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January 8, 2011

The Notary Police

Filed under: General Stories,Popular on Linked In,Popular on Twitter — admin @ 8:22 am

Have you ever been pulled over by the Notary police? The problem is that there is no such thing. But, if there were, then there would be one more thing to gripe about. Can you imagine if there were Notary police? If you gave an Oath the wrong way or forgot all together, you might get a citation — I swear it. And if your seal was smudgy you might get a warning. What if you identified someone incorrectly because the ID did not match? You might have to spend the night getting booked at the Notary jail.

I think that the Secretary of State should pretend to be a customer and see how many things you do wrong and then book you. That is my idea of what the Notary police should be like. California used to audit people’s journals. That was the one type of Notary procedural checks and balance that they had. I am not sure they are still doing that.

I do a little Notary policing to make sure people know their basics. The sad part is that only 5% of our Notaries on 123notary are up to my standards for minimal Notary knowledge acceptability. That is really sad. But, what can I do? I can’t force people to learn who refuse to know their job (yet brag about how great they are because of how many years they have been doing their job probably incorrectly.)

In the mean time — licensed and commission certificate please. Keep both hands on your seal.

You might also like:

A bar only for cool notaries
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22546

Notary arrested for stealing spices from borrowers
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20799

A forged notary seal ends someone up with a prison sentence
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21355

Comments (0)

January 5, 2011

When you can’t stamp!

Filed under: Popular on Twitter,Technical & Legal — admin @ 12:46 am

When You Can’t Stamp – Conditions For Turning Down A Notarization

Notaries fulfill a critical role in our society. If you’ve taken up the stamp yourself, you’ve already gone through plenty of training to familiarize yourself with your responsibilities. It’s always handy to review the situations in which you should turn down a notarization, though. Handling these delicate incidents with care is an important part of your job.

Know Your Statutes And Regulations

While the broad responsibilities of notaries are the same all over the country, specific regulations vary from state to state. For instance, in some states (like California), employers can set restrictions on what employees can and cannot notarize during business hours. In other states, notaries have an ironclad obligation to provide their services to qualified citizens. Make sure you’re thoroughly familiar with the rules governing notaries in your own state so that you’re in full compliance.

Remember that part of your responsibility as a notary is to document the work you perform. If you refuse to perform a notarization or simply have misgivings about one or more points of a particular document, make sure you record the event in detail in your notarial journal.

General Issues That Can Prevent Notarization

Most of the common reasons to turn down a notarization are fairly obvious. In situations where you can’t verify a signer’s identity, communicate with a signer (e.g. language barriers), or where one or more parties are absent, it is both your right and obligation to turn away the signers. You should also refrain from notarizing documents that involve you or your close family members or those that subject you to conflict of interest in some other way. Incomplete documents or improperly formatted ones are grounds for a refusal as well.

There are more questionable areas where you are within your rights to refuse service. If you know or suspect that the documents presented to you represent a fraudulent transaction, or you suspect that one of the signers is being coerced into signing, you have a right to refuse service. Document such cases extensively in your journal, as these are the sort of circumstances that may be investigated by authorities later.

Hot-Button Topics

As public servants, notaries have an obligation to perform their jobs without regard to their personal feelings and biases. This means you can’t refuse service to a client based on their gender, race, religion, or orientation. Modern society can present you with many different documents for notarization whose content makes you uncomfortable. Examples include documents that touch on same-sex marriage, euthanasia, abortion, and legal marijuana.

In situations like this, you have to bear in mind that your responsibilities do not extend to interpreting the laws which govern your state. Set aside your personal bias and remember that your notarial services do not in any way serve as an endorsement of laws you don’t agree with.

Refusing To Serve With Grace

It’s very easy to think about refusing a notarization when you confine yourself to hypothetical scenarios. Matters become more complicated when you’re facing an actual signer and need to turn them away, though. Tact is your strongest ally in these situations.

Remember that you don’t have any obligation to expose yourself to risk. If you’re turning down a notarization because you suspect foul play, you’re entitled to give a less contentious explanation, such as being unfamiliar with the type of documents involved. Fortunately, these situations are few and far between. With most refusals, you’ll have a clear legal basis for refusing to notarize. Explain this as thoroughly and professionally as possible.

Turning away signers who want your services isn’t the easiest part of your job as a notary. As long as you maintain a clear grasp of your obligations and their limits and behave professionally, though, you should be able to keep both yourself and your clients within the bounds of the law.

Jeff Wise is a health care professional who specializes in senior care. If you are looking for premium in-home care for your loved one, visit MiamiHomeCareServices.com today.

