Is a Medallion Signature Guarantee the same as notarization?
No. A Medallion is a specialized securities-transfer guarantee from a participating financial institution. Notarization is a different official act performed by a commissioned notary.
Document Guides
Notary vs. Medallion Signature Guarantee for a 401(k) Rollover
If rollover instructions require a Medallion Signature Guarantee, ordinary notarization cannot replace it. Contact a participating financial institution.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed September 20, 2026
Quick Answer
Can a notary replace a Medallion Signature Guarantee for a 401(k) rollover?
No. Ordinary notarization and a Medallion Signature Guarantee are different services with different purposes. If a 401(k) plan, IRA custodian, brokerage, transfer agent, bank, or rollover instruction requires a Medallion, a notary cannot substitute for it.
A Florida notary cannot turn a notarization into a Medallion Signature Guarantee. If a Medallion is required, contact a bank, brokerage, or credit union that participates in an authorized Medallion program and ask about its eligibility, relationship, transaction-value, and document requirements.
The label on the instruction controls. “Notarize this signature” and “obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee” do not mean the same thing.
Do not schedule an online notary session for a Medallion request. iRemoteNotary does not provide Medallion Signature Guarantees.
Notary vs. Medallion: Direct Comparison
| Feature | Notarization | Medallion Signature Guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Performs a notarial act such as acknowledging a signature or administering an oath | Guarantees a signature for an eligible securities-transfer transaction and protects the transfer agent against specified loss |
| Who provides it | A commissioned notary public acting under the notary's commissioning-state law | An eligible financial institution participating in a recognized Medallion program |
| Typical issuer | Notary service, individual notary, or institution employee acting as a notary | Participating bank, credit union, brokerage, or other qualifying guarantor |
| Can it replace the other? | No | No |
| Remote online path | May be possible for an eligible document if the recipient accepts it | Not supplied by an ordinary remote online notarization session |
Never rely on the generic phrase “signature verification.” Ask the receiving institution to state whether it requires notarization, a Medallion Signature Guarantee, or another verification process.
Why a Medallion May Appear in a Rollover
Investor.gov explains that transfer agents use Medallion Signature Guarantees to limit liability when a securities-transfer signature is forged. A retirement-plan administrator, IRA custodian, or brokerage may place a Medallion requirement on a particular transfer, check, registration, or account workflow.
That requirement comes from the receiving or processing institution's transaction rules. It is not created merely because the word “rollover” appears on the paperwork, and not every 401(k) rollover requires a Medallion.
A Florida Notary Cannot Substitute for a Medallion
A Florida notary public can perform authorized notarial acts. The commission does not enroll the notary in a Medallion program, authorize a Medallion stamp, or make the notary financially responsible as a securities-transfer guarantor.
Adding an acknowledgment, jurat, seal, or online-notary certificate does not satisfy an instruction that specifically requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee.
How to Read the Rollover Instructions
Check the exact form, accompanying instructions, and any message from the distributing plan and receiving institution.
If the words conflict or staff give different answers, ask the processing institution for a written requirement before obtaining either service.
- Does the instruction say “notary,” “notarized,” or name a notarial certificate?
- Does it say “Medallion Signature Guarantee,” “signature guarantee,” STAMP, SEMP, or MSP?
- Is the requirement imposed by the distributing plan, the receiving plan or IRA, a brokerage, or a transfer agent?
- Does the institution require an existing customer relationship before it will issue a Medallion?
- What transaction value and supporting ownership documents must the guarantor review?
- Will the recipient accept the delivery format being proposed?
Notice 2026-49: Future Medallion Guidance Is Under Consideration
IRS Notice 2026-49 provides optional sample forms for certain plan-to-plan, plan-to-IRA, and IRA-to-plan rollovers. The notice also discusses possible future guidance concerning burdensome procedures, including some Medallion requirements.
That discussion is guidance under consideration—not a current rule abolishing Medallion requirements. Do not tell a plan or financial institution that Notice 2026-49 already prohibits its Medallion process.
For the notice's optional forms and limits, see IRS Notice 2026-49 rollover forms: notary, consent, and Medallion requirements.
Where to Get the Service the Form Requires
If the form requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee, contact your bank, brokerage, or credit union. Ask whether it participates in a recognized Medallion program, whether you must be an existing customer, what identity and ownership evidence it needs, and whether its guarantee limit covers the transaction.
If the form instead requires notarization, first confirm recipient acceptance, document format, and delivery method. The financial-institution remote notarization acceptance guide explains why legal availability and recipient policy are separate questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Florida notary provide a Medallion Signature Guarantee?
Not by acting under a Florida notary commission. A notarial seal or online notarization cannot substitute for a Medallion required by rollover or transfer instructions.
Does every 401(k) rollover require a Medallion?
No. Requirements are transaction- and institution-specific. Read the current instructions from both the distributing plan and receiving institution.
Where can I get a Medallion Signature Guarantee?
Contact a bank, brokerage, or credit union that participates in a recognized Medallion program. Ask about customer-relationship, document, identity, and transaction-value requirements.
Did IRS Notice 2026-49 eliminate Medallion requirements?
No. The notice discusses possible future guidance concerning burdensome procedures. That is under consideration and is not a current blanket prohibition.
Can iRemoteNotary help if my rollover form requires a Medallion?
No. iRemoteNotary does not provide Medallion Signature Guarantees. Contact a participating financial institution rather than booking a notary session for that requirement.
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission / Investor.gov
Accessed September 20, 2026
IRS Notice 2026-49(opens in a new tab)
Internal Revenue Service
Accessed September 20, 2026
Your instructions require a Medallion?
Contact a participating bank, brokerage, or credit union. Ask about its customer-relationship, identity, supporting-document, and guarantee-limit requirements. Do not book an ordinary notarization as a substitute.