Federal Jail Notary — Downtown Los Angeles
When a federal inmate at Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles needs documents notarized, we coordinate with Bureau of Prisons procedures — serving powers of attorney, court documents, and legal paperwork through proper federal facility channels.
We are an independent mobile notary service — not affiliated with Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles (MDC). We coordinate professional visits through the facility’s established procedures to reach inmates in the professional visiting area. Call or text (213) 933‑2507 and let us know the inmate’s name, federal register number, and what needs to be signed.
About MDC Los Angeles
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles (MDC) is a federal detention facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons, located in downtown Los Angeles near Union Station. Unlike county jails, MDC houses federal inmates and requires advance coordination for professional visits — including attorney sponsorship and BOP approval. We work with federal defense attorneys and their clients to complete notarizations within these requirements.
535 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 485-0439 BOP MDC main line — use for all inquiries.
Federal facility — attorney/professional visits require advance BOP approval; contact MDC directly at (213) 485-0439
Street parking and nearby pay lots on Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Approximately 1,500 federal inmates
BOP Federal Inmate Locator Search by name or BOP register number.
How it works
Share the inmate’s full legal name, federal register number if available, and what documents need to be notarized. Documents need to be complete and ready to sign before the visit — a notary cannot draft, complete, or advise on the content of a document.
Located at 535 North Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles, MDC is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility, and entry works differently than at a county jail. A notary cannot request a professional visit directly. The inmate’s attorney of record submits a written authorization on firm letterhead to the MDC Legal Department naming the notary and the matter; the notary files BOP form BP-A0243, the application to enter an institution as the representative of a licensed attorney, along with a BP-A0660 criminal history check authorization; and the facility clears the notary before entry. Approval commonly takes several business days, so starting at least a week ahead of a deadline is realistic. Travel from Granada Hills is typically 35–50 minutes.
We check in with facility staff, clear security, and meet the inmate in the professional visiting area. We verify identity, review the documents, and complete the notarization. Most visits take 30–60 minutes depending on security procedures and document volume.
Inmate Documents We Notarize
Click any document type below for complete information on requirements and how notarization works for that specific form.
Before your appointment
MDC Los Angeles is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Every inmate is issued a BOP inmate identification wristband with a federal register number that is matched to the BOP booking record on visit day. Identification is established against that wristband and the facility’s own record, so you do not need to bring a personal wallet ID, driver’s license, or passport. Just give us the inmate’s full legal name and federal register number when you call.
Bring all pages of the document — not just the signature page. Documents should be fully prepared and ready to sign. Missing pages or incomplete forms will require a return visit. A notary cannot draft, complete, or advise on the content of a document, so anything unfinished needs to be completed by whoever prepared it, or by an attorney, before we schedule.
We need the inmate’s full legal name and federal register number to confirm their location within the facility. You can look up the register number through the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator or by calling the facility directly.
Mobile Notary FAQ — MDC Los Angeles
No. Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility that holds federal inmates, while Twin Towers and Men’s Central Jail are Los Angeles County jails.
No. A county jail professional visit can be requested by the notary directly and often clears in 24 to 48 hours. A federal Bureau of Prisons facility admits a notary only as the representative of a licensed attorney, which means attorney-sponsored authorization, BOP application forms, and a criminal history check before entry.
Yes. A federal Bureau of Prisons facility admits a notary as the representative of a licensed attorney, so the inmate’s attorney of record has to sponsor the visit. The attorney sends a written authorization on letterhead to the MDC Legal Department identifying the notary, the inmate, the register number, and the pending matter. The notary submits BP-A0243 and a BP-A0660 criminal history check authorization, and the facility emails approval to both the attorney and the notary. Families are usually the ones who reach out first, which is fine — the request simply has to route through the attorney before it can be approved.
We recommend contacting us at least one week before your deadline so we can complete Bureau of Prisons approval steps and schedule your appointment without rushing.
You can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator at bop.gov/inmateloc using the inmate’s name or register number, or contact MDC Los Angeles directly at (213) 485-0439.
Yes. We frequently coordinate MDC notary appointments with federal defense attorneys from other states and with consular officials to meet court and agency requirements.
Other jail locations we serve