Comments (1)

March 25, 2010

State Tweets

Filed under: Popular on Twitter — admin @ 9:58 am

est State Tweets
(C) AL: In Alabama, a probate judge collects $1/notary commission issued. And you thought American Idol Judges raked it in.
http://www.123notary.com/alabama_notary/

(C) AK: There’s no set fee for Acknowledgments for an Alaska Notary & no set term for an Alaska Governor if her name is Sarah
http://www.123notary.com/alaska_notary/

(C) AK: A notary in Anchorage, AK says, “We sign loans in 8 different languages!” That doesn’t count rubbing noses together.http://www.123notary.com/notary-result.asp?state=AK&n=Anchorage&county=70

(C) AZ: Arizona Notary: There’s a max mileage fee for notary work set by the state which is really low. Actualmileagemayvary. http://www.123notary.com/arizona_notary/

(C) An AZ Notary may only charge a small mileage fee: not enough 2make a living. Hence the signs: Will Notarize For Food. http://www.123notary.com/arizona_notary/

(C) In Arkansas, attestation to a document is an official notary act. As for unofficial notary acts, catch Arkansan Idol. http://www.123notary.com/arkansas_notary/

(A-) CA: How long is a notary commission or term of office good for? It varies from state to state. In California & Florida it is 4 years.
http://www.123notary.com/california_notary/

(C) California has more mobile notaries than any other state #notary. If you call stuck in rush hour all day “mobile”.
http://www.123notary.com/california_notary/

(C) We helped many California Notaries rewrite their notes sections. We took out all the Hey, Dudes. Nice Makeover
http://www.123notary.com/california_notary/

(C) CA notaries must THUMBPRINT signers of POA & Deeds. Their thumbs w/be too dark to notice if hitchiking home!
http://www.123notary.com/california_notary/

(C) Personal knowledge of the signer is still acceptable in Delaware. Unless the signer is named “John Doe.”
http://www.123notary.com/delaware_notary/

(C) CO: A Colorado notary was asked to notarize medical marijuana docs. The signer asked, “So, what FORM of payment would you like?”
http://www.123notary.com/colorado_notary/

(C) CO notary law lets a notary charge for making copies. Wish they could make copies of the laughter on 2 ½ Men.
http://www.123notary.com/colorado_notary/

(C) CT notaries are appointed to a 5 year term! $120 application fee.
1 year more than the President.
http://www.123notary.com/connecticut_notary/
#notarypublic

(A) DC: If you live in Maryland, DC, or Virginia you could become a dual or triple commissioned notary in multiple states!
ADD LINK

(A) If you work for the federal gov, you can be a DC notary yet live in ANY state you like! .
http://www.123notary.com/washington_dc_notary/
#notarypublic

(A-) FL: We helped many Florida notary publics rewrite their notes section recently!
Nice makeover! http://www.123notary.com/florida_notary/

(C) You can be a dual commissioned notary if you live IN Florida near AL/GA, but not the other way around. Sorry…
http://www.123notary.com/florida_notary/

(A) FL, CA & TN allow expired drivers licenses as acceptable ID if less than five years after the ISSUE DATE
http://www.123notary.com/florida_notary/

(C) Non-atty notaries in GA cannot sign loans, but there is big $ in regular notary work! Especially if you’re Beyoncé.
http://www.123notary.com/georgia_notary/

(C) A Hawaii notary public can get a tax deduction for their boating hobby! Then their ship really will come in!
http://www.123notary.com/hawaii_notary/

(A-) ID: We have dozens of dual state notary in Idaho & Washington. They get 2x the jobs!
http://www.123notary.com/idaho_notary/

(?++) ID: A Washington State Notary can become an Idaho Notary & vice versa. Make 2x the $ with a dual commission.
http://www.123notary.com/idaho_notary/

(C) IL: An Illinois notary public tells us this story about how her journal saved a man’s home. Keep good records!
http://www.123notary.com/illinois_notary/

(C) IN: You should ideally get a TPL if you want to sign loans in Indiana. Or at least the title: Hoosier.
http://www.123notary.com/indiana_notary/
#notary

(B+) IA: Many notaries in Iowa are discussing their Real Estate background at the top of their notary notes.
http://www.123notary.com/iowa_notary/

(A) KS: We have dozens of dual state notary in Kansas & Missouri. They get 2x the jobs!
http://www.123notary.com/kansas_notary/

(?++) We have dozens of dual state notaries in KS & MO. They get 2x the jobs. Finally, multi-tasking that isn’t annoying!
http://www.123notary.com/kansas_notary/

(C) KY: Kentucky notaries can notarize outside of their state providing the documents are recorded in state.
http://www.123notary.com/kentucky_notary/
#notary

(C) The Louisiana notary exam is the hardest in the nation. Or maybe it seems harder in Louisiana because they’re high. http://www.123notary.com/louisiana_notary/

(C) LA: Many Louisiana notaries can only work within their Parish or reciprocal Parishes
http://www.123notary.com/louisiana_notary/

(C) MA: A Massachusetts notary public can NOT do loan signings unless they are a licensed Attorney
http://www.123notary.com/massachusetts_notary/

(C) MA: There is very little competition among notaries in MA. There are very few traveling notaries there #notarypublic
http://www.123notary.com/massachusetts_notary/

(C) Maine Notaries can solemnize marriages w/a license. If the in-laws don’t grant their seal of approval, notaries can!
http://www.123notary.com/maine_notary/

