July 2019 - Notary Blog - Signing Tips, Marketing Tips, General Notary Advice - 123notary.com
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July 27, 2019

Texas suspends notary who handle Stormy’s hush money

Filed under: Notary Mistakes — admin @ 2:11 am

Stormy Daniels signed a document regarding being paid $130,000 in hush money before the 2016 election. A Texas Notary named Erica Jackson notarized that non-disclosure agreement document concerning the money. But, the State of Texas terminated her Notary commission as a result. The Notary claims she did nothing wrong, yet got canned anyway?

However, the plot thickens. After I watched a video about what had happened, there was a stamp on the signature page, but no notarial certificate verbiage and no notary signature. The notary claimed that the Acknowledgment page which was the third page (that was no longer attached) that stated who was being notarized, etc., was omitted.

Additionally, there was an accusation that the Notary notarized without a signature of the Notary, but the Notary claims that she signed on other pages which were attached.

There was also journal record for the corresponding document, and the journal seemed to have been filled out correctly.

Jeremy’s Comments
If you are a Notary Public, it is quite likely that you could end up on the 6pm national news. So please take your job a little more seriously and get rid of this “I already know it all” attitude, as it is that attitude which prevents you from learning.

This Notary did several things wrong.
1. She stamped the signature page with her Notary seal but omitted Acknowledgment and/or Jurat certificate verbiage. She also omitted a Notary signature to accompany her notary seal which is illegal and she should be terminated if that was the case. It is hard to see what actually happened when you have an inconclusive video.

2. She attached a certificate that was to constitute page three, but that page three ended up missing. Your stamp can not be on page two when the certificate wording is on page three. Those legally have to be on the same page. If the stamp had been on page three where it was supposed to be, she wouldn’t be in a world of trouble.

3. I originally thought (because I prejudged the situation) that the Notary was in trouble because of her association with some dirty business. That was how her improper notarization was discovered, but not why she got in trouble. Interesting in any case.

You might also like:

Stormy Daniels accuses Notary of having intercourse with her
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20485

Penalties for Notary misconduct and fraud
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21315

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July 25, 2019

New Notary app helps you find an eNotary in Virginia or participating state

Filed under: Advertising — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:02 am

Yes folks, usually articles like this are written in jest, but I had to get this new information off my chest about a new Notary company that is the best in the West (actually East, but that didn’t rhyme). I just found out that there is an actual company in Boston called “Notarize” (“A” for being an industry specific name and “F” for uniqueness) that can help you find a Notary in Texas, Virginia, or Nevada, that specialize in remote eNotarizations.

This startup’s new COO is Elizabeth Graham, and she has worked for Wayfair and HubSpot as an executive (and is probably not to be messed with, but I speculate, and I digress.)

Notarize is signing up large institutions one by one, and trying to get them change the way they think so as to indoctrinate them into hopefully enjoying the convenience of their new online offering.

Notarize, founded in 2015, is a platform just like SnapDocs, but specializes only in the online aspect of the profession. They have 100 employees and look like they are making it big already and growing rapidly. So, you will be hearing more about them as time goes on for better or for worse. All I can say is let’s pray to God they don’t low-ball.

See original article
https://xconomy.com/boston/2019/02/07/notary-startup-notarize-wayfair-hubspot-chief-operating-officer/

You might also like:

Notarize app lets you use your iPhone to get notarized!
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19186

A Notary orders pizza at a signing using an app
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19292

New Notary apps for the iPhone 7 you never dreamed of
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=10977

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July 23, 2019

5 Ways To Protect Yourself At a Construction Site

Filed under: Other Guest Bloggers — admin @ 8:38 am

If you are reading as working labor, then you’ve landed on the right spot. Keep in mind, when people are involved in physical work at the site, there is always a risk of getting severely injured. Whether you’re an architect, a worker, a machine operator, or anyone, the chances of getting in any sort of trouble will always be there. There are many things that you can do to protect yourself from any kind of physical damage. In this article, I will guide you through some of the important ways with which you can take care of yourself. Don’t ever think that you are in complete protection within the parameters of the site. You have to invest yourself in making sure that no damage is caused to you.

