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July 24, 2021

A response to my Biden post

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 4:01 am

Many people commanded me to “stop writing about politics.” They really consider themselves to be my personal boss. However, my Biden article about turning mobile notaries into employees or putting them out of work altogether was my most popular article in the last year which proves my point. If people claim they HATE my article, that proves it got at least 3000 clicks while most of the rest of the stuff I wrote seems to get almost completely ignored.

One notary wrote in:
“U-O We have All-Caps-Yelling. I think the way the USA is headed is something to discuss as Notaries Public. Seems the ones who don’t want to discuss this are the ones who don’t want the Truth. It is Not about Politics It’s about a free capitalist society where we can earn a living w/o Gov control. YAY for you Jeremy.”

MY COMMENTS
I spent my entire life not caring much if at all about domestic politics. The only reason I care now, is because the leftists have given themselves permission to butt into my personal life and make it miserable. I was not allowed to go to a restaurant for roughly an entire year, and now I still cannot sit at a bar. If you want to be “safe” then all the most power to you. But, you don’t have the right to tell me where I go and what I can do and then to bash me for talking about politics when I defend my rights.

This is not about politics, it is about basic civil rights which never used to be a political issue. All Americans used to value rights — but, something has changed recently and now Americans are anti-Freedom, anti-democracy, and only like the word democracy when it is used in some twisted way to support some bizarre leftist agenda.

If the politicians would let Notaries do what they like, and let people hire and fire according to their own contracts then I wouldn’t have anything to say about politics in this blog — other than jokes. But, this is no joke. It is real, and in California many have permanently left the state specifically because of this issue. Freelancers moved to Arizona not because they have any love for Arizona, but because they could get freelance work there and continue to make a living.

It is so interesting that the majority of those who comment are violently angry with me for supporting the idea of a free America. Maybe you should all get together and create a 2nd America where nobody has any freedom or ability to make a living — you’ll be very happy there I’m sure — until you come to your senses which might take a very long time.

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July 2, 2021

The Messiah

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 3:08 am

My current guru says that the Messiah will be a public figure by 2034. He will be born in Israel, and hopefully speak English. Will he be Jesus? Not sure. But, he will be similar to Jesus, although he will likely be a different soul and have a different name. But, the basic spiritual message will be similar.

But, there is more. The spiritual grace that will be pervasive in the atmosphere will be the biggest blessing you can ask for. Such a wonderful atmosphere for prayer, meditation and contemplation.

The world will have to go through a big upheaval in the meantime though. I am expecting millions to die, asteroids, political upheaval (too late, we already have that, riots (already had that, but predicted it many years ago.), starvation (just as long as I have Thai food I’m good.) and more. I think the stock market will make it though. World War Three is also on the table. Let’s hope that doesn’t affect us that badly. It might be more in the Middle East, Europe and India. But, we’ll see.

Some rabbis say that we won’t be using money when the Messiah comes. I think we will still have money, because it is necessary, but we might see and use money in a very much more spiritual way. Many rabbis are saying that the situation in the world will be so desperate that people will be screaming for a Messiah to come. I am at this point already. I have lost faith in our government, country, citizens, immigrants, etc. Nobody can save me but God, and he allowed my outdoor gym to get shut down, so I am not completely satisfied with him either. Maybe I should write him an email.

On a brighter note, the future Messiah that Jews call, “Meshiach Ben David” (Messiah, son of David) will be a spiritual leader for all believers regardless of faith. He’ll lead you even if you don’t like Israeli food, halva, or shirazi salad — I know… hard to imagine anyone from Israel accepting someone who doesn’t like hummos or sahoog (a yeminite chutney), but it’s true!

He might need to get notarized, so get your RON (remote online notary) commission right away. You can notarize him when he is in Tel Aviv with that.

So, try to keep healthy so you can meet this guy in about fourteen years or see him on television. On a parting note, I wonder if he will let me have his email address. Hmm. askthemessiah@gmail.com

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March 20, 2021

If you do well on our email quizzes, will you do well on clicks?

