Your estate planning documents are prepared. Now you need the right people in the room to get them signed.
The attorney has prepared Mom's will and Power of Attorney.
The family has reviewed the paperwork.
Everyone is ready to get it done.
Then someone asks, "Who's going to be the witnesses?"
And suddenly, what seemed like a simple signing appointment becomes another family project.
Maybe your parents don't want to involve neighbors. Maybe you're trying to coordinate everything around work schedules. Or perhaps your loved one is in a hospital or rehabilitation facility.
I'm Kerrie L. Smith, owner of Signature Move Notary Services in Indianapolis.
I provide mobile notary services and coordinate professional witnesses for estate planning appointments.
And I want families to understand something important:
A notary and a witness do not automatically perform the same job. Knowing what your documents require before the appointment can save everyone time and frustration.
Does an Indiana will need two witnesses?
For a traditional written Indiana will, the law generally requires the person making the will to sign or acknowledge it in the presence of two witnesses, with the witnesses signing according to the statutory requirements.
A notary stamp by itself does not replace those witnesses.
That's one reason I encourage families to follow their estate planning attorney's signing instructions carefully.
Indiana also has rules for self-proving wills and electronic wills, so the exact requirements depend on the type of document and execution procedure.
You can review the relevant requirements through the Indiana General Assembly's official laws.
What does the notary do, and what do the witnesses do?
The notary performs the required notarial act, which may include verifying identity, taking an acknowledgment, or administering an oath.
Witnesses participate in the execution of the document according to its requirements.
Some estate planning documents need witnesses. Others require notarization. Some involve both.
For example, an estate planning package may include:
Last Will and Testament
Self-proving affidavit or clause
Financial Power of Attorney
Health care documents
HIPAA authorization
Other documents prepared by the attorney
Each document can have different signing requirements.
The attorney determines which documents are appropriate and how they should be executed.
What if we don't have two available witnesses?
This is one of the practical problems I help families solve.
When scheduling an estate planning appointment, clients sometimes discover they need two witnesses who are available at the same time as the signer and notary.
Finding those people can be surprisingly difficult.
At Signature Move Notary Services, I can coordinate professional witnesses for qualifying in-person estate planning appointments.
Instead of asking several friends or family members to rearrange their schedules, we can discuss arranging the necessary participants together.
Witness eligibility still matters, and the attorney should confirm any document-specific restrictions.
Can a notary come to a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility?
Yes, mobile notary appointments can often be arranged at these locations.
I've assisted with estate planning signings in settings where bringing the signer to a traditional office appointment would be difficult.
But there are important considerations.
The signer must be able to communicate and willingly participate in the notarial act. The notary must be satisfied that the required conditions for notarization are met.
A mobile notary cannot make medical or legal capacity determinations, and cannot proceed if the required notarial conditions aren't satisfied.
If your loved one is hospitalized, coordinate with the attorney and facility before scheduling.
That preparation is especially important for urgent appointments.
What should families prepare before the notary arrives?
Here's the checklist I recommend.
Confirm the documents are final. The notary cannot draft your will, select your Power of Attorney, or decide what legal language should be included.
Ask the attorney how many witnesses are required. Don't assume every document has the same requirements.
Have acceptable identification available. Let the notary know ahead of time if identification could be an issue.
Confirm the signer is available and willing. Estate planning documents should never be signed under pressure.
Choose an appropriate signing location. A quiet, comfortable space with enough room for the signer, witnesses, and notary makes a difference.
Tell me about mobility or accessibility needs. A little preparation can make the appointment much easier.
Why I believe estate planning signings deserve extra care
Estate planning appointments aren't always routine business transactions.
Sometimes adult children are helping aging parents.
Sometimes a family has just received difficult medical news.
Sometimes people are making decisions they've put off for years.
The paperwork may be important, but so is the person sitting in front of me.
I believe these appointments should be handled professionally, patiently, and without making families feel rushed.
My responsibility is to perform the notarial act properly and coordinate the agreed services, not to influence anyone's decisions.
Can you provide the notary and witnesses in one appointment?
For eligible appointments, yes.
Signature Move Notary Services can coordinate a mobile notary and professional witnesses so the necessary participants are scheduled together.
I serve Indianapolis and surrounding communities, including Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Avon, Plainfield, and Noblesville.
Whether the appointment is at home, in a hospital, or at another appropriate location, we'll discuss the document requirements, location, timing, and witness needs before confirming.
Ready to schedule an estate planning signing?
If your attorney has already prepared the documents and you need a mobile notary and witnesses, I can help you coordinate the appointment.
When contacting me, please include:
Your signing location
The types of documents
How many witnesses the attorney requires
Your preferred appointment date
Any special accessibility or scheduling concerns
Contact Signature Move Notary Services to Arrange Your Signing
Signature Move Notary Services
Indianapolis, Indiana
When the Documents Matter, So Does the Notary.
We provide notarization and witness coordination, not legal advice or legal document preparation. Consult your estate planning attorney about legal capacity, witness eligibility, and execution requirements.
