So, you need notary services. You’ve jumped onto google and typed in ‘notary services near me,’ and you found our website. Excellent! The next step is to learn a little more about our company and dive deeper into the exact service you require. Feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to chat and walk you through the following steps.

But, to give you an overview, in this article, we give you a quick explanation of what a notary does and some of the services we provide. As you read through, keep in mind that we provide “mobile” notary services, which means that we provide whatever assistance you need at a time and location convenient for you.

Also, head to our services page for more helpful information and check out this video.

What is a Notary Public?

It is a position of trust where the State appoints a person to witness and verify the identity of individuals who sign legal documents. A loan signing agent notarizes and certifies financial and legal documentation related to loan documents. All signing agents are notaries, and becoming an LSA requires additional certification and training to process loan documents.

The mortgage and financial services industries tend to involve more complicated and sensitive transactions, which is where the expertise of an LSA becomes valuable. Also, because LSAs receive access to private financial information about borrowers, they are required to undergo background checks on an annual basis. This prevents mortgage fraud and helps keep consumers’ data secure. In addition to these periodic background checks, LSAs are trained to process loan document packages. This involves printing loan documents correctly, using a mailing service to return signed copies, and following any additional instructions required by the lender or title company.

An Oath/Affirmation

An oath or affirmation is a type of attestation (or swearing) that a notary administers as part of the jurat document. This oath or affirmation binds the person to the actual oath or affirmation. The difference between an ‘oath’ and an ‘affirmation’ is that the affirmation takes out the reference to God.

Jurat Acknowledgments

A jurat is a notarial statement that certifies the signer’s appearance, witnesses the signer signing the document, administers an oath, and positively identifies the signers. A jurat is used for affidavits (such as an affidavit of death) or to swear that certain facts are true. The signer must appear before the Notary to take the oath.

Certification of a document

The certification of a document is a statement on the document that the signer makes, attesting to the fact that the document is a true copy of the original. This document is used together with the Jurat.

Power of Attorney Document Notarization

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows an individual to make decisions for another person, known as the principal. There are two main types of power of attorney: financial and medical. For the POA to be legal, it must be signed by the principal, witnesses, and a notary public.

An Affidavit

An affidavit is a sworn statement that is written and notarized. The person signing the affidavit must be present with identification and sign the document in front of the notary. This document is used together with the Jurat.

An Acknowledgment

An acknowledgment is a formal admission made in person before a proper official by someone who has executed an instrument (another official document). The signer must personally appear before the Notary Public and acknowledge that they willingly signed the document. The signer is not required to sign in the presence of the notary.

Credible Witness

A credible witness is when the signer of an instrument (official document) does not have identification or is not personally known to the notary; another person (called the credible witness) knows the signer and can swear under oath as to the identity of the signer. A Credible Witness affidavit must be attached to the document to be notarized, in addition to the acknowledgment or Jurat that the signer completes.

– Sample oath for the Credible Witness

“Do you solemnly swear that (signer) is the person named in the instrument; that (signer) is personally known to you; that it is your reasonable belief that the circumstances of (signer) are such that it would be difficult or impossible for him/her to obtain another form of identification and that you do not have a financial interest nor are you named in the document, [so help you, God]?”

I-9 Employment Verification Affidavit

Employers with out-of-state or work-at-home employees are required to verify the identity of their employees in compliance with the Department of Homeland Security. Employers must ensure that the people they employ are authorized to work in the United States. The notary acts as an authorized representative of the employer. When acting as an authorized representative, they do not use their notary seal but will examine the documents to ensure they are genuine.

Vehicle Loan Purchase Notarization

Notaries also assist auto dealerships with the signing of loan contracts that are performed offsite. This has become more popular with the rise of online vehicle purchases. However, with identity theft and credit fraud also rising, auto notary services reduce the risk of fraud and speed up the loan process. Offsite auto notary signing can take place at the borrower’s home, office, or other location at the borrower’s convenience in conjunction with the dealership.

Document Authenticity Certification

A receiving agency may require proof that the notarial signature and seal are genuine. This proof is called “authentication” or “legalization.” The ‘proof’ is a certificate issued and attached to the notarized document by the local or state official. This certificate states that the signature and seal on the document belong to the Notary. Like an apostille, obtaining the certificate of authority is the responsibility of the signer or document recipient, not the Notary.

Estoppel Certificate

When a landlord—as a property owner—plans to sell their property to a prospective buyer or refinance with a lender, they issue an Estoppel Certificate to their tenants. An estoppel certificate can offset concerns for the potential new owner, mortgage holder, or title company regarding whether cash flow is secure. It does this by showing the prospective buyer that the current owner and their tenants are in agreement regarding monthly rent payments, conditions for renewals and defaults, and any other key provisions of the lease.

Certified Copy Services

Notaries are often asked to certify that a photocopy of an original document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This is not permitted in every state.

Notary Services and SignRight

We hope this article gives you a helpful overview of what we do at SignRight Mobile Notary Services. We also invite you to check out our Instagram page, where we regularly upload videos highlighting some essential Notary tips and business tips in general. For example, check out our video where we answer the question, What Makes A Good Side-Hustle?

For more information, don’t hesitate to CONTACT US NOW.