Filed under: Certification & Communication Skills — admin @ 4:47 am

Number Crunching
Based on previous number crunching sessions, I learned that those who do well on our certification tests or email quizzes tend to do well in life and getting clicks, jobs, etc. Knowledge is power — and you must make sure never to misuse your power. Just kidding — you can misuse it. Just don’t do anything illegal.

20% More Clicks?
However! I decided to learn if any particular questions influence your fate more than other questions and I was blown away by what I found. I analyzed about 30 listings that had taken my email quiz. I learned that people who answered questions about how to ID a person correctly did a lot better on click results. Those who followed directions fared well too. Those who could give proper oaths got more clicks as well. With these questions, a single correctly answered question resulted in 20% more clicks — wow!

The Fedex Question
But, there was one question where you got more clicks by answering it wrong — what gives? It was my infamous drop the package question that most people to this day disagree with me about. Basically, if you almost finish a signing, but the signer refuses to sign a particular disclosure, you call your contact person, send texts, leave messages, etc., but don’t hear back from him, then what? How long do you wait to drop the package because of a single non-notary document that is sitting on the borrower’s table after you leave?

My Answer
My answer is that ideally you should wait 90 minutes from your initial message, and feel free to keep calling after that. Drop it, because if you don’t, you might forget to drop it, get sidetracked by another last minute job, get in an accident, or get caught up in something else. If you don’t drop it, chances are the docs will go back at least one day late and you will get in trouble. But, there is a one percent chance it will be two or more days late for a variety of reasons in which case you will be in big big trouble.

Most Notaries prefer to wait until right before pick up at Fedex and then drop the package or wait until they get a return call. If the Loan Officer is in the hospital, you might never get that return call, meanwhile the loan docs will be collecting dust in your car. These situations happen, although not that often

The irony is that those who answered this wrong according to my analysis, who held on to the documents got a lot more clicks as a result. But, why? I feel that these Notaries exhibited conscientiousness by waiting for instructions even though it was not in good judgement to do so. They exhibited caring and responsibility to do a wrong thing that seemed like a right thing. However, I feel that these Notaries did not think the situation through carefully and are more likely to get their clients in trouble in the long run.

It is my practice to elevate free listings higher on the list if they get high clicks, and then to lower their placement if they score poorly on my quizzes. It looks like this is the ideal question for those with high clicks who are a danger to the public who need their placement lowered.

My Question to Myself
My question to myself is — should I not ask questions that lower your clicks by answering them correctly, or ask more questions with the same attribute, or not care either way? After all, I am measuring the safety of the notary and not how popular they are by quizzing them so why should it matter? Hmm. A question to chew on.

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March 4, 2021

A vaccine for Notaritus

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 4:29 am

What is Notaritus?
It is a disease that is spread on social media. It is not a disease of the body (pause), but of the mind! Notaries who are poorly trained spread a lot of incorrect information and gossip on Facebook and other online forums. Forums are a great place to share information and experience. But, to share incorrect ideas of how to handle notary situations is just plain dangerous. The problem is that Notaries are addicted to mingling and taking advice from others, so the wrong information spreads from person to person much like a virus.

So, there needs to be a vaccine from this virus, and perhaps information about how to flatten the curve of spreading incorrect information.

1. Stay six feet away from other social media platforms.
2. Wear a mask on your brain when you read notary information published by someone other than your state’s secretary of state.
3. Stay in your basement as much as possible and avoid sunlight, being happy, or going out. Although being happy and getting vitamin D from sunlight strengthens your immune system, we need to keep you afraid so you’ll buy our vaccine, so stay in your basement and remain scared.
4. Wash your brain for at least twenty seconds after every contact with social media.

Then what is the vaccine? Simple. Your state notary division’s website will have correct information about what your state’s notary laws and practices are. Some have newsletters or blogs as well. California has a great handbook and then has a blog of some sort. Not all of the info is in the handbook, so you could lose your commission over vague information in the handbook as to correct journal entry procedure. Wouldn’t it be easier to keep all pertinent information in one place? No! That would be too easy and we can’t have that!

