Free Notarized Bill of Sale Template

A notarized bill of sale is a standard bill of sale with one addition: the signatures are made in front of a notary public, who confirms the identity of each signer and completes a notary block on the form.

The document itself does not change. It still names the buyer and the seller, describes what is being sold, states the price, and sets out the terms.

What changes is the weight it carries. A third party has confirmed that the people who signed are who they claimed to be, on a specific date.

That matters most where a signature is later questioned. A plain form relies on both sides agreeing they signed it, while a notarized one has an independent record.

Worth knowing what a notary does not do. They verify identity and witness the signing, but they do not check that the description is accurate, that the price is fair, or that the seller actually owns the item.

Reach for a notarized bill of sale when the transaction is large, the parties do not know each other, or the office receiving the form asks for one.

Common situations:

• Selling a vehicle, boat, or trailer where a titling office handles the transfer
• Closing a high-value private sale between strangers
• Selling on behalf of an estate, a trust, or a business
• Transferring an item that secures a loan, where a lender is involved
• Any sale where one side simply wants the extra assurance

Sometimes the choice is not yours. An office, a lender, or a buyer may ask for a notarized form as a condition, so the simplest approach is to ask before you fill anything in.

There is also no harm in notarizing when nobody insisted. The step costs little, takes minutes, and removes an argument that would otherwise be available later.

The content matches any other bill of sale, with a notary block added at the end. Work through each part before you go anywhere near a notary.

Buyer and Seller Details

List full legal names exactly as they appear on the identification each party will bring, along with addresses and contact details. A name that does not match the ID is the most common reason an appointment stalls.

Description of the Item

Describe what is being sold precisely: make, model, year, and any serial number, VIN, or hull number. Add the condition and anything included in the deal.

Price and Payment

State the amount and how it was paid, including any deposit already handed over.

Terms of the Sale

Record what the two sides agreed: an as-is sale, a delivery date, who arranges transport, or any condition attached to the deal.

Notary Block

Leave space at the end for the notary to complete. That section is theirs to fill in and stamp, and it typically carries the date, the location, the notary’s signature, and their commission details. Do not write in it yourself.

The appointment itself is short, and it goes smoothly when both sides arrive prepared.

What to bring and expect:

• The completed form, printed but unsigned
• Current identification for every person who will sign
• Both parties, if both signatures are being notarized
• Payment, since a notary usually charges for the service

The most common mistake is signing at home. You have to appear before the notary in person, and many will ask you to sign in front of them, so a pre-signed form often has to be reprinted and done again.

Finding a notary is rarely difficult. Banks, shipping and print shops, law offices, and independent mobile notaries all offer the service, and some will travel to you.

Tip: Notary rules, fees, identification requirements, and whether remote online notarization is available all differ from place to place. Call ahead, ask the notary exactly what they need from each signer, and confirm with the office receiving your form whether it wants notarization at all.

Whether a notarized bill of sale is required, and who accepts one, depends on where you live and what is being sold. Notarization confirms identity; it does not make an otherwise invalid agreement enforceable, and it does not transfer a title on its own.

Confirm these before you book an appointment:

• What your state’s official website says about notarization for the type of item you are selling
• What your titling or registration office asks for to record a change of ownership
• Whether a lender, an insurer, or the buyer is the one requesting it
• Whether both signatures need notarizing, or only the seller’s

Some situations deserve more than a notary. Selling on behalf of an estate, transferring business assets, or handling a sale where ownership is disputed are each worth a conversation with a local attorney first.

Fill the form in completely, then stop. The signing happens in front of the notary, not before.

Work through it in order:

1. Complete every field except the signatures and the notary block.
2. Bring the unsigned form and current identification to the appointment.
3. Sign in the notary’s presence, and let them complete and stamp their section.
4. Give the buyer and the seller each an original if more than one was notarized.
5. File your copy with the title, the receipts, and any registration paperwork.

Keep the stamped original rather than a scan where you can. Some offices accept a copy, though others want to see the original document, so ask before you hand anything over.

Ready to start? With Document Genius, you can answer a short set of questions, generate your notarized bill of sale form, and download a signature-ready copy in minutes.