5 ways to protect yourself:

1. Always wear a hard hat
It is very important to wear a hard hat at a construction site. This is because the ground is uneven and there is always a chance that you might fall. Therefore it is crucial to wear it. Just like you wear a helmet while riding a bike to protect your head from an injury as a result of an accident, the hard hat does the same function. Hard hats are usually yellow in color, and they are very hard in texture. Be it any designation you have; a hard hat is must to wear.

2. Wear a face mask
Most of the construction sites have a lot of dust, which can make breathing very difficult. A face mask is crucial because it lets you breathe easily without worrying about inhaling the dirt particles. The face mask is crucial in places where bombardment of old sites and buildings takes place. A face mask will also protect your skin from getting damaged. People who work in excavation sites, mandatorily wear a face mask; otherwise, they develop severe breathing difficulties.

3. Keep away from naked wires
There is always a right of getting electrocuted at construction sites because of so many machines around. Not every site is going to have top-notch machinery in place. Naked wires are always a major part of the problem that Is caused at the end. As a worker, it is crucial that you stay away from them. Even if you are operating a crane or electrical machinery, always wear gloves that don’t allow electricity to pass through. In case of an emergency, inform the people around so they can come to help.

4. Wear sturdy work shoes or boots
You would have seen workers wearing big boots at construction sites for sure. The irony is that these boots protect the feet from the scorching heat of the sun and also from the rocks that are usually scattered on the ground. Long boots can protect your toes at work. Many people who often overlook this caution, run in problems where their feet even get badly hurt with equipment at work. Therefore you better be careful about what you are wearing to work.

5. Avoid standing between two hefty machines
You will easily get caught in between two machines if you are standing in the middle. The severe possible form is that it could potentially result in death even. If you get in any sort of trouble, then contact Reck Law, PLLC for assistance. They help workers who get injured at work and get them their compensation too. Never stand too close to a crane.

Conclusion:
As a worker, it is important that you take care of yourself and know your rights. Construction sites always have a lot of risks associated with them, so it is better to do your homework before beginning work.

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July 12, 2019

Forex Investment for Notaries: Tips and Tricks

Filed under: Other Guest Bloggers — Tags: , — admin @ 9:50 pm

Forex Investment for Notaries: Tips and Tricks
Having a strong investment portfolio is more of a necessity than an option, especially when you are working fulltime as a notary. While there is a high demand for notarial services thanks to today’s market condition, it is still necessary to work towards securing a better future – and generating residual income along the way – with a strong portfolio.

One of the investment instruments you can use to strengthen your portfolio and generate more profit is forex. As one of the more robust investment instruments, forex trading offers plenty of opportunities to make money with its active, lively markets. You just have to know how to approach this investment opportunity correctly, and we have the best tips and tricks to get you started.

Do It Yourself
The best investments are the ones you manage yourself. This is because you retain complete control over how you invest your money, particularly in the forex market. It is easy to add day-trading into your daily routines. Now that forex trading platforms are available for more devices, you also have the option to trade anywhere and at any time.

Before jumping head first into the forex market, however, you need to take your time and master the basics. That brings us to our next tip, which is….

Study the Instrument
As an investment opportunity, the forex market is relatively easy to understand. You can go Long and Short – buy or sell – and make money in either direction. You just have to make sure that you are going with the market rather than against it.

Forex investment basics are easier than ever to find. You can turn to
Wall St. Nation for reviews of the best trading strategies and information about trading tips, and details about how to best manage your trading risks are also discussed thoroughly on this site.
After gathering information about the investment instrument and learning more about how to best approach the market, you can easily give forex trading a try.

Start a Demo Account
No, it is not the time to open a live trading account just yet. You want to test your understanding of the market using a demo account. Now is the best time to review some of the brokers you can engage online and compare their service offers.

With the right broker selected, download the trading software from the broker’s main website and choose Demo Account when registering. Configure your demo account to represent yourself as a trader.

If you are planning to make $2,000 in initial investments later in the future, your demo account should have $2,000 in margin as well. With this configuration, you can really test your trading strategy, measure your risk profile, and decide the right time to start trading life with more certainty.

One last tip to keep in mind: only trade with the amount of money you can afford to lose. Even after you have tested your approach and trading strategy, you still need to enter the market with extra care. Apply these tips we discussed in this article, however, and your journey into using forex as an investment instrument will be an enjoyable from the beginning.