Don’t believe what anyone says about notary law unless they are the Secretary of State’s Notary Division, or someone who is officially designated to teach Notary law. Please keep in mind that 123notary’s notary information is NOT state specific and might not apply to your state and might be outdated. Sorry to downplay our credibility, but I don’t want to mislead the public. Our information is in your best interests, but laws are different in each state and it is hard to keep up with them all.

Come to think of it, I just found out that the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are in the United States. Personally, I think we should sell the Virgin Islands to Al-Qaida, they just love virgins.

So, get the vaccine for Notaritus today, but checking in with your notary division, reading your handbook and going straight to the source for correct information rather than relying on your incompetent friends. When Jesus made reference to the blind leading the blind, he was really talking about Notary Facebook groups, he just didn’t know it at the time.

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February 6, 2021

Facemasks and your civil rights

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 11:55 pm

It seems to be a violation of your civil rights to force you to wear particular clothing even if there is a pretend pandemic with numbers that are well known to be fraudulently tabulated. In a free country you have something called “liberty.” But, what does Liberty mean? How do you define liberty?

To me, liberty means:
The right to do whatever (the hell) you want provided you are not creating substantial danger, harm, nuisance, or fear in others.

The constitution of California guarantees us liberty as an unalienable right, but Governor Newsome doesn’t read the constitution and is more than happy to violate our liberties.

Next, it seems that face masks block the flow of air or oxygen into your body by blocking your air intake valves, i.e., your nose and mouth. It is a human rights violation to abridge someone’s right to a natural amount of oxygen and air. It is second only to gassing someone which is a Nazi practice. I think that forcing the use of facemasks is a totalitarian tactic. A “free” country such as the United States alleges to be should not and cannot dictate what you wear other than you cover your genitals as showing them would invite all sorts of danger, perceived harassment, danger, harm, extreme nuisance, etc.

Additionally, the FEDERAL DISABILITIES ACT states that businesses that are open to the public such as hotels, restaurants, stores, etc., cannot discriminate against someone with a disability. It is against Federal law for a business open to the public to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, or disability, etc.,

My claim is that since I have a heart condition, and suffer mild suffocation if forced to wear a face mask while I am moving, particularly if it is worn above my nose. So, if a store forces me to either wear a face mask above my nose or vacate, they are violating Federal law by discriminating against me due to the effects of my disability created by a malformed mitral valve in my heart.

The bigger issue is: what kind of people are we dealing with? Where is the humanity? The only people who discriminate against people with health problems to my knowledge were Nazis. They threw people in wheelchairs out of second story balconies and then shot them to death with machine guns in the movies. My conclusion is that 80% of Americans are completely insane, inhumane, do not care at all about the constitution, and our lives are all in danger as a result.

According to my current Guru, the Messiah (what Hebrews call Meshiach ben David not to be confused with Meshiach ben Yosef who we call Jesus who is the previous messiah, and a different guy.) will be coming of age to be a public figure in 2034. Not sure exactly when he will be born, or we will feel his presence then, or if he will be on Fox news then. But, whatever that means, he will be here to save us. I think people who are evil will go so insane when he comes that they will start World War 3 and our problems will get even worse.

My parting questions are
1. Will the future messiah have a cool hairstyle like Jesus? I dig the long hair and know a good harpsichord player from France who looks just like Jesus.
2. Will people become more moral when the messiah comes or will they just go crazy and destroy the planet?
3. Is it time to move to Montana and buy a gun collection?
4. Will someone on 123notary have the privilege of notarizing the messiah when he flies in from Israel?

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October 29, 2020

What documents can I notarize?

Filed under: Other Guest Bloggers — admin @ 8:52 am

What documents should I NOT notarize? (better idea for a title)

This is written about frequently but it does require repetition given the penalties associated with it and the # of requests received for unauthorized notarizations.

