Notary, Translation, and Apostille Questions
Straight answers to what Sacramento clients ask most: who shows up, what a mobile notary costs under California law, whether USCIS requires a notarized translation, whether a notary can certify a copy of a birth certificate, and what ID you need.
Who will I actually be working with?
Oleg. Sac Mobile Notary is owned and operated by Oleg Shishko, a commissioned California notary public and Russian and Ukrainian translator, commissioned since 2021. Not a call center, not a rotating roster of notary contractors. The same person who takes your call handles your appointment, your translation, and your Secretary of State filing.
What are your credentials?
Commissioned California Notary Public, Commission #2529655. Bonded and insured, with $100,000 errors and omissions coverage. NNA certified signing agent, background screened by the NNA.
What languages do you work in?
Oleg is a native Russian and English speaker, and appointments are conducted in either language. We also provide written translation from Ukrainian, though notarizations themselves are conducted in Russian or English. That matters for more than convenience: California law requires a notary to communicate directly with the signer and does not allow an interpreter to act as a go-between during a notarization. If you or a family member is more comfortable in Russian, a bilingual notary is often the only lawful way to get the notarization done.
Where do you travel, and when?
Sacramento County and the surrounding areas, by appointment Monday through Friday 4:30 PM to 10 PM and Sunday 2:30 PM to 10 PM, closed Saturday. We come to homes, hospitals, care facilities, offices, and correctional facilities. Do not see your city? Simply send us a request and we will confirm if we can serve your area.
What do you not do?
Sac Mobile Notary is not a law firm. A California notary is prohibited from giving legal advice, from telling you which document you need, and from drafting documents for you. We can explain the process, tell you what the receiving agency typically requires, and tell you when something will not work. We cannot tell you what to sign. If you need legal advice, we will say so and recommend you speak with an attorney.
How much does a mobile notary cost in Sacramento?
Under Government Code section 8211 a California notary may charge up to $15 per signature notarized, rising to $20 per signature on January 1, 2027 under AB 1597. A mobile notary may also charge a travel fee, which is not capped by statute but must be agreed in advance. Ours starts at $50 and depends on distance and time of day. Call or text for a firm quote before we come out.
Can a California notary notarize a document written in Russian or Ukrainian?
Yes. California does not restrict notarization to English-language documents. Two conditions apply. First, the notary must be able to communicate directly with the signer, in a language both understand, without an interpreter. Second, the notarial certificate wording itself must be in English, attached to the document. Because Oleg is a native Russian and English speaker, both conditions are satisfied for Russian-speaking signers in one appointment.
Can you use my family member as a translator during the notarization?
No, and no California notary can. State law requires the notary to communicate directly with the signer. Using a third party to interpret during a notarization is not permitted, regardless of how well-intentioned. This is one of the most common reasons a Russian-speaking client is turned away by a bank notary.
Do you offer online or remote notarization?
Not yet, and neither does any other California notary. Senate Bill 696 authorized remote online notarization in 2023, but the provisions letting California-commissioned notaries perform it are not yet operative. Until they are, California law requires the signer to physically appear before the notary. Video appearance does not satisfy the requirement. California does recognize online notarizations properly performed by notaries commissioned in other states.
Can you notarize a copy of my birth certificate?
No. California notaries are only authorized to certify copies of two things: a power of attorney, and the notary’s own journal entries. A notary cannot certify a copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, passport, diploma, or court record. For vital records, you need a certified copy issued by the county recorder or the California Department of Public Health. If your document is going abroad, that certified copy is also the version the Secretary of State will apostille. Copy certification of a power of attorney is $15, rising to $20 on January 1, 2027.
Does USCIS require my translation to be notarized?
No. Under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), USCIS requires a complete English translation with a signed certification from the translator stating that the translation is accurate and that the translator is competent in both languages. Notarization is not required. We can notarize the translator signature if a specific court or foreign authority asks for it, but you should not be charged for it by default.
What is an apostille and do I need one?
An apostille is a certificate from the California Secretary of State that makes a California document legally recognizable in another country. You need one if a foreign government, court, consulate, or university is asking for your document and that country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. Russia and Ukraine are both members. If the destination country is not a member, the document needs consular legalization instead, which is a different and longer process.
How long does an apostille take in California?
Walk-in filing at the Sacramento office can be same-day if the document is dropped off early enough in the day. Mail-in processing through the Secretary of State takes considerably longer and fluctuates with backlog. We deliver in person, which is why our standard turnaround is 1 to 5 days, depending on availability, rather than several weeks.
Do you come to hospitals, care facilities, or jails?
Yes. Hospital and skilled nursing signings are routine work for us, including advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and estate documents. Correctional facilities are possible with advance coordination, and facility scheduling is usually the constraint rather than our availability, so call as early as you can.
What ID do I need?
California accepts a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID bearing a signature, physical description, and identifying number. Common acceptable IDs include a California driver license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a foreign passport stamped by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a driver license from another U.S. state, and a U.S. military ID. An ID that expired more than five years ago is not acceptable. If you do not have qualifying ID, California allows identification by one or two credible witnesses, which we can walk you through in advance.
What if I do not have a qualifying ID?
California allows identification by credible witnesses when the signer has no acceptable ID. One credible witness who personally knows the signer and who is personally known to the notary can establish identity, or two credible witnesses who personally know the signer and who present their own acceptable ID can do so. Each witness signs the notary journal and swears under oath to the signer's identity, and no witness may have a financial interest in the document or be named in it. Tell us before the appointment if you plan to use witnesses so we can walk you through it in advance and confirm it will work.
Can you tell me which form I need or fill it out for me?
No. California notaries are prohibited from giving legal advice, from selecting the notarial certificate on your behalf, and from preparing documents. That prohibition exists to protect you. What we can do is explain what each certificate type means, tell you what the receiving agency usually asks for, and tell you plainly if the document you are holding will not be accepted.
What if my document has blank spaces?
We cannot notarize a document with blank spaces that should be filled in. Fill in every applicable blank, or mark it "N/A," before the appointment. This is a frequent cause of a wasted trip, so it is worth checking beforehand.
Question not answered here?
Text (916) 996-5028 and you will usually get a same-day response.