Park Forest Public Library provides notary service in accordance with the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312). Library notaries will decline to provide notary services that do not comply with the provisions of this Act and the Library’s Notary Service Policy as outlined below.
Patrons are encouraged to schedule an appointment or inquire before visiting the Library regarding the availability of notary service, as a notary may not be present at all times.
Notary service is provided for a $1.00 fee per stamp.
A patron requesting notary service must provide the following items:
- The completed, unsigned original document to be notarized
- A witness or witnesses, if required by the document
- Witnesses may not be solicited from staff or patrons using the Library.
- In order to serve as a witness, the witness must personally know the person whose document is being notarized and must be in possession of valid photo identification.
- A valid, unexpired state ID, federal ID, or other government ID with valid signature and photo with true likeness of the patron.
- Driver’s License
- State ID Card
- US Military ID
- Passport
In accordance with Illinois law, all notarial service will be entered in the acting notary’s Notary Public Record Book. Notary service will not be provided for a requester who declines to sign the record book.
Information recorded in the journal includes:
- Date
- Each signer’s name and address
- Each signer’s signature
- Type of ID provided, ID number from identification document (e.g. driver’s license number), and the expiration date of the ID
- Description of the document being notarized
Documents in a language other than English will only be notarized if a notary who understands the language is available.
Illinois law requires that a notary and the patron seeking notarization be able to communicate directly with each other. The library notary is not permitted to make use of a translator to communicate with the requestor.
Library notaries CANNOT provide legal or professional advice or counseling regarding any documents to be notarized.
Library notaries may, at their discretion, decline to provide notary public service if the requestor, document, or circumstance of the request for notary services raises an issue of authenticity, ambiguity, doubt, or uncertainty for the Library.
Notary service is NOT available for the following documents:
- Blank forms; any blank spaces on a form should be crossed out or have N/A written.
- Deeds, mortgages, or other real estate closing documents; these documents require technical or legal knowledge that is beyond the scope of our service.
- Immigration forms
- Documents that do not contain notary language or a notary certificate
Additionally, Illinois notaries by law CANNOT:
- Notarize I-9 forms
- Provide Apostilles, or certify documents, so that they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
- Attest to true copies of passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, etc. Illinois Law does not authorize a notary public to certify copies of any document. Persons requesting certified copies will be referred to the official who has custody of the original document or to the office where the document has been officially filed.
The Library does NOT process electronic or remote notary services; all signatories must be present in person.
Please do not sign any documents before coming to the library.
The library stops providing notary services 30 minutes before closing.
The Park Forest Public Library’s Board of Trustees will review the Notary Service Policy periodically and reserves the right to amend it at any time.