09/01/2026
Before you drive to the bank with Grandma and a 40-page estate planning packet...
Call first.
Seriously.
Your bank may offer notary services, and for many documents, that's a convenient option.
But ask a few questions before you make the trip:
Do they notarize this type of document?
Do you need an appointment?
How many notarizations will they complete?
Can they accommodate the witnesses your documents require?
What identification will the signer need?
And if Grandma is 92, lives in a senior community, uses a wheelchair, or has difficulty signing her name, taking her to the bank may not be the best plan in the first place.
Sometimes you need a notary.
Sometimes you need a notary who comes to you and understands that the signing may not be routine.
There's a difference.