No — the USPS does not offer notary services
Does the Post Office Notarize Documents?
Post offices do not notarize documents. The United States Postal Service is a federal agency, and notaries public are commissioned by individual states, so notarization falls outside what a post office is authorised to provide. No USPS branch offers it, anywhere in the country.
Why not
Notarial authority comes from a state. A notary is commissioned by the state they serve, works under that state's notary law, and applies a seal showing that commission. There is no federal notary commission for general public use.
The USPS operates federally. Its services are set by federal statute and regulation, and notarization is not among them — not as a policy choice, but because the authority to grant it sits with states rather than with a federal agency.
Why so many people expect otherwise
Privately owned mailbox, packing and shipping stores frequently sit on the same street as a post office, offer many of the same services, and are easy to mistake for one. A number of them do offer notarization — but they are independent businesses, not the USPS.
Contract postal units add to the confusion. These are postal counters operated inside another business under contract with the USPS, so the host business may offer notarization even though the postal counter itself does not.
The Form 1583 trap
This is where the question usually comes from. USPS Form 1583 authorises a commercial mail receiving agency to receive mail on your behalf, and it requires a notarized signature. So the form is a postal form, it is required by the USPS, and the USPS cannot notarize it for you.
You need a notary elsewhere: a bank, a shipping store, an independent notary, or an online session. Many virtual mailbox providers accept an online notarization for Form 1583, which is usually the quickest route since the form is already digital.
Where to go instead
Your own bank is the cheapest option if you have an account. A UPS Store or similar shipping store is the usual walk-in alternative. A mobile notary will travel to you. An online notarization avoids the trip altogether and runs outside branch hours.
Terms worth knowing
- Electronic notarization (e-notarization)
- — Notarizing an electronic document with an electronic signature and seal. The signer may still appear in person; contrast with remote online notarization, where the signer appears by video.
- Affiant
- — The person who signs an affidavit and swears or affirms that its contents are true.
- Notarial certificate
- — The wording the notary completes and signs on the document: the venue (state and county), the date, the type of act (jurat or acknowledgment), the signer's name, and the notary's signature and seal. If a form has no certificate, the notary attaches a loose one.
Notarize it online instead
Upload the document, verify your ID, and sign on video with a licensed online notary — no branch hours, no travel, usually about 15 minutes. See how it works.
Common questions
- Does USPS notarize documents?
- No. The USPS is a federal agency and notaries are commissioned by states, so no post office offers notarization. Private shipping and mailbox stores nearby may — they are separate businesses.
- Who notarizes USPS Form 1583?
- Any commissioned notary public, but not the post office itself. A bank, a shipping store, a mobile notary or an online notarization all work. Most virtual mailbox providers accept a remotely notarized Form 1583.
- Can a contract postal unit notarize?
- The postal counter cannot. The business hosting it might, as an independent service — but that is the shop's offering, not the USPS's, so ask the business directly.
Related guides
Where to get a document notarized
Six common options, compared
Does UPS notarize?
Yes — at most locations, but call first
Do banks notarize?
Usually yes — and often free for customers
Does FedEx notarize?
Not at the counter — online instead
General information about notary practice, not legal advice. Which documents may be notarized online, and the identity rules that apply, are set by each state — see the requirements page. Terms such as acknowledgment and jurat are explained in the glossary, and the FAQs cover how a session runs. The document guides cover specific paperwork.