(C) MI: Our Detroit notaries are some of the best QUALIFIED in the nation. Hope they can witness a Detroit resurgence!
http://www.123notary.com/michigan_notary/

(?+) MS: Many Mississippi notaries get dual commissioned in Tennessee too so they can service Memphis! #notarypublic
http://www.123notary.com/mississippi_notary/

(?) MD: Maryland Notary Public: You need a Title Producer License to sign loans in this state.
http://www.123notary.com/maryland_notary/

(A) MO: We have dozens of dual state notary in Kansas & Missouri. They get 2x the jobs!
http://www.123notary.com/missouri_notary/

(C) Make a whopping $1 per signature as a Minnesota Notary. That’s a buck more than celebrities get for their autographs!
http://www.123notary.com/minnesota_notary/

(C) Many MN notaries are dual commissioned in WI & make extra $ on other side of border. Talk about a borderline killing. http://www.123notary.com/minnesota_notary/

(C) Hire a Montana Notary who is great at performing shotgun weddings & notarizing gun permit applications.
(C) A spaceship landed.
A NM notary asked, “are you going to abduct me?”
“No, but can you LIKE us on Facebook?”
http://www.123notary.com/new_mexico_notary/

(?) OH: Find a notary who offers happy-hour specials on our Ohio Notary Public search page.
http://www.123notary.com/ohio_notary/
(?) OK: Find a notary in Broken Arrow or Broken Seal on our Oklahoma Notary page. If it ain’t broken, don’t affix it.
http://www.123notary.com/oklahoma_notary/
(?) OR: Find an Oregon notary who covers strange sounding places like Walla Walla, Tillamook or Madras.
http://www.123notary.com/oregon_notary/
(?) PA: Find a notary near the Liberty Bell in our Pennsylvania notary public search page. It’s all it’s “cracked” up to be!
http://www.123notary.com/pennsylvania_notary/
(?) PA: Find a notary near the Liberty Bell in our Pennsylvania notary public search page. Nothing cheesy but the steaks.
http://www.123notary.com/pennsylvania_notary/
(?) PA: Find “notar-ly like” in the city of brotherly love in our Pennsylvania notary public search page.
http://www.123notary.com/pennsylvania_notary/

(?) Find a notary who services all five counties of Rhode Island & can “musical note-arize” at the Newport Jazz Festival! http://www.123notary.com/rhode_island_notary/

(?+) SC: To perform loan signings in SC, MA or GA, you need to be an Attorney, but there is plenty of regular notary public work!http://www.123notary.com/south_carolina_notary/

(A-) TN: One Tennessee notary was offered some moonshine at a signing
http://www.123notary.com/tennessee_notary/
#notarized

(?++)Please inform TN notaries: it is bad manners to bring a gun to a signing. Chew on that (with your mouth closed).
http://www.123notary.com/tennessee_notary/

(?++) TX: A Texas Notary was offered MOONSHINE at his last signing! He could have witnessed a hangover.
http://www.123notary.com/texas_notary/

(?) TX: We have several notaries in Texas who claim to cover all 254 counties. #notarypublic
http://www.123notary.com/texas_notary/

(?) UT: A notary public in Utah can charge no more than the Federal mileage rate as a travel fee
http://www.123notary.com/utah_notary/

(?) Ben & Jerry’s idea 4new SIGNATURE flavor for notaries:
Notorious ribbon — vanilla sealed w/ dark chocolate ink.
http://www.123notary.com/vermont_notary/

(?) VT: Please ask Ben & Jerry’s to create a new flavor for notaries such as VANILLA VENUE, or Vanilla Almond Affiant
http://www.123notary.com/vermont_notary/

(?) VT: Please ask Ben & Jerry’s to create a new flavor like Rocky Gravel Driveway or Personallly appearing pistachio
http://www.123notary.com/vermont_notary/

(?+) VA: Virginia notaries can notarize outside their state providing the documents are to be recorded in state. #notarypublic
http://www.123notary.com/virginia_notary/

(A-) VA: Many Virginia notaries in Fairfax County choose to be dual commissioned in DC to make extra money
http://www.123notary.com/virginia_notary/

(A-) WA: We have dozens of dual state notary in Oregon & Washington. They get 2x the jobs!
http://www.123notary.com/washington_notary/

(A-) WA: A Washington State notary can make extra money by getting a dual commission in Idaho and going to Coeur D’alene!
http://www.123notary.com/washington_notary/

(?) There are so few notaries in WV, if you cover a wide range, you’ll have a monopoly! Then you can buy Marvin Gardens.http://www.123notary.com/West_Virginia_notary/

(?) WI: Many Wisconsin notaries choose to make 2x the money and get commissioned in Illinois as well
http://www.123notary.com/wisconsin_notary/

(?) WY: Distances are huge, but there are only a few dozen active mobile notaries Until I had to go & open my big mouth. http://www.123notary.com/wyoming_notary