How To Find a Notary in Santa Barbara

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help.

Your Notarization Needs Covered by a Notary in Santa Barbara

Notaries are a part of our life, and most of us will need a notary service at some point. Any legal document is made more robust by being notarized. Many documents—such as contracts, wills, affidavits, and agreements—are only truly complete in some states once they have a notary’s signature on them.

If you are a resident of Santa Barbara, we can help you with your notary needs. DoNotPay has all the info you need to find and use a notary in Santa Barbara.

Why Do I Need a Notary?

A notary, or notary public, is a public servant and performs the vital function of:

  • Verifying your identity
  • Ensuring you are entitled to sign a legal document
  • Attesting that you have understood what you are signing

If you need to sign any legal document, a notary’s stamp and signature will verify that the document was signed in the presence of a witness and that the right parties have agreed to its contents.

Where Can I Find a Notary Public in Santa Barbara?

There are three types of a notary you can use in Santa Barbara:

  1. In-person notary
  2. Mobile notary
  3. Online notary

In-Person Notary

An in-person notary works from an office and notarizes your documents in a face-to-face meeting.

Many notaries offer a walk-in service, but the truth is that you will usually need to make an appointment, meaning you will have to free up your schedule, travel to the notary’s location, and wait in a queue for your appointment. If you are unlucky enough to forget an essential document, the appointment will be canceled, and you will have to rebook.

You can search for in-person notaries in Santa Barbara using the following websites:

As an alternative, the following locations normally offer notary services:

Organization TypeExamples
Legal or financial institutions
Public offices
  • Police departments
  • City or county clerk’s offices
  • Courthouses
  • Public libraries
Other outlets
  • Car dealerships
  • AAA stores

Mobile Notary

A mobile notary comes to your location at an appointed time. This offers the convenience of not having to leave your home or office, but you may have to wait before you can get an appointment, as mobile notaries are often booked out.

A mobile notary may also end up being more expensive as you will be charged for the notary’s travel.

Online Notary

Remote online notarization (RON) is now acceptable in California. While California itself has not yet legalized RON, the Secretary of State for California confirmed in August 2020 that RON performed in a state that does allow it will be equivalent to having it notarized in California.

The 28 states that allow RON are as follows:

States With Online Notarization
AlaskaIowaMontanaTennessee
ArizonaKentuckyNebraskaTexas
ColoradoLouisianaNevadaUtah
FloridaMarylandNorth DakotaVermont
HawaiiMichiganOhioVirginia
IdahoMinnesotaOklahomaWashington
IndianaMissouriPennsylvaniaWisconsin

You can use a notary commissioned in any of these states to notarize your documents, and they will be accepted as being notarized in Santa Barbara.

How Much Does a Notary Cost in Santa Barbara?

The State of California sets out the rates notaries may charge for their services, and Santa Barbara notaries must adhere to them.

The rates are as follows:

Fee TypeRate
Signature/stamp feesAcknowledgment $15

Jurat $15

Mobile service fee$25 flat fee plus an additional $1 per mile outside of a round trip distance of 25 miles
After-hours fee (outside normal 9–5 business hours)$20
Holiday fee$20
Waiting fee (if you are more than 15 minutes late for an appointment)$15 per 15 minutes waiting time
Loan documentation fees$125
Printing charges$0.20 per page

$25 for a full set of real estate documents

Living trust fees$75
Witnessing service$25
Returned check charge (if your check is not honored by your bank)$35
Cancellation charge (if you cannot or will not sign after the notary has attended the appointment)$25

How Can DoNotPay Help Me Get a Notary in Santa Barbara?

DoNotPay wants to make getting your documents notarized as easy as possible.

We offer an online notarization service that can connect you to a notary with a few clicks. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Navigate to DoNotPay and
  2. Click on our Notarize Any Document product
  3. Upload your document
  4. Give us your email address

We will immediately send you a link to schedule an appointment with an online notary. That’s all you need to do!

Can DoNotPay Help Me Create Legal Documents?

We know that not everybody feels comfortable writing a contract, so we have created a range of customizable legal documents and contract templates.

All you need to do to get your tailor-made document is:

  1. in your web browser
  2. Search for the document you need
  3. Fill in the required details
  4. Wait while your document is generated

Here are some examples of what we can offer:

Personal:

  • General affidavit
  • Custody agreement
  • Prenuptial agreement
  • Promissory note

Property:

  • Lease agreement
  • Real estate purchase agreement
  • Estoppel certificate
  • Quitclaim deed
  • Intent to purchase real estate

Business:

  • Non-compete agreement
  • Non-disclosure agreement
  • Operating agreement
  • Independent contractor agreement
  • Bill of sale
  • General business contract

Explore the Full Range of DoNotPay’s Services

Don’t let annoying bureaucracy stop you from exercising your rights or finding new opportunities. DoNotPay—the world’s first AI Consumer Champion—comes with a diverse portfolio full of practical shortcuts for:

Struggling with finances? Our app will help you manage unpaid bills, find and claim lost money in any state, or get college application fee waivers.

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Our platform is full of useful tips and features for filing insurance and warranty claims, dealing with parking tickets, getting refunds and chargebacks, or writing harassment cease-and-desist letters.

DMV offices don’t have to be the place where hope goes to die. With DoNotPay, you will be able to schedule any DMV appointment without the nightmare of waiting in lines. While you’re at it, you can check out our guides and practice tests for the best driving exam preparation!

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