Notary Services FAQs

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A notary public is an official appointed by the state government to witness and certify the signing of legal documents.

Notarization is the official process carried out by a Missouri-commissioned notary public—like those at Sheepdog Notary Services—to authenticate the           signing of important documents. It includes:

• Verifying your identity with a valid government-issued photo ID
• Confirming your willingness and awareness to sign the document
• Witnessing your signature in person or through Remote Online Notarization (RON)
• Applying a notarial seal and signature to certify the act

Notarization helps prevent fraud and adds a layer of legal credibility to documents such as affidavits, real estate deeds, powers of attorney, and more. Once notarized, your document carries the assurance that it was signed properly, voluntarily, and under lawful verification.

Sheepdog Notary Services is a mobile and remote online notary service — we come to you!  Instead of requiring you to travel to an office, we meet you at your home, workplace, or another convenient location. For online notarizations, we can connect securely through a state-approved remote notarization platform, so you can complete your documents from anywhere in the world.

No, this is not allowed under Missouri law.

When notarizing a signature on a document, we are required by law to date, list the address of the signing location and the document details, sign, and affix our seal to a notarial certificate. See §§ 486.640, MO. Statute.

An Acknowledgment is when a notary verifies your identity and confirms that you signed a document willingly. The notary does not have to witness you sign — you may sign it beforehand — but you must personally appear before the notary to acknowledge it as your signature.

A Jurat (also called an “oath” or “affirmation”) is when a notary verifies your identity, watches you sign the document, and then administers an oath or affirmation that the statements in the document are true.

In short:

• Acknowledgment → Confirms identity & voluntary signature.
• Jurat → Confirms identity, witnesses the signature, and administers an oath.

An oath or affirmation is a promise you make to tell the truth about the contents of a document or statement.

• An oath is a pledge made to a higher power.
• An affirmation is a pledge made on your personal honor, without reference to a higher power.

In both cases, you are legally swearing that the information is true. Making a false statement under an oath or affirmation can have serious legal consequences, including charges of perjury.

When a notary administers an oath or affirmation, you will verbally agree to the promise before signing your document.

Yes. Missouri notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of certain documents. Examples include:

• Vital records such as birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates
• Public records filed in a government office, such as court records or recorded deeds
• U.S. naturalization certificates or other citizenship documents
• Any record where a certified copy can only be issued by the official custodian (e.g., county recorder, state vital records office, or court clerk)

If you need a certified copy of these documents, you must contact the issuing agency directly.

For most other types of documents, Sheepdog Notary can create a notarial certificate stating that a copy is true, complete, and unaltered from the original.

Payments are accepted in cash or by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover through our secure point-of-sale system. 

When life gets busy, finding time to track down a notary can feel like just one more errand on an endless to-do list. That’s why Sheepdog Notary Services brings the notary to you, wherever you need us most. Whether you’re at home juggling family commitments, onsite at the office racing against a deadline, or even in the hospital waiting room, our commissioned Missouri notaries will meet you there, on your schedule.

We arrive fully equipped with everything required to complete your notarizations on the spot, from ink stamps and embossed seals to bound journals for secure record-keeping. With flexible appointment times, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends; we work around your life, not the other way around.

Count on Sheepdog’s courteous professionals to handle your important documents with the utmost care, confidentiality, and attention to detail. Simply let us know when and where, and we’ll be there, saving you time, stress, and an extra trip. Because at Sheepdog Notary Services, convenience isn’t just a promise; it’s our commitment.

In today’s fast-paced world, signing papers shouldn’t slow you down, no matter where you are. Our Remote Online Notary service lets you complete your notarization entirely over a secure audio-video connection. Whether you’re traveling or simply prefer the convenience of your own space, Sheepdog Notary Services brings the notary directly to your screen.

Here’s how it works: schedule an appointment at a time that fits your calendar, then log in from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. We’ll verify your identity using secure digital ID checks, walk you through the signing or oath process step by step, and apply our electronic seal—all in real time. Once finished, you’ll instantly receive your fully notarized document via email, ready for printing or digital filing. No in person visit required, no extra fees—just reliable, compliant notarization when and where you need it.