Sometimes there are unfortunate events in which a person needing a notarization physically cannot sign their name.  The laws in California in regard to notarizations outline that a signature or subscription includes a mark, when the person cannot write².

Despite this inability, a notarization can still occur using a Signature by Mark.  They are allowed to make a mark on the signature line, for example and most commonly, the letter “X”.

The requirements for notarizing a signature by mark are as follows:

1. The person signing by mark must be able to establish their identify using one of the acceptable forms of identification^1;
2. The action of signing this mark must be witnessed by two people;
3. One of the witnesses should print the signer’s name next to their subscribed mark on the document;
4. Both witnesses shall then sign the document stating they witnessed the signature;
5. Have the signer subscribe their mark in your Notarial Journal, and yet again have the same witness print the signer’s name next to it.

For the document to be recorded in California, county recorders require the following statement to be written or typed on the document, and signed by the witnesses:

(NAME OF SIGNER), being unable to write, made his/her mark in our presence and requested the first of the undersigned to write his/her name, which he/she did, and we now subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.

_____________________              _____________________
      ^{Signature of Witness                         Signature of Witness}

A mark is acceptable as a valid signature, and may be accompanied by the state standard notarial certificate.