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July 9, 2019

A list of things you probably did not add to your notes section

Filed under: Your Notes Section — Tags: , — admin @ 3:08 am

Every Notary profile has a notes section, but Notaries are notoriously sloppy about what they add to their notes section unless they are very seasoned Notaries. So, I compiled a quick list of things you need to add.

1. Uniqueness – What is unique about your service? Do you speak another language, go to hospitals, have an advanced degree, or are Fidelity approved? These things should go up top so that people can see this on the search results. The top of your notes section once again does show up on the search results.

2. Loan Types – What types of loans are you experienced with? Just saying that you do them all doesn’t say much. It is better to make a thoughtful list of the loan types and types of documents that you have signed before.

3. Equipment – Do you have a particular type of printer, scanner, fax, or a mobile office? Make sure to share that with the world.

4. Other Information – Do you have E&O insurance, how much? Are you certified by any particular agency? Are you background screened and by whom?

5. Coverage Areas: How many miles is your radius? What particular counties do you cover? Make it easy. If there are too many if-then statements about you only go to Horry County on an empty stomach if it is before 8pm, unless it is Summer in which case perhaps 8:30pm but only if you feel like it… That is too complicated. Just say you go to Horry County.

6. About You – It is hard for most Notaries to write about themselves. The tendency is to reduce yourself to some cliche adjectives that are identical to have 10,000 other notaries would describe themselves. Avoid this and paint a realistic picture of your style of doing work, about you, your professional background and what is unique to you.

7. Minimums – Some Notaries have a minimum of $100 plus eDocuments. If you stick to particular prices and are not wishy-washy, then publish them in your notes section. That way your calls are pre-filtered. But, if on Monday your minimum is $100, and then on Tuesday you are desperate and lower it to $80, then keep it verbal.

8. Professional backgrounds – Don’t be vague and say you worked in the financial industry. Say what positions you held and what types of work you did. People want specifics not vagueness. Don’t say you worked in the legal industry otherwise we will think you were the window washer at Hartman, Smith, and Stone.

9. A catchy phrase – Most Notaries do not bother to put a catchy one liner in their notes. It might take hours to think of. Good business names are equally hard to think of. People who search for Notaries are bored reading boring notes sections. If you can make up something interesting and catchy to say, you will inspire people to call you. If you are serious about the business, it is worth your time.

10. Organization tips – Don’t write a notes section that is a jumble. Keep each section well organized and separated by a line of space. It is easier to read and more pleasant too. Please remember that those reading your profile read hundreds of profiles and will be more likely to use you if you come across as being organized.

You might also like:

How to write a notes section if you are a beginner
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16698

2014 Excerpts from great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13613

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July 8, 2019

Looking Beyond the Notary Section – A case Example

Filed under: Ken Edelstein — Tags: , — admin @ 3:01 am

The classic examples
We are often told not to notarize a document that contains blank areas. Of course in reality we do exactly that in every loan package. Take a look at the 1003 (the computer version of the loan application). Lots of blank areas there and nary a single N/A. Once I was put on standby for many hours; to notarize the sale of a super tanker. The neatly bound document was thicker than the Manhattan phone book (alas no longer issued). It was about 1500 pages. I did not turn each page in a desperate attempt to find a wayward and un-entered fill in. After about 6 hours of waiting time, I notarized the (approx from recollection) two dozen affiants at the end.

What happened today
The document was an amendment to an incorporation agreement. There were to be eight affiants; even with the nicely preprinted notary sections it totaled four pages. Simple? Well there was an issue. Just prior to naming the trustees, there was the statement that the names and addresses of the trustees would follow. The names were there but not the addresses. I normally don’t read the documents, but wanted to be sure the list of names matched the notary sections. I mentioned the discrepancy to the person managing the signing. I was asked how this should be handled. I covered the I’m not a lawyer issue. They came up with three possible courses of action.

The first would be to simply write in the addresses. Second, would be to redact “and addresses”. The last was to simply ignore the matter. They choose option 2. So, when the “and addresses” had a line drawn thru (not at my suggestion), I felt compelled to raise the issue of the requirement to initial hand written changes.

The first two affiants had left the session after being properly notarized and were not present to initial the change. The other 5 initialed. Hmmmm, 8-2=5? Sorry, but one of the planned 8 could not attend and would be notarized at a later date, and also initial that redaction.

