You need a document notarized. You have three realistic options in Gig Harbor and most of Pierce County: a mobile notary (us), a UPS Store or similar shipping center, or your bank. This post compares all three honestly — including when we would tell you to skip us and go to the bank.
Option 1: Mobile Notary (We Come to You)
How it works: You call or book online, we drive to your location, verify your ID, witness your signature, stamp the document, and leave. Typically 20–30 minutes door-to-door.
Cost: $15 per signature + travel fee. In Gig Harbor, a one-signature notarization is $65. In Tacoma, $100. In Bremerton, $110.
Pros:
- You do not leave your house
- Same-day, evening, weekend, and holiday appointments available
- Works for hospital, facility, and remote locations
- Handles specialty documents (apostille prep, bilingual witnessing, multi-signer appointments)
- The notary brings their own everything (stamp, journal, witness if needed)
Cons:
- Costs more than a bank or UPS Store
- Requires a scheduled appointment (though usually same-day)
Best for:
- Urgent documents when your bank is closed
- Signers who cannot easily travel (elderly, ill, caregivers, busy professionals)
- Hospital, nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facility notarizations
- Multiple documents or multiple signers in one visit
- Any document signed outside 9–5 business hours
Option 2: UPS Store, FedEx, Staples, or Similar
How it works: You walk in with your document and ID. They have a notary on staff who notarizes your document at the counter.
Cost: $15 per signature + a “service fee” that varies by store. Total usually $15–$35 per signature.
Pros:
- Walk-in service, no appointment usually needed
- Cheaper than a mobile notary
- Many locations in Pierce and Kitsap counties
Cons:
- The notary on staff may be new or have limited experience with complex documents
- Hours are limited to store hours (usually 9 AM to 6 or 7 PM, closed Sundays at many locations)
- You have to drive, park, wait in line if others are being helped
- Some stores have only one notary on staff who may be on break or out sick
- Certain documents (apostille prep, multi-signer paperwork) may be declined
- You need to confirm they actually have a notary available that day before you drive over
Best for:
- Simple, single-signature documents during business hours
- Signers comfortable driving and waiting 15–30 minutes
- Price-sensitive situations where the $50 of mobile travel fee is a factor
Option 3: Your Bank
How it works: You show up at your bank branch where you have an account. The branch staff notarizes your document, usually free for account holders.
Cost: Free at most banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, and most credit unions all offer free notarization to account holders).
Pros:
- Free
- Already a trusted institution
- May be able to look up your ID from existing records in some cases
Cons:
- Only during branch hours, often shorter than UPS Store hours
- Many branches have one banker who is a notary, so you may need to schedule or wait
- Branch notaries generally refuse complex documents (loan packages from another lender, apostille prep, multi-jurisdictional documents)
- You have to be an account holder at that bank
- Some banks require the document to be signed on-site with no exceptions (cannot accept pre-signed documents even for acknowledgment)
Best for:
- Simple, single-document notarizations during business hours
- Account holders with flexible schedules
- Documents that the branch will actually accept (call ahead — many banks have a limited list)
Decision Matrix
| Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Simple POA, weekday 10 AM, you have a Chase account | Bank |
| Simple affidavit, weekday 5 PM | UPS Store |
| Multi-document estate planning signing at home | Mobile notary |
| Hospital POA for a dying parent | Mobile notary |
| Apostille preparation | Mobile notary (we handle end-to-end) |
| Single deed notarization, Saturday 2 PM | UPS Store or mobile |
| You live on Fox Island with no car today | Mobile notary |
| Corporate resolution during business hours, you are the CEO | Mobile notary (saves your time) |
Our Honest Recommendation
If you can get your document notarized at your bank for free during business hours, do that. We will not be upset. It is the right call.
If your bank cannot help, UPS Store is a reasonable fallback during business hours for simple documents.
If you need any of the following, call us:
- Evenings, weekends, or holidays
- A specific location (home, office, hospital, facility)
- Complex documents (apostille prep, multi-signer, deed packages, bilingual witnessing)
- Rapid turnaround where driving to the bank or UPS Store is not feasible
- A signer who cannot travel
For those situations, our mobile service is genuinely worth the fee. For simple daytime single-document work, use the free or cheap option.
Booking
If mobile is the right choice for you today: call (253) 366-6538 or book online. We serve Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Port Orchard, and Bremerton seven days a week with same-day appointments.