Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Mobile Notary?
A Mobile Notary advertises their willingness to travel "anywhere at any time" to serve those who are unable to leave their home or business and travel to a Notary's place of business.
What is a Certified Loan Signing Agent?
A Certified Loan Signing Agent is a Notary Public who specializes in loan document signings. We are authorized to perform the signing portion of the loan transaction. To achieve certification, the Signing Agent must go through additional, comprehensive training and education and pass an extensive exam. The Signing Agent accepts and provides pre-appointment prep-work of the loan documents, personally couriers the documents to the borrower’s location, ensures the proper execution and notarization of the loan documents, and returns the executed loan package to the Escrow Office in a timely manner.
Are you a Signing Agent?
A Loan Signing Agent is a notary specifically experienced and trained to handle loan documentation. We are a Loan Signing Agent with a great deal of experience in the field.
Why use a Signing Agent?
Why must your clients take a day off work to come to your office, a loan officer’s office, a title company, or a bank to sign a set of loan papers? Using a Signing Agent (a Mobile Notary Public who specializes in loan executions) to meet with your clients at their convenience will make the transaction much smoother. Call on a Signing Agent who will travel to your clients home, office, or any other location, at the time of your choice or your client’s choice to sign their loan papers.
Why would I need a Loan Signing Agent?
Loan documents are complicated documents, and they are often rejected if they are signed incorrectly. There is little-to-no room for error when filling out and submitting loan documents. If a set of documents is rejected because of an incorrect signature or missing initials, then your loan will take more time to go through. In the time it takes to print up a new set of documents and sign them, the interest on your loan is accruing. This is both a waste of time and money.
Who is a Notary Signing Agent?
A Notary Signing Agent is a Notary Public trained to handle the signing of mortgage documents. They are hired by a closing agent (lenders, escrow, and title companies, etc.) to ensure that real estate loan documents are properly executed by the borrower, notarized, and returned for processing.
What should I bring with me when we meet?
All you need to bring with you is a current form of government issued identification such as passport, driver's license, and so on.
Are you background screened? Are you bonded?
All notaries in California are required to submit to a background screening administered by the Department of Justice and the FBI. A bond is also required by law.
Why are documents notarized?
To deter fraud. An impartial witness (the Notary) ensures that the signers of documents are who they say they are and not impostors. The Notary makes sure that signers have entered into agreements knowingly and willingly.
May any document be notarized?
For a document to be notarized, it must contain:
A: Text committing the signer in some way.
B:An original signature (not a photocopy) of the document signer.
C: A notarial "certificate" which may appear on the document itself or on all attachment.
The notary completes the certificate, signs the certificate, and applies his or her seal to the complete the notarization.
May a Notary give legal advice or draft legal documents?
Absolutely NOT. A Notary is forbidden from preparing legal documents for others or acting as a legal advisor unless he or she is also an attorney. Violators can be fined or jailed for the unauthorized practice of law.
May a Notary notarize or prepare Immigration papers?
Only a few immigration forms need to be notarized, such as the Affidavit of Support (1-134), but U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations state that no one may prepare or file another person's immigration papers unless he or she is all attorney or a U.S. Justice Department-approved "accredited representative." Non attorneys can provide clerical, secretarial or translating assistance with INS forms, as long as no advice is given. However, courts have held that even the selection of which forms to complete can constitute the practice of law, since the filing of INS forms creates legal consequences having a substantial impact on the applicant.
Does notarization mean that a document is "true" or "legal"?
No. Notaries are not responsible for the accuracy or legality of documents they notarize Notaries certify the identity of signers. The signers are responsible for the content of the documents.
May a Notary refuse to serve people?
The Notary shall, as a government officer and public officer and public servant, serve all of the public in an honest, fair and unbiased manner. Only if the Notary is uncertain of a signer's identity, willingness or general competence, or has a good reason to suspect fraud. Notaries should not refuse to serve anyone because of race, religion, nationality, lifestyle, or because the person is not a client or customer. Discrimination on any basis is not a suitable policy for a public official.
How does a Notary identify a signer?
Generally, the Notary will ask to see a current identification document that has a photograph, physical description and a signature. A driver's license, military or passport will usually be acceptable. Each signer must either present current photo ID such as driver’s license, State ID, or passport issued within the last 5 years; or have two other persons present who will swear to the signer's identity, each of whom has a good current photo ID
What identification is required for notarizations?
Each signer must either present a valid and current photo ID such as:
Current California ID (issued within the last 5 years)
US Military identification card (issued within the last 5 years)
Current Passport.
If none of the above Identification is available, two additional persons who do have one of the above documents may be present who will swear to the signer's identity.
What does a notarization accomplish?
Notarization creates a public record in the notarial journal, which may detect and/or deter document fraud. Notarization does not prove the truthfulness of the statements, legalize or validate the document, or protect a person's rights to their artistic creations or inventions.
What do I need to know about the notary process?
There are 5 basic steps you should be aware of:
Personal Appearance : The document signer is required to be present at the time of notarization.
Willingness and Awareness: The Notary may ask the signer some basic questions to establish the signer's willingness, and awareness of the significance of the transaction taking place.
Identification: The Notary will check the identification of the signer, enter appropriate information in his/her journal, and verify the signature.
Review Document: The Notary will scan the document to check missing information, or blank spaces, and request the signer to complete the document before it can be notarized. A document cannot be notarized if it contains blank spaces.
Journal Entry: The Notary will record the transaction in his/her journal, complete the notarial certification, and affix their seal and signature.
What if someone doesn't have valid ID or it expired a trillion light year ago?
The following is a list of acceptable forms of ID (may vary by state): An identification card or driver's license issued by the state department authorized to issue them. A U.S. passport issued by the State Department of the United States. Other state-approved identification card consisting of any one of the following provided that it also contains a photograph, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number: A passport issued by a foreign government, provided that it has been stamped by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service; A driver's license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue a driver's license; An military identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States;
If any of the above forms of identification are not available, or it would be excessively difficult for the document signer to obtain them, notaries can usually (state law permitting) use the oaths of two credible witnesses to satisfy notary identification requirements. The two individuals have to be over the age of 18, have valid identification ready for inspection and must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that they personally know the signer. They will also need to be present at the time of witnessing and sign the notary journal.
Please contact us directly if you have any additional questions!
What is an Apostille?
Apostille is a document issued by the State government officer who authenticates that the official signature and seal/stamp of a notary public or other public signatory on your original document is legal and should be accepted internationally by the governments of foreign countries. In 1961 many nations joined together to create a simplified method of "legalizing" documents for universal recognition. Members of the conference, referred to as the Hague Convention, adopted a document referred to as an Apostille that would be recognized by all member of Hague convention.