On-site notarization for inmates at the Calle Real Main Jail and Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria
The Santa Barbara County Main Jail is located at 4436 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 and is operated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. It houses male and female inmates who are awaiting trial, sentencing, or serving county jail sentences, and provides medical, nutritional, legal, and rehabilitative services during incarceration.
Santa Barbara County also operates the Northern Branch Jail, a 376-bed facility at 2301 Black Road in Santa Maria that houses male and female inmates in medium and high-security housing units. Many social visits for county inmates are handled at the Northern Branch Jail through a centralized ViaPath scheduling system.
Main Jail (Calle Real):
Santa Barbara County Jail
4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Main Jail phone: (805) 681-4260
Northern Branch Jail:
2301 Black Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Northern Branch phone: (805) 554-3100
Visitation platform (North Branch): ViaPath online registration and scheduling
North Branch visiting hours: Sunday–Saturday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (appointments start on the hour; up to 4 visits per week)
Check-in: All visitors must check in together 15–30 minutes before the visit with the same photo ID used to register; late arrivals may have the visit cancelled.
Visitor list: Inmates must place visitors on an approved list; up to four visitors can be on the list at one time, with updates allowed during specified windows.
Location: Santa Barbara (Calle Real) and Santa Maria (Northern Branch); approximately 1.5–2 hours from Los Angeles depending on traffic.
Call or text with the inmate’s full legal name, booking or CID number (if available), and a description of the documents to be notarized. Let us know whether the inmate is housed at the Main Jail on Calle Real, the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria, or another Santa Barbara County facility.
We contact the appropriate facility (Main Jail or Northern Branch) to confirm housing location, current visiting procedures, and how professional visits are handled. For Northern Branch visits, we work within the ViaPath scheduling framework and coordinate with the watch commander or designated staff to arrange the notary visit.
Have all documents complete and ready before the appointment. We cannot draft legal documents or provide legal advice; our role is to verify identity, witness signatures, and complete the notarization. If the inmate needs to review documents ahead of time, coordinate with their attorney or send copies through the jail’s mail or email systems.
On the day of the appointment, we meet you outside the facility or proceed directly to the designated lobby, check in with custody staff, and are escorted to a non-contact visiting area. The inmate confirms their identity, we verify ID based on jail records or approved ID on file, and the inmate signs in our presence. We then complete the notarial certificate.
After the visit, we return the originals to you, your attorney, a title or escrow company, or any other designated recipient. Depending on your deadlines, we can hand-deliver locally, overnight by courier, or return by mail.
Tip: Santa Barbara County requires visitors to be on the inmate’s approved visitor list and to check in early for each visit. If you plan to attend the appointment in person, make sure you’re on the list and bring valid government-issued photo ID.
Jail notarizations in Santa Barbara County require travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara or Santa Maria, coordination with custody staff, security screening, and escort to the visiting area. Pricing reflects the distance and the additional time required inside the facility.
Santa Barbara County Jail appointments: Typically starting around $300–$350, depending on whether the appointment is in Santa Barbara (Calle Real) or Santa Maria (Northern Branch).
Final pricing depends on where the inmate is housed, the number of documents, and how quickly the notarization needs to be completed. Call or text with your details for a firm quote.
The main jail is located at 4436 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. It is the primary jail facility for Santa Barbara County and houses male and female inmates awaiting trial or serving county jail sentences.
While the main jail is on Calle Real in Santa Barbara, many social visits are handled at the Northern Branch Jail at 2301 Black Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Visitors register through ViaPath and schedule visits between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, seven days a week, with appointments starting on the hour.
Inmates housed at the Northern Branch Jail are generally allowed up to four visits per week. All visitors must be on the inmate’s approved list and must check in 15–30 minutes before the scheduled visit with valid photo ID. If a visitor is late, the visit may be cancelled.
Yes. Independent mobile notaries regularly provide services at Santa Barbara County Jail. Typically, the notary coordinates with custody staff in advance, meets the client outside the jail, checks in, is escorted to the visiting area to complete the signing, and then exits to deliver documents and collect payment.
Custody staff maintain booking records with photos and identifying information that can be used to confirm the inmate’s identity. If the inmate has a valid government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) on file, that can also be used. We confirm ID options with the facility before the appointment.
Plan for 3 to 5 hours total, including travel from Los Angeles, security screening and escort, any wait time for the inmate to be brought to the visiting area, and the signing itself. The notarization is quick, but facility logistics add time.
We provide mobile notary services at jails and detention centers throughout Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and Southern California.
Not sure which jail? Call or text with the inmate’s name and we can help confirm their location and coordinate the appointment.
For an overview of all jail notary services, visit our Jail Notary hub page.
Share the inmate's name, booking or CID number, and what documents need to be signed, and we will confirm availability and next steps for the Main Jail or Northern Branch Jail.
When you contact us, it helps to include:
We will coordinate with custody staff, confirm procedures, and provide a clear quote before the appointment is scheduled.