What Is a Notarized Letter? How to Get One Online

What Is a Notarized Letter? How It Works & How to Get One Online

A notarized letter is a letter that has been signed and certified through a notarial act performed by a commissioned notary public.

The notary verifies your identity and, depending on the type of notarization, either witnesses your signature or confirms that you signed the document willingly. The notary then completes a notarial certificate and applies their signature and official seal.

Need one now? With Notaron, you can upload your letter, verify your identity, meet a commissioned notary over live video, and download the notarized document when the session is complete.

Online notarization starts at $25 and usually takes about 10 minutes.

What Does It Mean to Have a Letter Notarized?

Notarizing a letter does not mean that the notary wrote the letter, approved its contents, or confirmed that everything in it is true.

Instead, notarization helps establish who signed the letter and that the required notarial act was performed.

Depending on the document, the notary may:

• Verify the signer's identity

• Confirm the signer is acting willingly

• Witness the signature

• Administer an oath or affirmation

• Complete a notarial certificate

• Apply an official notary signature and seal

That additional verification can help organizations receiving the letter determine that the signature is authentic.

When Do You Need a Notarized Letter?

Not every letter needs to be notarized.

Usually, the person, business, court, school, government agency, financial institution, or other organization receiving the letter will tell you whether notarization is required.

Common examples include:

Authorization letters
Giving another person permission to act on your behalf, obtain records, pick something up, or handle a particular matter.

Travel consent letters
Providing permission for a child to travel with another parent, relative, guardian, or organization.

Proof of residency letters

Confirming that you or another person lives at a particular address.

Financial support letters

Documenting that someone has agreed to provide financial assistance.

Consent letters
Formally documenting permission for a particular action.

Sworn statements

Statements in which the signer swears or affirms that certain information is true.

Requirements vary considerably, so always follow the instructions provided by the organization requesting the letter.

What Does a Notarized Letter Look Like?

The letter itself can look like any normal letter.

What makes it notarized is the notarial certificate, along with the notary's signature and official seal.

A typical notarized letter may contain:

Your name
The date
The recipient's name
A clear statement or authorization
Your signature
A notarial certificate
The notary's signature
The notary's seal

The notarization section is normally located near the signature or attached as an additional page.

Acknowledgment vs. Jurat

One important question is what type of notarization your letter requires.

The two most common notarial acts are an acknowledgment and a jurat.

Acknowledgment

With an acknowledgment, you confirm to the notary that you signed the document willingly.

Depending on applicable state law, you may not necessarily have to sign the document in front of the notary.

Jurat

A jurat involves an oath or affirmation.

You swear or affirm that the statements in the document are true, and you generally sign the document in the presence of the notary.

Affidavits and other sworn statements commonly use jurats.

A notary generally cannot choose the type of notarization for you. If the document does not say which notarial act is required, ask the person or organization requesting the letter.

How to Get a Letter Notarized

You can get a letter notarized in person or, when permitted for the document and circumstances, through remote online notarization.

The basic process is simple.

1. Prepare Your Letter

Finish writing the letter before meeting with the notary.

Check names, dates, addresses, and other important information carefully.

Avoid leaving large blank spaces that could be filled in later.

2. Don't Sign Yet

Unless you have been specifically told otherwise, the safest approach is to wait to sign until you are with the notary.

This is especially important if your letter requires a jurat.

If you're using Notaron, upload the document unsigned so the required signing can take place during the online session.

3. Have Your Identification Ready

You will normally need an acceptable government-issued photo ID.

For an online notarization, your identity may also be verified electronically before you meet the notary.

4. Meet the Notary

For a traditional notarization, you physically meet the notary.

For an online notarization, you meet the commissioned notary through a live audio-video session.

The notary confirms your identity and completes the required notarial act.

5. Sign and Complete the Notarization

You sign when appropriate.

The notary then completes the certificate and applies their signature and seal.

With remote online notarization, these are completed electronically.

6. Download or Submit Your Letter

After an online notarization, you receive the completed electronic document.

