Top 7 Estate Planning Documents That Require a Notary (And How to Prepare Your Clients for Signing)

When clients come to you for estate planning, they are trusting you with some of the most important legal decisions of their lives. From protecting assets to ensuring their medical wishes are honored, these documents need to be executed properly to hold up under legal scrutiny.

One of the most important steps in that process comes towards the end - notarization.

Without proper execution & notarization of your clients' estate planning documents, they could be challenged, delayed or even invalidated. That's why it is so important for everyone to know and understand which documents require notarization and how to prepare clients for a seamless signing.

At Blue Ink Signings, based in Reading, Pennsylvania, we specialize in helping estate planning law firms of all sizes streamline the notarization and signing process. Here's a breakdown of the top documents that almost always require a notary, plus tips you can share with your clients before their signing appointment.

✅ 7 Key Estate Planning Documents That Require Notarization

1. Last Will & Testament - While Pennsylvania law doesn't require wills to be notarized to be valid, having them notarized is highly recommended. A notarized, self-proving will can simplify the probate process, saving your clients' families time while avoiding potential disputes.

2. Trust Agreements - Living trusts, revocable and irrevocable trusts often require notarization to ensure enforceability. This is especially true if real estate or high-value assets are being transferred into the trust.

3. Financial Power of Attorney - Financial POAs allow someone to make financial decisions on behalf of another. In Pennsylvania as well as many other states, these documents must be notarized to be considered valid.

4. Healthcare Power of Attorney - A healthcare POA designates someone to make medical decisions if the client is incapacitated. Many states, including Pennsylvania, require notarization (and/or witnesses) for enforceability.

5. Living Will/Advanced Directives - These documents outline medical treatment preferences. Notarization ensures hospitals and healthcare providers honor your clients' medical wishes without any delays.

6. Real Estate Deeds - Many estate plans involve transferring real property into a trust or directly to heirs. Deeds must be notarized to be recorded with the county.

7. Guardianship & Conservatorship Documents - For clients appointing guardians for minor children or dependents, notarization helps ensure the documents will be upheld in court if challenged.

❌ Common Mistakes Clients Make Before a Notary Appointment

Even when attorneys and paralegals prepare carefully, clients can unintentionally cause signing delays. Here are some frequent pitfalls:

• Forgetting valid ID - Clients must bring government issued ID to the signing appointment.

• Signing ahead of time - Documents must be signed in the presence of a notary and the witnesses (if required) - never beforehand.

• Missing witnesses - If witnesses are required, make sure they are arranged in advance.

• Bringing outdated documents - Ensure you clients have the final, updated version of their estate planning documents.

📋 How Attorneys Can Simplify the Process for Clients

You can help prevent stress and mistakes on your clients' part ahead of time by:

• Providing a checklist before the appointment with all the details your clients will need to know including:

  • IDs

  • Witness requirements

  • Final draft copies of their documents

  • Any other pertinent notes

• Offering flexibility through the use of a mobile notary like Blue Ink Notary for elderly or busy clients.

• Use a professional notary scheduling service like Blue Ink Signings to handle logistics, scheduling and execution for remote clients.

By taking notarization off your plate, your firm cam stay focused on providing legal expertise while ensuring every signing is handled smoothly.

🔗 Partner With Blue Ink Signings in Reading, PA

At Blue Ink Signings, we regularly assist estate planning attorneys and paralegals with the notarization of wills, trusts, POAs, deeds and other estate documents. Whether your clients prefer in office signings, at home visits or service in a hospital or care facility, we make the process seamless and stress free.

📍Blue Ink Signings works with estate planning attorneys here in Pennsylvania and is also able to serve law firms nationwide by proving well trained, knowledgeable notaries no matter where your clients are located.

❓Ready to simplify your client signings? Contact Blue Ink Signings today to learn how we can help your firm.