Getting documents notarized for loved ones in hospital settings can be difficult. Often times our clients are inpatients in rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, memory care, and hospitals. Due to the nature of these settings, sometimes notarizing in these facilities can run into some hiccups.

Our most commonly requested services for these type of settings are estate planning documents such as Durable Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Directive, Financial Power of Attorney, Living Will, and Beneficiary Designation and Last Will and Testament. These are documents being notarized to handle the estate of the hospitalized client. Naturally, when you’re in care facilities such as this there is a concern of life or death. Often times the call is an urgent matter from the client themselves or their loved ones. We encourage our clients to book our mobile notary service when scheduling notary appointments in these settings.

We are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. All legal advice should be consulted with a licensed attorney.

Sometimes we are not able to notarize for clients in hospital settings due to their competence level and awareness at the time of the signing. We always ask prior to booking that you verify the hospitalized client is competent, aware, and hasn’t been deemed medically ineligible to sign documents. It is illegal for notaries to notarize the signature of clients who appear to be incoherent at the time of signing. We also run into a lack of valid identification at these signings as well. This is why we urge everyone to get their estate documents notarized before a medical emergency is present.

Here are 4 things to consider when booking an appointment for hospitalized clients:

1. Make sure they are not incoherent and are aware of themselves and surroundings.

2. Estate documents require 2-3 unrelated witnesses in the state of Florida that will have to be present to witness the signing. In hospital settings, often times staff cannot witness due to a liability concern. We can sometimes provide witnesses for these type of transactions.

3. Make sure the patient has their identification with them and it is not expired at the time of signing (expired documents will require other identity verification methods)

4. Make sure all paperwork is completed prior to the notaries arrival. If you need assistance with document preparation. Please let us know.

We strive to make signing in these conditions as smooth as possible. We do our best to accommodate these type of signings within reason and within our means.

Book your hospital setting notarization here.

Brittney Palmer

Notary Public, State of Florida

NONLAWYER DISCLAIMER: Palmer Group Enterprises, LLC is not a law firm. None of our notaries are lawyers and notaries cannot give legal advice.