Notary Public

Please call ahead to make an appointment.

Freeport Public Library offers free notary public services. [Notarization of real estate paperwork is not available.] Contact Adult Services Manager, Dianne Ludwig, at 815-656-2478 or dludwig@freeportpubliclibrary.org with questions and to check schedule availability. 

*All notarizations require the person(s) signing to have a current photo ID with signature.

Why do documents need to be notarized?

A notary public acts as an impartial third-party witness to not only the signature of a document, but also that all parties who signed a document did so willingly and under their own free will.

​Types of documents that may require notarization

  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Deeds
  • Contracts
  • Affidavits

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 photo. EXAMPLES:
    • Driver’s license
    • State ID card
    • US Military ID
    • US Passport
    • ​Indian OCI card​

We cannot notarize

  • Documents that are already signed. (Signatures must be witnessed by the Notary Public.)
  • Documents that are not in English
  • Documents with blank spaces other than the space for signature
  • USCIS Form I-9 – Employment Eligibility Verification
  • Real estate documents
  • We cannot “certify a copy” (e.g., verify that a reproduction of an original document is a true, complete and correct copy of the original). However, we can notarize your written affirmation that it is a true copy.

Other things to know

  • Notary services are a courtesy provided by the Library and not the Notary’s primary duty, therefore, we may need to ask you to wait.
  • If witnesses are required in addition to a Notary, please provide your own witnesses. The Library is unable to supply witnesses for you.
  • Notaries are regulated by Illinois law. 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.
  • In accordance with Illinois law, Notaries will not provide service if the document or circumstances of the request for Notary Service raise any issues of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty for the Library. In this event, the Notary may at his/her sole discretion, decline to provide Notary Service.
  • In accordance with Illinois law, the Notary may ask you to sign their Notary Public Record Book. We will not provide Notary service for patrons who decline to sign the Record Book.​

The active notaries public in Illinois have been appointed and commissioned by the Index Department. In addition are the controlling authority for specialty notarization, Certificates of Authority, Certificates of Incumbency and Apostilles. The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. The notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of person who comes before the notary for a specific purpose.

The Freeport Public Library offers notary services free to the public.

This page updated 9/21/2023.

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