WILLS – Unless prepared or directed by an attorney, wills are generally witnessed by two disinterested independent third parties.

VITAL DOCUMENTS – Birth and Death Certificates and Marriage Certificates. The Secretary of State has specific laws preventing public Notaries from notarizing vital documents primarily because the Notary cannot verify the validity or authenticity of such a document. In cases such as this, the Notary needs to refer the client over to the agency who issued the document which in many cases is the County Recorder.

INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTS – A notary should not complete any documents that are fully completed at the time of notarization.

DOCUMENTS WHERE NOTARY IS AWARE THERE IS FALSE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT – If you overhear conversation between people talking about the false information contained in the document they are signing, don’t notarize it. If you suspect that the person signing appears to be overly nervous or if it looks like someone else with a beneficial interest is forcing the person to sign the document, don’t notarize it. Always remember that the signer must sign the document willingly and present proper identification and must be able to communicate with the notary.

PERSON SIGNING CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH THE NOTARY IS SPEAKING. You cannot use an interpreter because you don’t know what is being translated and if the translator has an interest in the transaction. Do not confuse this with notarizing a document in a Foreign Language. You can always notarize a foreign language document and don’t need to speak that language as long as the person signing can communicate with you in English or another common language in which both the notary and the signer can communicate.

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October 14, 2020

Good Signing Companies – a thorough list

Filed under: Best Signing Companies — admin @ 12:08 pm

Originally posted in 2018.

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A Quality Signing Services
Boca Raton, FL

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Above and Beyond Closings
Lake Zurich, Il

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Accountable Agents, LLC
Reading, PA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1258&Accountable+Agents

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Accurate Closing Services
Walnut, CA

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Accurate Group
Charlotte, NC
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1224&Accurate+Group

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All Star Title
Baltimore, MD

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AMC Settlement Services
Coraopolis, PA

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America’s Best Closers
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=26&Americas+Best+Closers

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Ancona Title and Escrow
White Bear Lake, MN

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APAT Real Estate Settlement Services, LLC
Winter Garden, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=719&APAT+Settlement+Services%2C+Inc%2E

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ASAP Signing Services, LLC
Citrus Heights, CA

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ATS Document Services
Long Beach, CA

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Avenue 365 Lender Services
Plymouth Meeting, PA

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Bankserv, Inc
Yorba Linda, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=104&Bancserv

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Blue Sky Closings
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=886&Blue+Sky+Closings

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Brooks Closing Service
Slatington, PA

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Central Signing Service
Grants Pass, OR
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=12&Central+Signing+Service+AKA+Initial+Here

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Champion Title & Settlements
Potomac Falls, VA

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Clear to Close Title Services, LLC
Coconut Creek, FL

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Close It Fast.com
Rumson, NJ

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Closed For You
Lewis Center, OH

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Convenient Closing Services
Mt. Laurel, NJ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=62&Convenient+Closing+Services

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Cornerstone Signing Service, Inc.
Searcy, AR

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CRES Closers
Ashville, NC

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Cykix Closing Agent Services
Mt. Hermon, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1026&Cykix

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Diamond Star Notaries, LLC
San Jose, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1236&Diamond+Star+Notaries

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Direct Closers
Orange, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=967&Direct+Closers

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Door2Door Docs
Nipomo, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=933&Door+to+Door+Documents

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East Coast Abstract
Ivyland, PA

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Equity National Title Insurance Company
East Providence, RI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=813&Equity+National+Title+%26+Closing+Services
Excel Notary, Inc.
Glendale, AZ

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Executive Notary Services, LLC
Dallas, TX

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Executive Signing Services, Inc.
Gilbert, AZ

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Express Signatures
El Segundo, CA

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First Class Signing
Pleasanton, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1014&First+Class+Signing+Service
First National Signings, Inc.
Santa Ana, CA

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First Preference Signing, LLC
Lakewood, CO

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Inscribing Persuits, LLC
Farmington, UT
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=6&Inscribing+Pursuits+Document+Service

