24HourNotaryLA vs. KM's Mobile Notary Service: Which One Should You Choose?
There are many mobile notaries in Los Angeles. However, there comes a time when you need a notary, and you have to choose the best one from among all those mobile notaries available out there. You do not want someone you picked out of a search engine to do that job.
A mobile notary public is one who is authorized by the state government and visits your premises, such as your home, workplace, hospital, or any other place where you might be, to witness your signature and affix a notary public seal on it.
This review highlights two mobile notaries based in Los Angeles who provide services to individuals: 24HourNotaryLA and KM’s Mobile Notary Service, so you can evaluate them according to your requirements for availability, geographical coverage, specialties, and reputation.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | 24HourNotaryLA | KM's Mobile Notary Service |
|---|---|---|
| Notary/Owner | Matthew Shamooil | Keith McGruder |
| Years in business | 9+ years commissioned experience | Established 2015 |
| Availability | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | Standard business hours, Monday–Saturday, with flexibility for after-hours by request |
| Primary service area | Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County | Los Angeles, including Mid-Wilshire, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and surrounding areas |
| Loan signing agent services | Yes | Yes |
| Real estate closings | Yes, specializes in this | Yes |
| Estate planning documents | Yes | Yes |
| Powers of attorney | Yes | Not specifically advertised, but general notarizations are offered |
| Hospital / assisted living visits | Yes | Not specifically advertised |
| Jail notarizations | Yes | Not specifically advertised |
| Online reviews | Featured in local service pages and blog content | 237+ reviews on Yelp; A+ BBB profile |
| Business structure | Independent commissioned notary | Sole proprietorship, BBB-registered since 2020 |
Due to changes in service hours and offerings, you should always check these details with the individual businesses before scheduling appointments.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the mobile notary services in Los Angeles other than the above-mentioned two, please refer to our complete comparison guide to the best mobile notary services in Los Angeles.
Who Is 24HourNotaryLA?
Matthew Shamooil runs 24HourNotaryLA, a notary public service in California. He is an experienced notary who has been doing this job for more than nine years. His firm offers round-the-clock mobile notary services across Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County.
These services cover the signing of real estate and loans, estate planning forms, powers of attorney, health care directives, affidavits, and any other legal documents; notarizations of businesses/corporations; hospital and assisted living signings; and jail signings. This company prides itself on being available at all times, a vital aspect in ensuring that one can get the service even at the last minute.
Who Is KM's Mobile Notary Service?
The KM's Mobile Notary Service was established in 2015 and operates under the guise of being a trustworthy loan signing agent, mobile notary public, and service provider. This firm is owned and run by Keith McGruder, and its office is situated in Los Angeles. It has been in operation under the auspices of the BBB since 2020.
The business is shown to have business hours on its Yelp listing from Monday to Saturday, and it has earned 237 reviews overall. Customers point out that Keith makes himself available for appointments the very next day and even picks up calls on the first attempt. Other customers praise Keith for being fast, effective, and polite.
Availability and Response Time
This is one of the clearest differences between the two.
24HourNotaryLA provides full-service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year availability. This kind of service is great for emergencies, such as signing in a hospital at 2 AM, receiving loan documents late at night, or going to the jail.
Most of the activities of KM’s Mobile Notary Service occur within standard business days and hours, as noted on its Yelp website page. It appears from reviews that Keith has accommodated some requests for same-day and flexible scheduling services, although it is not marketed as an emergency 24-hour service.
In case of an emergency or in case you contact them outside of their regular operating hours, please contact them first to find out whether either notary has the availability to work at short notice.
Service Area
The service offered by 24HourNotaryLA claims to cover areas in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County in general, with information in their marketing material on service to specific areas like Malibu and San Marino, among others in LA County. They claim to offer their services in other states too.
KM’s Mobile Notary Service is located in the Mid-Wilshire district of Los Angeles (12100 Wilshire Blvd.), and caters to customers within the city of Los Angeles as well as other regions such as West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.Both operate as mobile notaries as opposed to fixed-location services; hence, the service area will be flexible depending on traffic and time of day. Make sure that your location is within the reach of the notary.
Specialties: Loan Signings, Estate Planning, and More
Loan Signing Agent Services
Both companies acknowledge loan signing as one of their core specialties. The loan signing notary is a notary who has specialized training on how to process loan documents for refinancing and purchases. If you are choosing a notary for yourself, you should ask whether they are currently certified as a loan signing notary by an authorized body such as the National Notary Association, as well as whether they have E&O insurance coverage.
Estate Planning and Powers of Attorney
The primary service offered by 24HourNotaryLA includes estate planning documents, power of attorney forms, and health care directives. Such forms typically need several witnesses or notarization language to be acceptable; therefore, working with a notary familiar with such documents will minimize the risk of rejection.
Hospital, Assisted Living, and Jail Notarizations
Notaries at 24HourNotaryLA specialize in offering services for hospital, assisted living, and jail notarization. There are certain additional requirements involved in such visits: the person should be physically present, responsive, and able to comprehend the documents they are about to sign. If it applies to your case, make sure that the selected notary is familiar with working in facilities before making an appointment.
Pricing: What California Law Actually Allows
Neither of the two provides their public rate schedule, but it would be nice to have an idea about what the California law says before contacting either of the two companies.
According to Government Code Section 8211 of California, the maximum fee allowed is $15 for each signature for acknowledgments and jurats. This applies to all notaries in California, regardless of whether they are mobile notaries or work out of office.
