How to Notarize a Caregiver Affidavit in NC: Requirements and Where to Go

Why Notarization Matters for Kinship Paperwork

Both of North Carolina's key kinship instruments — the school caregiver affidavit under §115C-366(a3) and the health care authorization under §32A-34 — require notarization. An unnotarized form does not meet these statutory formalities, and a school or medical provider may reject it.

Notarization isn't complicated, but it requires planning, especially when the parent who needs to sign lives in a different city, is in a correctional facility, or is in treatment.

What the Notary Actually Does

A North Carolina notary public verifies that:

• The person signing the document is who they claim to be (through government-issued photo ID)
• The person is signing voluntarily
• The person is mentally competent to understand what they're signing

The notary does not review the legal content of the document, verify that the information is true, or provide legal advice. They're authenticating the signature, not the substance.

What to Bring to the Notary

For each person who needs to sign (you and/or the parent):

• The completed form — fill it out first, then follow the notary's instructions about when to sign
• Valid government-issued photo ID — NC driver's license, U.S. passport, or military ID
• Payment — ask in advance whether the notary charges a fee

The notary must complete the acknowledgment or oath required by the form. For the §32A-34 authorization, the custodial parent must sign and acknowledge the document before a notary.

Where to Find a Notary in North Carolina

Notary services are available at many everyday locations:

• Banks and credit unions: Most branches offer free notary services to account holders. Call ahead to confirm a notary is available.
• UPS Stores: Some locations offer notary services for a fee. Call ahead to confirm availability and price.
• Public libraries: Some NC county library systems offer free notary services. Check your local library's website.
• Attorney offices: If you have a lawyer, their office likely has a notary. Some legal aid organizations can notarize documents at no cost.
• County government offices: The county register of deeds office typically has notary services.
• AAA offices, real estate offices, and insurance agencies often have notaries on staff.

Notarizing When the Parent Is Incarcerated

If the parent is in a county jail or state prison and needs to sign the health care authorization or their portion of the school affidavit, here's the process:

1. Contact the facility's case manager or social worker and explain what you need
2. Mail the unsigned form to the parent at the facility (or ask the case manager if they can receive it electronically)
3. Ask the case manager or social worker how the facility arranges notarization
4. The parent signs and has the form notarized according to the facility's procedure
5. The notarized document is mailed back to you

Processing time depends on the facility. Ask the case manager about its current process and expected turnaround. For school enrollment, use the single-affidavit exception to enroll the child while waiting for the parent's notarized form.

Notarizing When the Parent Is Out of State

If the parent lives in another state but is willing to cooperate, mail them the unsigned form. They can have it notarized at any notary public in their state — NC accepts out-of-state notarizations for these documents. The parent signs in front of their local notary and mails the original back to you.

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Before using a remote online notary, confirm the notary is authorized to notarize the document under current North Carolina law and that the school or medical provider accepts an electronically notarized version. Ask the notary about fees before booking.

Common Notarization Mistakes

• Signing before the appointment: The notary must complete the acknowledgment or oath required by the form. Follow the notary's instructions about when to sign.
• Using expired ID: Your photo ID must be current and valid.
• Forgetting to leave signature lines blank: Fill in all the information fields, but leave the signature line and the notary section blank until you're in front of the notary.
• Not bringing the right number of copies: If you need multiple notarized originals (one for the school, one for the doctor), each copy needs to be separately notarized.

The NC School and Medical Consent Guide includes a notary preparation checklist that covers exactly what to bring, what to fill in ahead of time, and how to handle special situations like incarcerated parents or out-of-state signers.

See more North Carolina guides →