You lost your notary seal or notary stamp?

There is no guidance in the notary VA handbook for this isssue. A notary friend misplaced his notary stamp which had been found after he left the site where he was notarizing. The social worker picked it up and placed the notary seal in the safe. My notary friend noticed the notary stamp was missing when he got back to his home office. He notified both the local police & VA Secretary of the Commonwealth. He was very happy to report the recovery of the lost notary stamp to both offices.

I personally keep my notary supplies under lock and inventory all items used after I finish notarization once more when I get back to my car. I try to be polite to the customers but limit myself to one task at a time in order to be distracted and misplacing my notary equipment.

Procedure for getting a VA Driver License or Photo Indentification Card

Besides the traditional va driver's license with photo, VA offers a photo identification card. One need to provide the following 1}Proof of identity Primary and Secondary Document 2Legal Presence Proof 3) Proof of Virginia residency 4) Proof of Social Security Number. I f your name has been changed you need to show proof that the name has been changed. For more information go to www.dmvNOW.com or call1-866-368-5463

Photo Government ID Insufficent for Notarization

When the signer is totally unable to communicate with the notary in any manner, the photo Government is insufficient for notarization even if the individual can make an x. The notary needs to see either a power of attorney or guardianship appointment so that another person can sign for the individual. The notary needs to communicate with the individual in some manner in order to notarize the signature.

Notary Presentment

Some states may authorize the notary to be an independent witness to a person putting document in an envelope. Va notaries are barred from notarizing their own signature. Consequently, I have concluded Va notaries cannot do notary presentments. Va notaries can do jurats for affidavits but the person signing the affidavit has to be someone other than the notary or the notary's spouse.

I am now a notary instructor

I was hired to to teach some potential notary students the abc of the Va Notary Handbook and related items. New notary candidates and current notaries seeking re-appointment can down load the application, fill it out, and go to any notary to get a jurat and send the application and the check in with the application. You select what Court you want to pick up your appointment. In the application it made very clear what is good notary practice. You are required to do a jurat at the time of the application and you are again sworn in when you pick up your commission. All notaries to read the application very carefully!!!

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.

Electronic Notarization Has Arrived in VA

Electronic notarization has arrived in VA. You need to be a Va notary and need to apply for a separate appointment and need to buy from suppler equipment. I have decided not to apply for the following reasons: 1)no demand and 2) an expense with no known return. The client still needs to appear before the notary. The notary is required to have an electronic record and back up. None of the notaries see a demand for this at this time. Virginia .gov has the Frequently Asked questions and application questions http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov