The following witness requirements must be followed for any document being recorded in the following states. If you are signing documents that affect a property located in a state listed below, the witness requirements must be followed for any documents being recorded (Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Quit Claim Deed, Grant Deed, Warranty Deed, etc.) These requirements are in addition to the notarization requirements.

A witness is an additional person who is not a party to the transaction and is present to witness the signing of the specific document. If the notary can be one of the witnesses, the notary must sign in both places, as the witness and as the notary public.

Connecticut: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary)

Florida: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary)

Georgia: One witness required (can’t be the notary)

Louisiana: Two witnesses required (neither can be the notary)

South Carolina: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary)

It is the notary’s responsibility to make sure the correct witness signatures are obtained. If you are doing an in home signing, please contact the customers in advance to let them know they need to have one or two witnesses present to also sign the applicable documents. A witness can be a neighbor, a friend, a relative, etc. as long as they are not a party to the transaction. If the notary can also act as one of the witnesses, they must sign in both places. If there are no lines for the witnesses to sign, it is okay to draw the lines on the signature page.
For example:

Borrower’s Signature	Witness Signature (print name)
Borrower’s Signature	Witness Signature (print name)

Notary acknowledgment/Jurat below or attached

The information provided above are for informational purposes only. Initialhere.com does not warrant or guarantee this information. Please consult with legal council and/or your States requirements before using any of this information.