States with special POA forms: New York, California, Illinois, and several other states have statutory POA forms that must be used for the document to be valid.

When in doubt, always notarize your power of attorney. No institution will reject a POA for being notarized, but many will reject one that isn't.