The part that is not restricted is the travel charge. Because there is no restriction under California law regarding the amount of travel charges, notaries are free to charge what they see fit, and the travel charges for an appointment in the greater Los Angeles area are normally between $25 and $75 depending on the distance and the traffic. Appointments at odd times of day tend to raise the cost of service. The pricing for loan signing services differs significantly as well.
What this means for you: ask for both the signature fee and the travel fee in advance, in writing or text form. Any legitimate mobile notary service, be it from the companies mentioned above or elsewhere, would be happy to quote you an estimate of how much it will cost them.
Callout: What You Can Expect to Pay
Per-signature notarial fee: capped at $15 in California
Mobile travel fee: typically $25–$75 for standard hours, more for after-hours or rush service
Loan signing package: often a flat fee, separately negotiated
Additional signatures, printing, or courier services: may cost extra, ask in advance
Reputation and Reviews
KM's Mobile Notary Service has a more established public review track record, which includes reviews on Yelp as well as on a BBB page, where it maintains an A+ rating and was started in July 2019.
24HourNotaryLA is keen to promote its long experience of 9 years as a commissioned notary public and provides a detailed description of how it works, but its presence on major third-party websites is less significant than KM's Mobile Notary Service's.
In the assessment of reputation, one should not just look at the stars. One must read the entire review for several of the comments that have been posted and take note of whether the company responds to negative feedback or not. The latter usually means something more than having a perfect five-star average.
How to Book a Mobile Notary: The General Process
No matter what notary you decide on, there is usually a similar order of events when it comes to making the booking and signing the documents.
Contact the notary through the phone, text message, or even an online contact form, telling him/her about the type of document you want to sign, where it is and what time suits you best.
The price will be calculated and sent to you in a form of a quotation – how much the signing itself will cost and any extra fees.
Make sure that all your documents are organized. Never sign anything before the notary comes, because the signing process should be done in front of the notary.
Be ready with your photo identification, which should be valid and non-expired. The types of identification may vary from one state to another; however, there usually are such kinds as drivers’ licenses, state identifications, passports, etc.
Greet the notary at the predetermined location where they will confirm your identity and ensure that you fully understand and are willing to sign the documents.
After signing, the notary will then sign and seal the document in the notarial certificate. Payment of the predetermined fee for the services will result in the issuance of the documents.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on what you need:
Select 24HourNotaryLA if you need real-time after hours, weekend, or emergency services; if your meeting takes place at a hospital, care home, or jail; or if you need service in a specific part of Los Angeles County in which the company operates.
Select KM’s Mobile Notary Service if your meeting is within business hours and in the vicinity of Mid-Wilshire, West Hollywood, or Beverly Hills, and you are looking for a business with an extensive and publicly verifiable review record.
In both cases, make sure to contact beforehand to check rates and availability based on your specific case and to find out more about any necessary certifications, such as loan signing agent certification or Errors & Omissions Insurance in case your papers deal with real estate or other high-value documents. You may also want to check out 24HourNotaryLA vs Notary Pin: Which One Should You Choose?
The Bottom Line
Neither one is intrinsically better, as your decision will be determined by when you need the service, where you are located, and what sort of paperwork you have. Before using either service, make sure to look at the current schedule, get a detailed price quote, which clearly distinguishes between the notarization fee and the travel fee, and ascertain any certification necessary for your paperwork.
The requirements differ from state to state. Please always consult the current statutes with your state’s agency that controls notaries for instance, the Notary Public Program of the California Secretary of State before using any notarization in an official matter. The above mentioned information is of general nature and is not intended as legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 24HourNotaryLA actually available 24 hours a day?
The firm boasts of their 24-hour availability including the night times, weekend times, and holiday times. Their materials emphasize their capability to meet urgent after-hours requirements like meeting at the hospitals and the late arrival of loan package. Like any other service, you may contact by phone for the availability on your scheduled time.
Which company is better for a real estate closing?
Both companies have loan signing as a specialty. 24HourNotaryLA promotes multiple document closing packages and direct connections to title and escrow companies, while KM's Mobile Notary Service showcases client reviews of real estate closing sessions. Before making a decision, inquire from both notaries regarding their certification in loan signing agents and monthly closings.
How much does a mobile notary cost in Los Angeles?
The maximum amount of money that can be charged per signature as a notary public fee is $15 in California. On the other hand, a mobile notary will also charge travel fees that are unregulated and can vary between $25 and $75, depending on the time required and location within Los Angeles. The fee for loan signing will normally be charged separately.
What identification do I need for a notarization?
Notaries usually request a government-issued ID that contains the person’s photograph. The requirements vary from state to state; therefore, it is advisable to verify with the specific notary whether or not the type of ID is acceptable.
Can a notary refuse to notarize my document?
Yes, but it doesn't mean the notary wants to be an obstacle on the way. The notary has no right to sign any document if the identification of the client doesn’t correspond to the document, if the client is unsure of the content he or she signs, if the client is not physically present, or if the document is incomplete.
Do I need an appointment, or can I get same-day service?
From publicly available information to the companies, same day or next day services may be available, but it depends on the existing schedule. Rather than just going with the assumption of receiving services right away, call first.
Is a mobile notary more expensive than going to a bank or UPS Store?
Yes, normally because you have to pay for the notary’s traveling as well as the notarization fee. Banks provide notarization services either for free or at reduced costs for their customers. The advantage of this service is that you get the notary on your doorstep, which is extremely helpful when someone has trouble with mobility, a busy schedule, is in the hospital, or needs to sign off-time.
What happens if I sign my document before the notary arrives?
Don't do that. In the case of notarial actions, you are required to sign the document in the presence of the notary. Even if you have signed the document already, it is highly likely that the notary will not be able to notarize your signed document; rather, they may ask you to sign it again in their presence.