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Integrated Real Estate Processing
Pittsburgh, PA

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JM Adjustment Services, LLC
Clinton Township, MI

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JMT Document Service
Visalia, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=313&JMT

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Kelley’s Mobile Notary Service
Houston, TX
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1083&Kelley%27s+Mobile+Notary

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Loan Doc Express, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ

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LSI
Moon Township, PA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=125&LSI+-+A+Fidelity+National+Information+Services+Company

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Madison Credit Management Services
Cherry Hill, NJ

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Maverick Signings
Mission Viejo, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=963&Maverick+Signings

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Merritt Services, Inc.
St. Johns, FL

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Metro Inspections
Glendale, AZ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=899&Metro+Inspections+AZ

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Meymax Title
Columbus, OH
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=309&MeyMax+Title+Agency+of+Ohio+LLC

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Mortgage Closings, Inc.
Owosso, MI

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Mortgage Information Services
Cleveland, OH

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National Closing Solutions
Roseville, CA

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Negretes Notary Service, Inc.
Mansfield, OH

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Netco
St. Charles, MO

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Northstar Notary
Huntington Beach, CA

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Notaries in Motion
Corona, CA

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Notary Junction
Irving, TX

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Notary on Call
San Diego, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1067&Notary+on+Call

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Novation Capital
West Palm Beach, FL

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OCM Financial Group, Inc.
Overland Park, KS

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Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
Akron, MI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=906&Old+Republic+National+Title+Insurance+Company

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OS National, LLC
Duluth, GA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1182&OS+National%2C+LLC

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Pacific Alliance Notary Service
Vista, CA

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Patriot Title Agency
Canton, OH

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Peachtree Settlement Funding
Boca Raton, FL

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Performance Title, Inc
Bay St. Louis, MS

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Premier Reverse Closings
Rocklin, CA

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PRISM Title
Des Plaines, IL

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Pro Mobile Notary
Novato, CA

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ProLink Signing Service
San Jose, CA

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Propel Financial Services
San Antonio, TX

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Real Advantage, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA

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Reltco, Inc.
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1180&Reltco%2C+Inc%2E

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Res Title
Westborough, MA

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Right Now Notary
Carrollton, TX

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RM Signing, LLC
San Diego, CA

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Robyn Allen
High Springs, FL

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S&P Closings
Asheville, NC
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=958&S%26P+Closings

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Safe Signings
Fullerton, CA

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Signature Closers, LLC
Columbus, OH
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=879&Signature+Closers%2C+LLC

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SLB Signing Services
Deland, FL

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Speedy Notary and Document Signing
Beverly Hills, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=830&Speedy+Notary+%26+Doc+Signings

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Statewide Document Services, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1244&Statewide+Document+Services

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Superior Notary Services
Wylie, TX
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=932&Superior+Notary+Services

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Superior Signing Service
Ladera Ranch, CA

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The Doc Signers
Phoenix, AZ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=949&The+Doc+Signers

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The Ink, A Signing Company
San Diego, CA

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The Notary Company
Yuba City, CA

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Ticor Title co.
Tustin, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=502&Ticor+Title

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Timios, Inc.
Westlake Village, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=864&Timios+Title

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Title Source, Inc.
Detroit, MI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=610&Title+Source

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TitlePlus, LLC
Baton Rouge, LA

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TMR Notary Services
Brea, CA

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Trinity Document Solutions
Trinity, FL

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True Concept Title
Clearwater, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=833&True+Concept+Title

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US Certified Signers
Sacramento, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1266&US+Certified+Signers

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UST Global
Moon Township, PA

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Vantage Land Title
Vandalia, OH

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Watermark Services, Inc.
Folsom, CA

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World Wide Settlements
Rockville, MD

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X Marks the Spot Signing Services
St. Augustine, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=224&X+Marks+The+Spot

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Xpress Title Services, LLC
Towson, MD
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1272&XPress+Title+Services

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You might also like:

Opinions about Snapdocs in the forum & blog comments
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21299

Aug 2018 signing company gossip
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21087

Notary Marketing 102 – a free notary marketing course
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19774

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October 27, 2019

Are online notarizations illegal to protect outdated customs?

