Does the post office notarize documents? No. The United States Postal Service (USPS) does not offer notary services at its Post Office locations, so a postal clerk cannot stamp, seal, or certify your signature. You can still get a document notarized the same day at a bank, a shipping store, or online.
This guide explains why the post office is so often mistaken for a notary, what USPS can and cannot do with your documents, and where to go instead – with the real costs of each option. It also covers the situation most guides skip: what to do when the notarized document is going abroad.
Does the Post Office Notarize Documents?
The short answer is no. USPS handles mail, packages, money orders, and passport applications, but notarization is not part of its service list. There is no USPS notary fee, no notary window, and no appointment you can book for it.
The reason is structural. In the United States, a Notary Public is commissioned by an individual state, not by the federal government. USPS is a federal organization, so its counter staff are not appointed to perform notarial acts as part of their job. A postal employee may hold a personal notary commission, but that is a private qualification and not a Post Office service.
So if you walk into a Post Office and ask for a notary, you will be sent elsewhere. Knowing where to go in advance saves a wasted trip.
Why People Think the Post Office Has a Notary
The confusion is understandable. Two everyday situations make the post office look like a place where documents get officially signed.
Passport applications are not notarization
Thousands of Post Offices accept first-time passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. When you apply in person with Form DS-11, USPS instructs you not to sign the form in advance, because a postal employee must witness your signature. The Post Office charges a $35 acceptance fee, plus $15 if it also takes your passport photo.
Watching you sign and checking your ID looks a lot like notarization, but it is a different act. The acceptance agent is verifying a passport application for the State Department only. It does not produce a notarial certificate, a seal, or anything you can use on another document.
Shipping stores that also sell postage
Many private shipping and mailbox stores sell stamps, ship packages, and rent mailboxes, so people think of them as “the post office”. Some of these businesses do employ a Notary Public. When they notarize your document, the service comes from the private business and its commissioned notary – not from USPS.
What the Post Office Can and Cannot Do for Your Documents
If you have a document to handle, this is what you can and cannot expect at a USPS counter.
| Task | Available at USPS? | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Notarize a signature | No | Bank, shipping store with a notary, or online notarization |
| Witness a DS-11 passport application | Yes (at passport acceptance locations) | – |
| Certify a copy of a document | No | A Notary Public where state law allows copy certification, or an online certified copy service |
| Add an Apostille | No | The Secretary of State that commissioned the notary, or an Apostille service |
| Send a notarized document securely | Yes (Certified Mail, Registered Mail) | – |
In other words, the post office is useful after notarization – for mailing the original with tracking – but not for the notarization itself.
Does the Post Office Notarize Letters, Forms, or Wills?
No. USPS does not notarize any type of document, whether it is a letter, a form, a signature, or a will. The only signature a Post Office employee witnesses is the one on a DS-11 passport application.
The good news is that almost any Notary Public can notarize the signature on a letter, an affidavit, a consent form, or a power of attorney. Wills are the exception to watch for. Many UPS Store locations do not notarize wills, and wills generally require in-person witnessing under the rules of the place where they will be used, so check the requirements before you choose an option.
Where to Get a Document Notarized Instead
You have more options than most people realize. Which one is best depends on your document, where it is going, and how quickly you need it back.
The UPS Store
The UPS Store is the option most people search for after the post office, with UPS notary queries far outnumbering post office notary searches. Notary services are offered at participating locations, and online appointment scheduling is available at more than 3,900 of its stores.
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. The UPS Store notes that many of its locations do not notarize I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms or wills, so call ahead for those. The notary cannot give legal advice or help draft your document. Fees are set locally and are not published nationally, so ask the store for the price before you go.
FedEx Office
FedEx Office does not notarize documents at the counter. According to FedEx Office, documents can only be notarized online on your own device, through its partnership with Notarize, with a live notary on a video call.
A single document costs $25, each additional notary seal is $15, and each witness supplied for the session is $15. The service runs 24/7, but you need a device with audio and video and a U.S. Social Security number for identity verification. That last requirement rules it out for many people living outside the United States.
Banks and credit unions
Banks are often the cheapest option. Bank of America, for example, provides notary services free of charge to its clients at many of its financial centers, and recommends booking an appointment to make sure a notary is on site.
Most banks limit free notarization to account holders, and not every branch has a notary available every day. Branches can also limit which documents they will notarize, so call ahead and tell them what the document is before you visit.
Libraries, courthouses, and town halls
Some public libraries, courthouses, and town or county offices have a staff member who is a Notary Public. Availability varies widely from place to place and can depend on one person’s schedule, so treat this as an option to check by phone rather than a guaranteed walk-in service.
Law offices and real estate professionals
Attorneys, title companies, and real estate offices often have a notary on staff, particularly for property and estate documents. They are a good choice when you also need advice about the document, but expect to pay for their time if you are not already a client.
Online notarization
Online notarization lets you complete the whole process from home. You upload the document, verify your identity digitally, and receive the notarized document electronically. It is the fastest route when you cannot get to a branch during opening hours, and it is often the only practical route when you are outside the country where the document was issued. Our guide to notarization explains what the notarial act itself confirms.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Document Notarized?
Since USPS does not notarize, there is no post office notary cost to compare. These are the prices the alternatives publish themselves.
| Option | Published price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | No notary service | $35 passport acceptance fee is not a notary fee |
| The UPS Store | Set by each location | Participating locations only; book online at 3,900+ stores |
| FedEx Office (online via Notarize) | $25 per document, $15 per extra seal, $15 per witness | Online only; requires a U.S. Social Security number |
| Bank of America | Free for clients | At many financial centers; appointment recommended |
| NotaryPublic24 International Notarization | €79 | Fully online, verified with your ID and a biometric check, delivered within 24 hours |
If you also need an Apostille, the total changes. Our breakdown of notarization and Apostille cost in 2026 compares the combined price across options.
