Notarizing as a Service, Post-Disaster

Notarizing as a Service, Post-Disaster
Published January 3, 2025

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reports that there were 24 confirmed weather/climate disasters in 2024, each of which exceeded $1 billion in losses.

Victims—already stressed from losing homes and businesses to storm damage—must begin the process of filing insurance claims, meeting with adjusters, obtaining payments for covered losses, and any appeals they may pursue following a denied claim.  Some of the critically important documents involved in these processes require a notarization.

But post-disaster, especially in hard-hit communities, can be a difficult time to find a notary. The places where a notary public would normally offer their services are often damaged or closed. This is when sole proprietor notaries, or notaries who notarize primarily for an employer, can turn community hardship into a public-service opportunity.  

Before the Next Storm
Consider how helpful donating your notary services could be to post-disaster victims.  If this sounds like a meaningful way to help people in your community, here are a few simple steps you can take before the next disaster strikes.

1. Reach out to local disaster recovery organizations. Let them know your interest in providing free notarizations to those in need, post-disaster. Ask for these organizations’ input on the most helpful way to make yourself accessible to victims in need.
2. Prepare a “field kit” with all the notary tools and certificate forms you need to be a notary on-the-go. In addition to certificate forms, you’ll need black or blue ink pens, a small stapler, your business cards, and a couple of clipboards. (California notaries, don’t forget to include an ink pad for obtaining the required customer thumbprint in your recordbook/journal.)  A couple of folding chairs would be very helpful, as well.
3. Also in your field kit, store a note reminding you to grab your current, official stamp/seal and active recordbook (journal) when it’s time to actually get out there, post-disaster.

Additional Tips
Since you will be donating your services, there’s no need to keep a receipt book in your field kit. Be sure to indicate “$0.00” or “no charge” in each recordbook (journal) entry involving a notarization that you donated.

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