Filed under: Technical & Legal — admin @ 11:48 pm

One blog commentator writes that online and webcam notarizations are illegal (in many jurisdictions) simply to protect the outdated customers of traditional Notaries. Since many Attorneys are Notaries, this in his opinion is a case of mob rules where the public loses. Hmm. Interesting thought.

Security is another issue. It is hard to know on a webcam if that is the actual person being notarized. People change their hairstyle and sometimes more than one person looks like the same person. As a former Notary, seeing people’s ID is not enough in my opinion. Women change their hair around so much they are often not recognizable.

I would feel more comfortable if Notaries had facial recognition technology so that we could really identify people. It would be like that movie from thirty years ago whose name escapes me where you walk into a store and a computer greets you by name due to the technology. How annoying and invasive. China is becoming like that, but then, they have 1.4 billion people (and counting) to take care of. On a brighter note, I think the urban folks have given up having children.

So, is the growth of online notarizations stifled by mob rule, a lust to preserve traditional practices, or for realistic and reasonable concerns about security?

You might also like:

Why you shouldn’t use an online notary
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22090

eNotary
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21344

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October 10, 2019

Stand up routine at a signing

Filed under: Humorous Posts — admin @ 11:23 pm

It started out being just a normal signing. But, the Notary was no ordinary Notary.

NOTARY: Hi, my name is Charles and I will be your signing agent this evening. If you have any questions during the signing process, please feel free to address those to me.

BORROWER: Sounds like a deal, Charles. We’ll conduct the signing in the dining room.

NOTARY: Great.

BORROWER: Would you like to sit down?

NOTARY: Oh, you see, my style of signings is more of a stand up signing.

BORROWER: Oh, yeah, I read in your reviews that you are a stand up guy. Now, I think I know what they meant.

NOTARY: Good one. I didn’t know my reviews said that. I thought it said that I showed up on time;

BORROWER: That was only for one signing, the one where you set your clocks back an hour in November. No wonder you were on time for the first time in your life.

NOTARY: That was low, but it works. Anyway. Let’s begin with the Deed of Trust. We need to initial each page.

BORROWER: Have you done this before, or do you consider this to be improv?

NOTARY: I did my routine once, but on a reverse mortgage, so I have to turn my jokes around for this type of signing.

BORROWER: Do you need to go back into the driveway and turn your car around too?

NOTARY: Not until the signing is over.

BORROWER: Good one! Okay, look. This is my initial initial.

NOTARY: Hey, not fair, you are funnier than me. Oh look, your APR is 6.2% — what a joke!

BORROWER: Uh oh, I could have you reported for kibbitzing on my loan. No commentary aloud — allowed.

NOTARY: Did you just make a word play? You are right, I have no place commenting on your loan, especially not satirically.

BORROWER: I didn’t shop around for this.

NOTARY: It’s okay. The 30 years you are paying 6.2% instead of 6.1% will probably only cost you $40,000 and I’m sure the ten hours you saved by not shopping around is worth more than $40,000, right?

BORROWER: Grumble. You are so fired, but thanks.

NOTARY : On the other hand, rates just went up, so you probably lost your lock, and the financial institution you borrowed from is one of the best and gives competitive rates, so you did okay. I just said what I said in jest.

BORROWER: Hey, you just made a word play with the just and the jest. Was that a soliloquy?

NOTARY: No, you are just being silly-oquy. Now, let’s look at the HUD or the Closing Disclosure. Hmm, it says the Notary fee is $300. Guess how much of that I get?

BORROWER: Umm, the whole thing?

NOTARY: You missed your calling in life — you should have been a comedian. No, I get $60 which covers my gas, printing, other auto expenses, and a happy meal.

