Updated March 05, 2024
An Iowa notary acknowledgment form is used to authenticate a signed document. The document is presented to a commissioned officer (notary public) at which point the notary will verify the identities of all signing parties. When getting a document acknowledged, the signature fields can be filled out ahead of time. The notary must ensure that the signatures were completed under the signer’s free will; the signer will formally declare that this is so. The signing parties may choose to wait until they are in the presence of the notary public to sign the document, but this is not a requirement of this particular notarial act. The acknowledgment form is dated, signed, and sealed by the notary once they have accomplished these responsibilities.
Laws – § 9B.16
Notary Handbook – A brief outline of the responsibilities and duties of a notary public in Iowa.
How to Notarize in Iowa (5 steps)
1. Find Notary
To get a document notarized, one must first locate a notary public. Some of the most common places to find a notary public are listed below.
- Banks and Credit Unions (US Bank offers the most branches in the state)
- UPS Stores
- Private Notary Services
Verify a Notary in Iowa (4 steps)
Step 1
To search for a notary in Iowa, visit the Secretary of State’s website.
Step 2
There are two (2) types of searches offered: “Person-Business” and “Commission Number.” For the latter, simply select this search option and enter a commission number. For the former search option, provide as much of the following information as possible:
- First name
- Last name
- Business name
- City
- Zip
- Language
- Notary status
Step 3
Results display basic information on each notary within the provided search parameters.
Step 4
Click on a notary’s name to view more detailed information.
How to Write (For Notary)
Step 1 – Download using either PDF, Microsoft Word, or ODT.
Step 2 – The following information must be provided on the acknowledgment form for it to be legally binding:
- County
- Date
- Name(s) of signer(s)
- Signature
- Title
- Commission expiration
- Official seal or stamp