Make Sure To Get Those Witness Signatures

Some documents require not only notarizing, but also a couple of additional, impartial witness signatures as well. This is especially common with power of attorney (POA) documents.

When you notarize any document - particularly a POA - check for the presence of witness signature lines. In some cases, instructions included with the documents explicitly state whether witness signatures are required. If they are required, be sure the witnesses are not otherwise named - and have no vested interest - in the documents.

Rule of thumb: In the presence of witness signature lines, don't assume that notarization alone is enough. If you're not sure, always err on the side of safety and include witness signatures to make sure your client is adequately protected.

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Talking Politics With Your Customers

It's often considered "bad form" to get into political discussions with your clients. Politics can be a real "hot button" topic, and if you disagree politically, you may alienate - and even lose - your customer.

I make no secret of the fact that I support Obama, Biden, and other Democratic candidates and liberal issues. If a prospective client learns that about me, and decides not to hire me because of it, that's fine. It's not that I wouldn't appreciate their business; after all, I can respect their position and we can amicably agree to disagree.

If you choose to get into a political conversation with a customer, state your positions calmly, and listen to opposing views politely and attentively. You can have a pleasant, civil difference of opinion without argument or hostility. And in the process, you might develop a healthy - and even friendly - respect for each other!

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Don't Let Signing Services Take Advantage Of You Or Push You Around

There are plenty of notary signing services around, but not many good ones. Most of them expect you - the mobile notary - to work for unreasonably low fees. $50 to $85 for a loan signing, including e-docs? Sounds like a bad joke, but if you're a mobile notary you may be familiar with offers like this.

I'm insulted by any offer lower than $125 for an e-doc loan signing. My use of the word "insulted" may seem a bit strong, but here are the facts: signing services are paid very well, and if they don't offer to compensate you appropriately, they're simply being greedy and trying to take advantage of you. Don't let them!

Decide for yourself how much you need to make for a given job. If the fee being offered is well below your requirement, stand your ground (you can do this politely, without offending or alienating anyone). If that means you don't get the job, don't fret, and don't second-guess yourself. It costs you a lot of money to print documents, photocopy documents, and drive to & from the client's location. It requires skill, knowledge, talent - and often a lot of patience - for you to do your job as a loan signing agent.

Don't sell yourself short. You provide a valuable service, and you deserve to be compensated fairly for your efforts. If every mobile notary would just say "no thanks" to unreasonably low fees, the low-paying signing services would have to offer more and pay you what you're worth.

Good luck!

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Slow Economy? Don't Panic...Things Will Improve Soon!

Seems as though practically everyone is in panic mode as a result of the current economic downturn. "Am I going to be able to make my mortgage or rent payment? How am I going to pay my bills? What am I going to do?" I know it's difficult for people not to worry about these things. Like most, my business is slower too.

But worrying and complaining about it doesn't help. All it does is make you feel worse, cause others to feel worse, and contribute to the problem.

Here's the good news: The economy is going to rebound soon. The stock market will stabilize, the housing market will improve, the credit markets will open up, the job market will turn around.

I know this is much easier said than done, but try to think positive. Act positive. Be positive. Share your optimism with others. And when your - and everyone else's - business picks up again, you won't be surprised. You knew things would improve!

In the meantime, try to be thankful for what you have, and try to help others less fortunate than yourself in any way you can.

Oh, and one other thing...please be sure to vote for Obama and Biden. Thanks.

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Notarizing a Power of Attorney (POA)

Here's a scenario that occurs frequently: You're asked to notarize a power of attorney (POA) for an individual who demonstrates uncertainty regarding the document's purpose, or who finds it exceptionally difficult to sign his name. Be warm, gentle, caring, compassionate, and considerate, but do not perform the notarization unless you are comfortable that he is not about to become an unwitting victim of others who are simply trying to take advantage of - and capitalize on - his compromised condition.

Ask him a few simple questions to gauge his levels of alertness and comprehension. Openly discuss with others in the room any concerns you may have. Don't take sides. You don't know what other peoples' motives are.

In my opinion, no other document is as important as a POA. Even the title is misleading. It's far more powerful than the name suggests. If you're not sure what to do, err on the side of caution.

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Updated Jurat And Acknowledgment Wording

You may be aware that effective January 1, California made some subtle but significant modifications to its notarial wording. Many documents continue to use the previous wording, so pay close attention when you notarize any document.

If a jurat or acknowledgment provides you with the option of identifying document signers as "personally known to me", don't use that method. No matter how well you may know them, you must properly identify the signers and indicate as much.

And if an acknowledgment does not include a section beginning "I certify under penalty of perjury...", don't use it. The notarization is invalid without that wording.

You can download free copies of updated jurats and acknowledgments from my website at http://www.DriveNotary.com/forms.htm

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com

Notarizing Wills

There's a lot of confusion with regard to whether California notaries are permitted to notarize wills. Many notaries are under the impression that they are prohibited by law from doing so, that wills must be handled only by a lawyer. That's simply not true.

As a notary, you can notarize wills. Just make sure that you don't try to provide any legal advice to the client, and that two impartial witnesses also sign. And it would be appropriate for you to tell the client that notarizing the will does not necessarily validate it. If the will is not prepared properly, it could be invalidated, regardless of whether it is notarized.

Lawyers would like you to believe that they are the only ones qualified to prepare wills. But that, too, is simply untrue. Many people prepare perfectly valid wills without any legal assistance whatsoever. And many wills prepared by lawyers are overturned in courts of law because of the lawyer's very costly mistakes.

If you're uncertain or uncomfortable, you're probably better off saying no. As with all notarizations, use your best judgment.

Joel
http://www.drivenotary.com
http://www.sundancenotary.com