In all probability the infamous “fix it fairy” would provide initials for the two who left early; of course I did not suggest that. But, as unfair as it sounds to me; some were unhappy that I mentioned the discrepancy between the stated text and the data entered. In other words; it seemed to some that I “created a problem” – just by stating the obvious (to me) flaw.

In all probability I goofed In hindsight, as I peck away at the keyboard; away from the seven affiants who want me to resolve the “issue I created” – I shudda kept my big mouth shut. My biggest blunder was to agree on the 3 possible solutions. Perhaps the address is an absolute requirement for acceptance of the document. I truly don’t know. And, the only reason that I sailed into that blunder was by mentioning the issue.

Resolved: At least for me – if it’s not in the notary section, don’t read it, don’t comment on it. And absolutely say nothing about how they should proceed. It’s OK to mention initialing changes, but take no “legal opinion” about “course of action” when modifications are being considered.

You might also like:

Index of posts about Notary certificates
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20268

A guide to notarizing documents with blanks or multiple signatures
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20252

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July 7, 2019

Notary vs. Hitman: Dollars per minute

Filed under: Marketing Articles — admin @ 2:47 am

Have you ever stopped to think about the pay differential between a Notary and a hit man? Notaries are always complaining that they don’t get paid enough and don’t get any respect. You would get respect if you were a hit man though. You could even advertise on one of those hit man websites.

Hit man profile (fictional… of course!)
I am responsible and reliable. Once you hire me the job is as good as done. I always confirm my appointments, show up on time, and hire a professional cleaner who I call, “Da cleanuh.” All I ask is to be paid on time, otherwise you might end up being on my list of assignments… capiche? Just make sure you include a return FeDex package with every assignment, and let me know if the job has any special considerations or if you want me to do the job in a particular special way. I’m experienced with guns, knives, clubs, bats, maces, machetes, numchucks, strangulation (for an additional fee), and more. Long distance no problem and we specialize in bilingual hits. Hablamos Espanol y Italiano. Additionally, if you hired the wrong guy to save money and he left work uncompleted, I do clean ups as well.

If you don’t pay a Notary, they just sit and whine. But, if you don’t pay a hit man, guess what happens. Hit men get respect — Notaries don’t. Of course Notaries spend less time in jail in general unless you are like Harry who engaged in Real Estate fraud using his Notary seal – don’t be like Harry.

A Notary can make $20 to $40 average per hour doing signings depending on what the job is, and how far it is. But, a hit man might get $50,000 for a job that might take a few hours to plan and an hour to “execute.” There is more risk involved, and probably more skill. But, look at the bright side, as a hit man, you don’t have to deal with the county recorder or the IRS! A hit man’s salary could be computed as $100 per minute if you work out the math. A good hit man only needs to do two or three jobs per year and the rest of the year can be taken off lounging at an Italian villa, or in a not so Italian jail cell. Such an efficient use of time.

So, the basic break down is 50 cents a minute being a Notary vs. $100 per minute being a hit man with possible jail time. Which do you choose? But, there’s more. Hit men end up in hell making it not worth it no matter what they get paid. Notaries go to whiners purgatory where they whine about not getting paid, but at least don’t get burned in scalding oil every day. So, you are better off being a Notary, so try to learn to be good at it.

You might also like:

How far do you push for payment terms?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22590

Payment for jail notary service
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22145

Notarizing the Mafia at a gelato place
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22163

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July 5, 2019

The evolution of American commerce and Snapdocs

Filed under: Advertising — admin @ 2:41 am

In the old days, America used to have lots of mom & pop stores owned by regular American families. As demographics changed, these stores more and more got bought out by Jews, Koreans, Pakistanis, Palestinians, etc. And then as the chain stores took popularity due to their centralized and efficient management, the mom & pop stores had a harder time staying in business and most got absorbed or put under by the chain stores.

SnapDocs is doing the same thing. They have provided a very efficient way of doing business where inefficient service providers are being weeded out. Additionally, other directories like us are losing a lot of market share. Our search results are still vastly superior to SnapDocs, but the millennial users care tremendously about convenience and don’t care about quality probably because they can’t comprehend what quality is, especially if it takes more than three (consecutive) seconds to think about.

On a brighter note for those of us competing against SnapDocs, I have been hearing that their members are getting almost no work. So, maybe there is hope for the rest of us. Maybe they will fizzle out and live, but live small.