What to Bring When You Get a Document Notarized
Wherever you go, the notary will expect the same basics. Having them ready avoids a second visit.
- A valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The name must match the name on the document.
- The complete, unsigned document. Many notarial acts require you to sign in front of the notary, so do not sign or date it beforehand unless you have been told to.
- All pages, not just the signature page.
- Witnesses, if your document requires them. Not every location can supply a witness, and a notary may not be allowed to act as both notary and witness.
- The recipient’s instructions, if they have asked for a specific wording, a specific notary, or an Apostille.
Notarizing a Document for Use Abroad
This is where the post office question matters most. Many people searching for a notary need a document for a bank, employer, university, or authority in another country – and that changes which option works.
When a local U.S. notary is the right choice
If the document will be used in the United States – for example, a deed that a county recorder will register or a form a U.S. court requires – use a Notary Public commissioned in the state that the recipient expects. The recipient’s instructions come first, and a local notary, bank, or U.S. online service is the natural fit.
When an international online notarization is easier
If the document is going to a recipient abroad, or you are living outside the United States, the usual options become harder. You cannot visit a U.S. bank branch from overseas, and some U.S. online services require a U.S. Social Security number.
NotaryPublic24’s International Notarization is built for this situation. A qualified Notary Public is appointed to your case based on your document and destination, and you receive the notarized document as a secure PDF within 24 hours of identity verification. There is no meeting to attend, and a hard copy can be posted if the recipient insists on a physical original. If your recipient requires a Notary Public from a specific country, contact support before ordering so the right service is chosen.
Do you also need an Apostille?
Notarization confirms that a signature, copy, or identity is genuine. An Apostille is a separate certificate that makes the notarized document recognized in other countries under the Hague Convention.
As a rule of thumb, a private recipient abroad, such as a bank or employer, usually accepts notarization alone. A foreign government body, embassy, court, or university usually requires an Apostille on top. Our guide to Apostille vs notarization explains the difference in detail, and the International Apostille service includes the notarization in one order.
What About the Post Office in the UK?
If you are in the United Kingdom, the answer is slightly different. The Post Office does not notarize documents, but selected branches offer a Document Certification Service that confirms a photocopy is a true likeness of the original.
Certification costs £12.75 for one to three copies, rising to £51.00 for ten to twelve, and the fee is charged for each person named on the documents. It is available at more than 3,500 branches. The Post Office cannot certify copies of UK birth, marriage, or death certificates because of Crown copyright rules.
A certified copy is not the same as a notarized document. Certification is often enough for a UK employer, landlord, or bank checking your ID. An authority abroad, a court, or an Apostille application usually needs a notarized document instead. You can read more in our ultimate guide to certified copies.
If your recipient specifically asks for a UK Notary Public, the UK Notarization service connects you with one online. That service includes a short video call with a UK Notary Public after you upload your document and verify your identity.
How to Get a Document Notarized Online with NotaryPublic24
If the post office was your first idea because you wanted something quick and nearby, online notarization is the closest match. With NotaryPublic24 the International Notarization process takes five steps.
- Check what your recipient needs. Confirm whether they want a notarization only, an Apostille as well, or a notary from a specific country. If you are unsure, contact support before ordering.
- Upload your document. Upload a clear PDF or photo of the document. It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and only your appointed Notary Public sees it.
- Complete checkout. Choose International Notarization, or International Apostille if you need both steps, and pay securely.
- Verify your identity online. Follow the guided identity check with a biometric and ID verification. It usually takes a few minutes, and there is no meeting to attend.
- Receive your notarized document. Your document arrives as a secure PDF with the seal, signature, and notarial certificate of your Notary Public within 24 hours of verification. A hard copy can be posted on request.
Wills and codicils are the main exception, since they require in-person witnessing. For everything else, browse our full range of services or start your notarization today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are USPS workers notaries?
USPS workers are not notaries as part of their job, and the Post Office does not offer notary services. A postal employee may hold a personal notary commission from their state, but they cannot notarize documents at the counter. For a quick alternative, use a bank, a shipping store with a notary, or an online service such as NotaryPublic24.
How much does it cost to get a notary at USPS?
Nothing, because USPS does not provide notarization, so there is no USPS notary fee. The $35 fee you may see at a Post Office is the passport acceptance fee for Form DS-11, which is not a notarization. For a fixed price online, NotaryPublic24 International Notarization costs €79 and is delivered within 24 hours.
Where is the cheapest place to get a notary?
Your own bank is usually the cheapest place, since many banks notarize free of charge for account holders. Bank of America, for example, offers free notary services to clients at many financial centers. If you are not a customer or are abroad, compare shipping stores and online services such as NotaryPublic24 by total cost and turnaround.
Can a bank notarize for free?
Yes, many banks notarize for free, but usually only for their own account holders and only at branches with a notary on staff. Book an appointment and tell the branch what the document is, because not every branch notarizes every type of document. If your bank cannot help, NotaryPublic24 can notarize most documents online.
Does FedEx notarize documents?
FedEx Office notarizes only online, through its partnership with Notarize, not at the counter. A single document costs $25, with $15 for each additional seal or witness. You need a device with audio and video and a U.S. Social Security number. Without one, NotaryPublic24 International Notarization verifies your identity with your ID and a biometric check instead.
Can the Post Office certify documents in the UK?
Yes, selected UK Post Office branches certify photocopies as true copies of the original from £12.75 for one to three copies. This is certification, not notarization, and it excludes UK birth, marriage, and death certificates. If your recipient needs a notarized document or an Apostille, NotaryPublic24 provides both online.