In my experience serving Northern Colorado, I have seen many families lose time and money due to simple, avoidable errors. Because jails are high-security environments, the “wait and see” approach doesn’t work. Everything must be perfect before the notary steps through the door.

1. Signing Before the Notary Arrives

This is the most frequent mistake. Under Colorado law (RULONA), a notary must witness the signature. If an inmate signs a car title or a child travel consent form in their housing unit and then brings it to the professional visiting booth, I cannot legally notarize it. We will have to print a brand new copy and start over.

2. Incomplete Documents (The “Blank Space” Trap)

Notaries cannot fill out the document for you. If you bring a car title but the “Buyer” section is blank, or a Power of Attorney with no names filled in, many notaries (including myself) may refuse to notarize it to prevent fraud.

The Fix: Fill out every part of the form *except* for the signature and the notary’s section before the appointment.

3. Ignoring the 24-Hour Security Clearance

Jails are not open-access public buildings. Facilities in Greeley, Fort Collins, and Boulder require me to be vetted and scheduled as a professional visitor at least 24 hours in advance.

• To coordinate a visit to Fort Collins, please see our Larimer County Jail Notary protocol.
• For Greeley appointments, visit our Weld County Jail Notary guide.
• For Boulder Airport Road visits, view the Boulder County Jail Notary requirements.

4. ID Problems (Social Security Cards & Birth Certificates)

I often hear, “He doesn’t have his license, but I have his Birth Certificate.” Unfortunately, a birth certificate does not have a photo and cannot be used by a Colorado notary to identify a signer.

How We Legally Identify Inmates:

• Official Inmate ID: The photo ID card issued by the jail.
• Expired CO Driver’s License: As long as it expired less than 12 months ago.
• Credible Witnesses: Two people with valid IDs who can swear under oath that they know the inmate.

5. Not Knowing the Document Type

Different documents have different legal requirements and facility protocols. Mistakes often happen when the wrong form is selected for the specific situation:

• Financial Affairs: Ensure you are using the correct forms for a Power of Attorney notarization to ensure bank acceptance.
• Family & Children: Specific care is needed for guardianship document notarization when an inmate is a primary parent.
• Property & Vehicles: Don’t forget the odometer details for an asset title notarization to avoid DMV rejections.