Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Can I Notarize a Signature on a Handwritten Document?
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- Published: August 4, 2025
It’s true… a handwritten document lacks the formality and “official” appearance of a typed document created. But the fact that a document is handwritten does not automatically harm the usefulness of that document.
While a handwritten document may look less official, it’s the content and intended effect of the document that makes it valid or relevant to the parties relying on it, not whether it’s typewritten, handwritten or in an electronic medium.
A document’s signing parties can agree on any number of transactional procedures or rules that must be followed, including that the document can or cannot be handwritten. Or, they can agree that a document must be electronic, and that it must be signed using an electronic process.
But for purposes of completing a notarial act, the document’s medium—handwritten or electronic—is of no concern to the officiating notary, unless the notary’s state law or administrative rules specifically address this circumstance. In that case the notary must follow any specified procedures to the letter. In addition, remember that in many states allowing electronic notarizations, a notary must first complete some administrative steps before they are fully authorized to electronically notarize.
In all circumstances, a notary will review a document presented for a signature notarization—whether it’s handwritten or electronic—to gather important facts:
- Does the document appear to be complete?
- Is the desired notarial act clearly indicated?
- Who is/are the named principal signer(s), are they present, and can they be identified?
- How many pages does the document have?
- Does the notarial act require the document to be signed in the notary’s presence, or may it be signed previously (acknowledgment notarial acts only)?
- Does the notarial certificate substantially conform to my state’s laws and/or rules?
The notary will complete a notarial certificate already provided on the document, or if the document lacks notarial wording, the notary will describe the signature notarial acts the notary can perform, and ask the present named signer to choose one. The notary will perform the chosen notarial act and add certificate wording for that act. And as always, the notary will finish by creating a journal entry and having the entry signed by the person whose signature was notarized.
So remember, the fact that a document is handwritten does not automatically disqualify it from being notarized. Simply review the document to assess whether you can proceed with notarization, just as you would if the document were typed.
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