A Brave new world Email appointments

I had a recent experience with the brave new world. A client emailed me for a notary appointment. He told where he wanted me to go via email and we confirmed my travel fee via email. I went to the location and notarized the client signature. You still need to see the person even when you do electronic notarization!!!!!!However, the ssignment was a tradition notary assignment.

Cash only!!!

Another mobile notary told me of several times checks bounced and the people could not be found or/and moved out in the middle of the night. Clearly, this is another form of non payment of notary fees with no easy remedy. This has not happened to me yet and I do not take credit cards. Cash only is now my policy unless I am dealing with an establish corporate entity or someone I known for a long time. Cash only is an excellent policy for all notaries!!!!!!!

Who is the client?

VA notaries requires government issued ID with photo to be used for identification. However, the photo on the driver's license may be significantly different from the client due the age of the photo, health changes of the client or the client is not the client. Recently, I was confronted with this situation. I requested additional ID and was presented with Canadian passport and Green Card with photo. Clearly, the client was the client.
I notarized an elderly client in a nursing home. She had a non driver VA ID with photo but the photo was old. After viewing various other items I concluded the client was the client. Another option would have two persons with ID with photo that did not have an interest in the transaction swear that the client is the client. However, I think that should be rarely done
All VA notaries have absolute authority to refuse a notarization if they have concerns about the identity of the signer. I do not go to the Fairfax Adult Detention Center. I would be totally clueless on how to sort through multi-identities of some of the residents. The Fairfax Detention Center has notaries on staff who are more familiar with their clients than I am.

When does VA DVM require notarization?

Normally, VA DMV does not require notarization for transfer of a title.However when you are buying a vehicle and paying less than the blue book value, you need go to a VA notary to get a jurat statement indicating the price you paid. Remember never lie to a VA notary. If you make a false sworn statement to a VA notary you are subject to criminal charge of perjury. Generally, if I get a call about VA DMV I am not needed. However in the case of PA and MD DMV a notary is needed if the vehicle is sold in VA

The Notary is not the other witness!!!

The notary sometime is asked to be a witness in additional to being the notary. The notary is the notary and not the other witness!!!!Politely decline and suggest the call a neighbor or friend. Though I am not required to check id of the witnesses, I do record all the witnesses information and their signatures in the book which I am not required to have. I do not charge for this service!!!When confronted with blank no witness, the client puts a line so it is clear that no witnesses gets added later. Sometimes the language of the document indicates that you are in fact notarizing the witnesses. Clearly, the notary can not notarize his (her) signature. In summary, the notary is the notary and not another witness.!!!!!

Satisfactory Evidence of Identity in VA

From the Virginia Notary Handbook:
"Satisfactory evidence of identity" means identification of an individual based on (i) examination of one or more of the following documents bearing a photographic image of the individual's face and signature: a United States Passport, a certificate of United States citizenship, a certificate of naturalization, an unexpired foreign passport, an alien registration card with photograph, a state issued driver's license or a state issued identification card or a United States military card or (ii) the oath or affirmation of one credible witness unaffected by the document or transaction who is personally known to the notary and who personally knows the individual or of two credible witnesses unaffected by the document or transaction who each personally knows the individual and shows to the notary documentary identification as described in subdivision (i).

Extending VA Notary Hospitality to North Carolina

Extending VA Notary hospitality to North Carolina is possible. North Carolina requires that the notary's name be printed under the notary's signature. VA Notary Handbook states:
"If a notary’s handwriting is not legible, it is good practice to add his/her name, in printed form, under the signature. Please note that dark blue or black ink is preferred for recording purposes in court."

Consequentially, VA Notaries can extend notary hospitality to North Carolina on documents notarized in VA and going to North Carolina.

VA Standards for Copy Certification

This is from the Va Notary Handbook:
"Copy certification" means a notarial act in which a notary (i) is presented with a document that is not a public record; (ii) copies or supervises the copying of the document using a photographic or electronic copying process; (iii) compares the document to the copy; and (iv) determines that the copy is accurate and complete.
Va notaries can not do the following: The VA Notary Handbook states:
"Virginia notaries are not authorized to certify true copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates. Only the Division of Vital Records/Statistics may perform such a certification."
Do not expect me to certify an exact copy that I did not make or was not supervising the copying!!!!!!Do not call me if you are not prepared to follow the dictates set forth by the VA Notary Hand book!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT LIE TO A NOTARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VA Notaries are authorized to take sworn statements from individuals and document that the person has affirmed the statements under oath. Willfully lying to a notary while under oath is a crime. Furthermore, lying during a deposition when you have sworn to tell the truth is a crime. The former mayor of Detroit has been convicted because he lied to a notary. A notary is not a dude with a stamp.The notary is a public official appointed by the Governor for a specific term.

Checking the ID Of Your Ninety Year Old Client

Checking the id of your ninety year old client can be challenging, Yes the client has a government issued picture id. However, the picture is old and it is difficult sometimes to determine if that picture is really the client. You can have someone known to the notary with their own id swear under oath that the client is indeed Jane Smith. Additionally, visit my blog entry NO ID NO Notarization? However, you can also check what cards the client has with the name on it. Power of attorney document with very broad authority need to be approached cautiously. Furthermore, make sure the client understands the document and trust the person who is getting the power of attorney