Where can a notary perform notarial acts?

Notary commissions are granted by states, and a notary's authority is limited to the state of commission. A California notary cannot notarize a document in Texas; a New York notary cannot notarize while visiting Florida. Within the state of commission, the notary can perform acts anywhere — at home, in the signer's home, at a business, at a courthouse, in a hospital, etc. — without geographic limit within state borders. Documents being filed in other states are perfectly acceptable: a California notary can notarize a document that will be filed in Texas, as long as the notarization itself takes place in California with the notary physically there. The state of notarization, not the document's destination, governs the notarial act. A few states have reciprocity agreements for limited cross-border notarial acts in border counties; these are exceptions. Online/remote notarization rules vary — some states authorize their notaries to perform RON for signers located anywhere; others restrict to in-state signers. Always verify state-specific rules.