An authorized representative is a person designated by the employer to complete Section 2 of Form I-9 by physically examining the employee's identity and employment authorization documents, verifying their authenticity, and certifying that the documents appear genuine and relate to the employee presenting them. The authorized representative can be any individual over 18 years old, including mobile notaries, HR professionals, third-party service providers, or even other employees within the organization—the employer determines who is authorized to act on their behalf. However, the employer retains full legal liability for any errors, omissions, or violations on I-9 forms completed by their authorized representative, making proper training and reliable service providers critical to compliance.

Federal law does not require authorized representatives to have special training, licensing, or certification, but employers must ensure their representatives understand I-9 requirements, acceptable document lists (List A, B, and C), fraud detection basics, and anti-discrimination rules that prohibit requesting specific documents or rejecting valid documentation based on national origin or citizenship status. Many employers use mobile notary services as authorized representatives because notaries are already trained in identity verification, document examination, and record-keeping practices that align with I-9 compliance standards. The authorized representative must be physically present with the employee during Section 2 completion—remote verification via video is only a temporary accommodation through December 2025 and still requires subsequent physical inspection.

Lake Mead Mobile Notary serves as a trusted authorized representative for I-9 verification throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City, providing professional document examination services for employers with remote workers, multi-location operations, or limited HR staff. Our mobile notaries travel to employee locations—home offices, co-working spaces, or any convenient site—complete Section 2 verification with proper physical document inspection, and provide employers with compliant, audit-ready I-9 forms. This service eliminates the burden of coordinating internal authorized representatives, reduces employer liability through professional verification, and ensures every I-9 meets federal standards that withstand ICE audits.

No. Most banks restrict their notary services to bank customers and documents related to banking transactions, making it difficult for non-customers to get non-bank documents notarized. Banks often have explicit policies against notarizing third-party legal documents, especially family estate planning forms, due to liability concerns.

Why Banks Refuse Non-Customers:

Banks treat their notary services as a convenience for account holders only. When they do notarize for non-customers, they typically limit services to simple acknowledgments and avoid complex or unfamiliar documents. Many banks refuse to notarize documents they didn't prepare or review, viewing outside documents as potential legal risks.

📋 Common Scenarios Non-Customers Face:

• You need a family power of attorney notarized but don't bank at the institution
• Your bank will notarize but only for account holders with minimum balance requirements
• The document is estate planning or trust-related—outside typical bank notary scope
• You live in a different city and your bank has limited notary availability

⚠️ Important Considerations:

Nevada law permits notaries to decline notarization for many reasons, and banks regularly exercise this right. Bank notaries may also lack experience with specialized documents. Seek a licensed mobile notary experienced with estate planning. Professional notaries throughout Henderson and Las Vegas provide flexible alternatives that accept all document types and serve non-customers daily.

Related Questions

• Why Do Banks Refuse to Notarize Documents They Prepared?
• What Happens if a Bank Notary Makes a Mistake on Your Document?
• Can You Get a Bank's Signature Card Notarized by a Different Notary Than the Bank Requires?