BORROWER: Reminds me of the time I went on a rick-shaw ride in India. The guy wanted 70 rupees and I offered him 60. He said, “Hey buddy, the price if imported whiskey is not going down — 70, no discounts.”

NOTARY: How comforting. That reminds me of the Arabian signer I had who told me all about his harem. He had four Saudi girls, two African girls, but wanted a blonde. So, he went to all types of trouble to coerce a blonde to live with him in his palace. He finally got a girl named Christina to be part of his harem. He said, “Once I had a blonde blue eyed lady as part of my harem — Christina. She always used to talk back to me… I found it so (pause) refreshing. After three months I had to send her back to the states. I will never forget my little Christina.”

BORROWER: You know how it is for people in third world countries. I think there is an expression about white girls (or guys) — Once you’ve had vanilla, you’ll love like a chinchilla, sipping sarsparilla, on a beach on the coast of Manila.

NOTARY: That must be a come back to — once you’ve had black, ain’t no turning back.

BORROWER: Something like that, although yours is more imaginative especially with the chinchilla. Do they have chinchillas in the Philippines?

NOTARY: Not sure, I think they are cute little creatures who live in the Andes. Okay, now to the Right to Rescind. Forgive me father, for I have rescinded.

BORROWER: Oh, that’s an old one. I’ve heard that many times from all of the past Notaries I’ve met.

NOTARY: I know, sounds like something they would say on late night television on Craig Ferguson’s show. Okay, you can cancel by email, fax, or in writing.

BORROWER: I don’t have a fax.

NOTARY: Well then better make sure you really want this loan!

BORROWER: I think I want it. But, I do have email.

NOTARY: Better print out the email and the send date so you have proof that you sent it. You know how these banks are.

BORROWER: Okay, I signed here. Are you going to acknowledge my signature.

NOTARY: No, you are.

BORROWER: So, let me get this straight. I acknowledge my own signature, and then you are the one who gets paid.

NOTARY: As I said before — you’re in the wrong profession.

BORROWER: I’m beginning to think you are right.

NOTARY: Now, on to the signature affidavit. You have to swear that you signed it.

BORROWER: Okay, (raising his right hand) I swear.

NOTARY: But, you haven’t signed it yet.

BORROWER: Oh yeah.

NOTARY: Thank God you’re not a Notary, missing a signature like that — otherwise you’d really be in the wrong profession! That’s not only careless what you did, but illegal — 5 years.

BORROWER: Five years for a little joke?

NOTARY: That was under Oath with a public official — me.

BORROWER: Good God, I’ll stick to jokes about the APR from now on. Did you hear about the APR that wanted to go onto the next stage in life? He became a BPR.

NOTARY: Bad one. Boo. I got one. How do you define the APR to a non-borrowing spouse?

BORROWER: You mention it deducts many of the fees and closing costs before doing the calculation? That’s not funny.

NOTARY: It is with your loan. Have you seen the appraisal fee — that’s insane!

BORROWER: You’re fired… again. Except I can’t fire you because you have something on me — that damn Oath I took. My pre-signature Oath.

NOTARY: Those pre-signature Oaths will get you every time. I call them pre-sigs. Happens all the time. Borrowers will swear to anything, they think it’s cool.

BORROWER: Now to do the Jurat. You need to watch me sign in your presence for one of these according to what I read in Jeremy’s course. Are you watching? I’m signing now, keep looking…. I saw you look away… Keep looking.

NOTARY: Are you even watching what you are signing, or are you just watching me?

BORROWER: Oh, you are … what a scribble. I signed that? I should have been paying attention.

NOTARY: Correction, you should have been witnessing your own signature instead of trying to witness me witnessing your signature.

BORROWER: Once again, I’m in the wrong profession, but thank God I’m not a Notary.

NOTARY: Exactly. Jokes aside — yes! Okay.. got one. What did the Notary say to the borrower?

BORROWER: Umm. Sign here?

NOTARY: No, he said, “Sign exactly as your name appears on title.”

BORROWER: That sounds about right, but isn’t funny. What if the borrower is irate about their APR?