Additionally, SnapDocs has weeded out a lot of Notaries who are not that bad, who are just not as fast on the draw as the others. SnapDocs rewards you for being an iPhone slinger. If you are the Jesse James or Clint Eastwood of the Notary industry, you might cut it with SnapDocs. But, if you have to think before you draw — forget about it. Remember — the next signing is for Indio and his men. You can listen to the twangy melody from an antiquated music box as you imagine finally slaying Zapata as you draw for your iPhone the next time you get a text. The same melody that Zapata forced you to listen to as he slayed your family — remember that movie? Drop your iPhones and reach for the sky hombres!

The main thing to remember is that if you don’t want to be phased out, be a quality notary. Be at the top of your skill set, put a lot in your notes section, and do your maximum, not your minimum like the other 99.5% of Notaries who hide behind their years of experience instead of being evidence of real knowledge.

You might also like:

123notary vs. Snapdocs, Verizon vs. AT&T
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21258

What Notaries don’t like about Snapdocs
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21246

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July 4, 2019

Notarization at a Subway

Filed under: Humorous Posts — admin @ 2:38 am

NOTARY: What a long drive. But, I’m here. Are you ready?

FRANK: I don’t normally work at this branch of Subway, I’m just “subbing”.

NOTARY: Oh, then can you grade my paper? It’s an Affidavit.

FRANK: There’s a spelling mistake in line two.

NOTARY: Really? And what about your Affidavit. Is it ready?

FRANK: It’s right here.

NOTARY: Would you like onions with your notarization, and would you like to make it a combo?

FRANK: Does it come with chips and a drink for another $2.25.

NOTARY: I actually have Fanta in the car. That helps me get better reviews. Being a Notary these days is not far from being an Uber driver except that we don’t have to vacuum our car as much… or ever.

FRANK: Got it. I’ll sign… Are you watching?

NOTARY: Watching. Your hands are clean right? No mayo or chipotle sauce on your fingers, right?

FRANK: Too late. Please affix your stamp there.

NOTARY: Please sign my journal first… Good… Now it’s time for recess.

FRANK: Recess?

NOTARY: You’re “subbing”, right?

FRANK: Oh, yeah… right.

You might also like:

Compilation of posts about notary restaurant themes
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=17442

The Starbucks Oath questions
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21001

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July 3, 2019

Astrology of America good for business but not for relationships

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 2:30 am

My astrologer used to tell me that the chart of America is all about business which gives rise to the phrase that: “The business of America is business.” I guess we incorporated at a lucky date, time, and geographical place. It all makes sense. But, America is terrible for relationships, unless you have a relationship with your business partner.

Look at how we live. We work all the time. We are always chasing dollars. And our relationships are falling apart. When we are in our early twenties, we might spend time chasing relationships then since we value it so much. But, after that, we get fat, forget about relationships unless we already have one, and just work work work. I’m happy that we live in America and not Venezuela which is completely bankrupt and people are rioting on the streets starving and without services. But seriously, we are out of balance. We need to invest more in social cohesion and health, and less on work.

This is a problem for me too. I used to be a very social person. Now I am grumpy. I hardly ever go to parties, and if the party isn’t up to my finicky
standards, I leave very quickly. My patience for chasing something that is never going to happen has worn out — possibly for the better. But, without being open to a social life, you won’t have one, and that is my situation now. My relationships have dried up. And with my new and unreasonable standards it is hard to find new friends. I have these odd demands that you should be a decent person, not do drugs and not hang out with unsavory company — that narrows it down around here. No wonder I have no friends.

Maybe we all need to live more simply and eat more cabbage and potatoes. Maybe we need to live in communes and grow our own cabbage and potatoes… and possibly tomatoes as well although I am divided on that point. Maybe a simpler, semi-tribal communal life would be better for the planet. Less polluting, less crime, less loneliness, and less traffic.

But, the bottom line as always is that Notaries need to take charge of their finances. Even though you are in the best country for business in the world, you are almost all broke because you mismanage your money, and your lives. Learn to save, invest, and also invest in your notarial future by getting more skills, more certifications and more knowledge. Some people do this, but few people do this up to my standards. Conversely, I think I need to slow down and do more for my social life and for my health. I tend to over do when it comes to work, and that leads to less time for the things that really matter.

You might also like:

The Lonely Italian – a parody on a movie done in a notary context
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15842

The iPhone crisis
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22533

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