Call or text us
Share the inmate’s full legal name, booking number if available, and what documents need to be notarized. If documents are not yet prepared, mention that — we can advise on what to prepare before the visit.
Los Angeles County Jail Notary — Downtown LA
Mobile Notary at Men's Central Jail (MCJ) in Los Angeles
When someone at Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) — or the co-located Inmate Reception Center (IRC) where new arrestees are held pending housing assignment — needs documents notarized urgently, we provide same-day Mobile Notary service in downtown Los Angeles. Powers of Attorney, real estate paperwork, court documents, and other legal forms notarized in the professional visiting area.
- Los Angeles County — all professional visiting hours served
- Powers of attorney, affidavits, vehicle titles & impound release letters
- Coordinated with facility security procedures
We are an independent mobile notary service — not affiliated with Men's Central Jail (MCJ). 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, booking number, and what needs to be signed.
About Men's Central Jail
Jail notary service at Men's Central Jail (MCJ).
Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) is the largest jail facility in Los Angeles County and one of the largest in the United States. Located in downtown Los Angeles near Union Station on Bauchet Street, MCJ houses thousands of male inmates awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences. It shares the complex with the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) — the intake facility where every newly arrested person in LA County is processed, medically screened, and held for up to 96 hours before being assigned to a permanent housing facility (MCJ, Twin Towers, Pitchess/Wayside, or NCCF). Families and attorneys call us when time-sensitive documents cannot wait until release — we coordinate with MCJ and IRC security procedures to complete notarizations efficiently.
Address
441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Facility Phone
(213) 974-4921 LASD Main Control — front desk.
Professional Visiting Hours
Professional visiting: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat–Sun 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Parking
Visitor parking structure on Bauchet Street — $8.00 per entry
Operated By
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Capacity
Approximately 5,640 inmates
Inmate Locator (Online)
LASD Inmate Information Center Search by name and date of birth — free, 24/7.
Inmate Info Line
(213) 473-6100 LASD 24/7 Inmate Information Center.
How it works
What to expect from a jail notary visit at Men's Central Jail.
We confirm & travel
Located at 441 Bauchet Street in downtown LA, MCJ treats notary visits as professional visits. We park in the visitor structure on Bauchet Street, check in at the main lobby, clear metal detectors, and are escorted to the professional visiting area. Morning appointments can run slower due to court movement. Travel from Granada Hills is typically 35–50 minutes.
Professional visit & signing
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
Document types commonly notarized at Men's Central Jail.
Click any document type below for complete information on requirements and how notarization works for that specific form.
Before your appointment
What to have ready for a jail notary visit.
Inmate identification — no personal photo ID required
Under California Civil Code § 1185(b)(3)(D), sheriff-issued inmate identification is acceptable ID for a signer in a local detention facility. At Men's Central Jail (MCJ) that is the LASD booking wristband the inmate wears — matched to the sheriff’s booking record — so you do not need to bring the inmate’s wallet, driver’s license, or passport. Just give us the inmate’s full legal name and booking number when you call. If the wristband is missing or unreadable, California law also allows identification by credible identifying witnesses under Civil Code § 1185(b)(1)–(2).
Complete documents ready to sign
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. We can advise on preparation before we schedule.
Inmate name & booking number
We need the inmate’s full legal name and booking number to confirm their location within the facility. You can typically find the booking number through the county sheriff’s online inmate search or by calling the facility directly.
Mobile Notary FAQ — Men's Central Jail
Frequently asked questions.
How do I find someone's booking number at Men's Central Jail?
You can search the LA County Sheriff's Inmate Information Center online at app5.lasd.org/iic using the inmate's name and date of birth. The booking number helps confirm their location and coordinate the visit.
Is the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) the same as Men's Central Jail?
The Inmate Reception Center (IRC) is co-located with Men’s Central Jail on the same downtown LA campus at Bauchet Street, but it is a separate function. IRC is the intake facility — every person newly arrested in LA County is booked, medically screened, and held at IRC for up to 96 hours before being classified and transferred to a permanent housing facility (MCJ, Twin Towers, Pitchess/Wayside, NCCF, or CRDF Lynwood for women). If your loved one was just arrested and has not yet had a housing assignment, they are almost certainly at IRC. We coordinate notary visits at both facilities.
Can you notarize documents for someone still at IRC before they are housed?
Yes — but timing is tricky. IRC holds are usually 24 to 96 hours and inmates can be moved without warning to their assigned housing facility. If a document is truly urgent (a real estate closing that day, an emergency Power of Attorney), we can attempt IRC service. For most situations we recommend waiting until the inmate is classified and housed at MCJ, Twin Towers, or Pitchess so we have a stable location. Call (213) 933‑2507 and we’ll help you decide.
Where do people get transferred to after Men's Central Jail?
After processing at IRC and classification, LA County male inmates typically go to Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) for shorter-term or higher-security housing, Twin Towers Correctional Facility for mental health or medical needs, or the Pitchess Detention Center complex in Castaic (which includes NCCF, North, South, and East facilities — many longtime LA families still call this “Wayside”). Women go to Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) in Lynwood. We serve all these facilities.
What if the inmate was just transferred to MCJ?
After a transfer, it can take 24–48 hours for an inmate to be fully processed and available for professional visits. We recommend confirming their status before scheduling if there has been a recent transfer.
Can family members bring documents to the jail notary appointment?
No — professional notary visits are separate from regular family visitation. You will need to get documents to us before the appointment, and we will bring them into the facility.
What ID does the inmate need for notarization at MCJ?
No personal photo ID is required. Under California Civil Code § 1185(b)(3)(D), sheriff-issued inmate identification is acceptable ID for a signer in a local detention facility, and at Men's Central Jail (MCJ) that is the LASD booking wristband matched to the sheriff’s booking record. All we need from you is the inmate’s full legal name and booking number. If the wristband is missing or unreadable, California law allows identification by credible identifying witnesses.
How long does a Men's Central Jail notary appointment take?
Plan for 1–2 hours total including travel, security screening, wait time, and the actual signing. The notarization itself is quick, but jail procedures add time.
What if the inmate refuses to sign the documents?
A notary cannot force anyone to sign a document. If the inmate refuses or is unable to sign, the notarization cannot be completed. You may still be responsible for a trip fee in this situation.
Other jail locations we serve