NOTARY: That’s more along the lines of where you get to the punch line. Or getting thrown down a flight of stairs.

BORROWER: Ouch. Did that really happen?

NOTARY: It’s all documented in Jeremy’s blog — real story, and that’s no joke. Now let’s look at the 1003.

BORROWER: Page three says, “This page intentionally left blank.” sounds like a Seinfeld situation. It’s more like a joke than a real loan document.

NOTARY: That’s the irony. It looks like a joke, but it actually isn’t a joke.

BORROWER: That’s kind of like most of your jokes in reverse. They sound like jokes, but they aren’t funny.

NOTARY: You laughed, so they are funny, at least to you.

BORROWER: You got me on that one just like my Lender got me on the APR.

NOTARY: Now it is time to do journal thumbprints. I need three thumbprints, one here, one here, and one here — one for each entry.

BORROWER: Here you go.

NOTARY: So, how would you rate the signing overall — jokes aside?

BORROWER: I would give it three thumbs, but not three thumbs up. Three thumbs horizontally.

NOTARY: Not sure if that constitutes an official rating, but it will have to do.

You might also like:

Index of best comedy posts from 2015
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20295

The Mayan rescission calendar
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15096

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September 17, 2019

How a video game reminded me what a noble profession we have

Filed under: Other Guest Bloggers — admin @ 9:57 pm

So, you’re probably wondering why I’m even talking about a video game. After all, working as a notary is serious business and you wouldn’t be wrong in saying that it is a profession where errors are seriously frowned upon. Our experience in the profession varies, but the one thing that’s constant among all notaries is that there are professional standards that need to be met.

Some tasks are straightforward and simple, while others are more complex. Yet, no matter how simple the task may be, the smallest error can put others at risk. The game I’m referring to, called Papers, Please, offers is a similar — albeit virtual — experience.

First Off, What Exactly Is Papers, Please?

A recently released point and click game game, Papers, Please places the player in the shoes of a border inspector of a country called Arstotska. The player’s task is to screen each person who wants to enter the country and to try to adhere to standards set by the government. There are many other aspects of the game, but this is the aspect that I want to put a heavy emphasis on. In the game, making an error gets you a citation, and in the later stages an error means letting dangerous people through the border, which puts lives at risk. You essentially handle sensitive data, check it for accuracy and truthfulness, and decide whether you’d allow the person into the country or not.

It’s quite similar to how we check statements and decide if the facts hold up. In fact, most, if not all court proceedings rely heavily on notarized documents, especially during personal injury cases, according to the lawyers at tariolaw.com.

Why Should We Care About This Game?

Well, that’s where the error is. You assume that this is about the game. It’s not. What really struck me was how the tasks got more and more complicated as the game progressed. You have to assess various pieces of information and decide whether to stamp a traveller’s passport, allowing them access through the border.

This puts an air of risk in the game, even when all the player does is to look through papers and counter-check facts presented by a traveller. And the way that the travelers interact with the player in an attempt to appeal to the player’s kinder nature forces you to make hard decisions.

How Is It Related To The Profession?

It reminded me a lot of how we, as public notaries, are the front line of defense against any attempts to commit fraud. In the same way that the inspector in Papers, Please is the first line of defense against people who would do the country harm, we are the first line of defense against people who want to put falsehoods onto paper or when they try to twist the truth in their favor.

And it’s rather funny that I was unexpectedly reminded of this duty by a video game that I happened to stumble across whilst browsing my YouTube feed in my free time!

I mean, whether you’ve had 30 years of experience in the profession or you’re a rookie who’s learning the ropes, it can be draining to do the same thing over and over if you forget your purpose. I’ll say it again, ours is a profession that can’t have any mistakes, whether they’re big mistakes or common mistakes — we are all about accuracy and precision. And sometimes it can be quite draining, but always remember that the seal that we stamp has power and authority. People are depending on us to verify facts and to educate them on what they’re getting into by signing a document.

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