Before submitting it, make sure the organization receiving your letter accepts electronic or remotely notarized documents.

Can You Get a Letter Notarized Online?

In many situations, yes.

Remote Online Notarization, usually called RON, allows a signer and commissioned notary to complete the notarization using live audio-video technology instead of being physically together.

With Notaron, the process is straightforward:

Upload your letter → Verify your ID → Meet a notary on video → Sign → Download your notarized document

For a straightforward letter with one signer and one notarization, the process can often be completed in about 10 minutes.

Notaries are available 24/7, so you don't have to find an open bank, shipping store, or local notary office.

Remote notarization laws and document requirements vary, however. The receiving organization may also have its own requirements, so confirm acceptance when necessary.

How Much Does It Cost to Notarize a Letter Online?

Notaron currently charges $25 per session, including:

One signer
One notarization
Identity verification
Live video session with a commissioned notary
Completed electronic notarization

Additional notarizations in the same session are $5 each, and additional signers are $10 each.

There is no subscription required to notarize a document, and you can begin without creating an account.

Sample Letter for Notarization

Your letter does not need complicated legal language unless the organization receiving it requires a particular form.

A basic authorization letter might look like this:

---

September 18, 2026

To Whom It May Concern:

I, [Full Legal Name], authorize [Name of Authorized Person] to [describe exactly what the person is authorized to do] on my behalf.

This authorization will remain effective from [start date] through [end date].

Sincerely,

[Full Legal Name]

Signature: __________________________

Notarial certificate to be completed by the notary.

---

Do not attempt to create your own notarial certificate unless you know which certificate is required. The appropriate certificate depends on the requested notarial act and applicable law.

Can a Handwritten Letter Be Notarized?

Potentially, yes.

A document does not necessarily have to be professionally typed to be notarized.

What matters is whether the document and requested notarial act meet the requirements of the applicable state and whether the notary can properly complete the notarization.

However, a clean typed letter is generally easier for everyone to read and less likely to create confusion.

Does a Notarized Letter Make It Legally Binding?

Not necessarily.

Notarization verifies aspects of the signing process. It does not automatically make an agreement enforceable, validate the statements in the letter, or turn an otherwise invalid document into a valid one.

Whether a letter is legally enforceable depends on the document, applicable law, and circumstances.

If the legal effect of the letter matters, consider speaking with an attorney.

Does a Notarized Letter Expire?

The notarization records that a particular notarial act occurred on a particular date.

However, the organization receiving the letter may have its own rules about how recent the document must be.

For example, an organization could require a residency statement or authorization letter dated within a certain period.

Check with the recipient if you're unsure.

Can I Write My Own Letter and Have It Notarized?

Often, yes.

A notary does not normally need to prepare the letter for you.

You can write the letter yourself, use a form supplied by the receiving organization, or have an attorney prepare it.

If an organization has given you a specific form, use that form rather than replacing it with a generic letter.

Can Any Letter Be Notarized Online?

Not every document is eligible for remote online notarization in every situation.

Rules can depend on:

• The type of document

• The state commissioning the notary

• The signer's circumstances

• The location or jurisdiction involved

• The organization receiving the document

Some documents also have special signing or witness requirements.

If you're unsure, check with whoever requested the notarized letter before beginning.

What Do I Need to Notarize a Letter Online?

For most straightforward Notaron sessions, have these things ready:

An unsigned copy of your letter
A valid government-issued photo ID
A phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
A reliable internet connection

That's usually it.

Get Your Letter Notarized Online

If your letter is ready, you don't need to drive around looking for a notary.

Upload your document to Notaron, verify your identity, and meet a commissioned notary through secure live video.

$25 for one signer and one notarization.
Available 24/7.
About 10 minutes for a typical session.
No appointment needed.

Notarize My Letter Online — $25

Notaron provides notarization technology and notary services but does not provide legal advice. Document requirements, remote notarization eligibility, and acceptance can vary by state, document type, and receiving party.