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If there's anything that brings out the cat-butt face and the deeply buried suck in people around here, it's notary services.
-People constantly bring in documents that have already been signed.
-People bring in documents that they personally are not signing.
-People bring in documents (or expect us to produce documents) that CANNOT legally be notarized.
-People are surprised that we require ID before we sign anything.
For those who don't know, a notary serves one simple function (at least in the State of Maryland). We make sure that the person signing the document in question is who they say they are and that they are signing of their own free will. The law requires that we actually witness their signatures and confirm, to the best of our ability, who they are.
Because we've been called to court more than a few times (my boss twice, a co-worker twice and myself once) we have become very strict as to what we will or won't do. Once we would sign off on hand-written documents. We now require that they at least be typed out. Professionally prepared is even better, since we are also now not signing anything without a notarial certificate. There cannot be white-out ANYWHERE on the page (happens all too often). If the document has already been signed, regardless of who is presenting it to us, it is spoiled. If we have to testify, we're going to be asked if we actually witnessed the signing of the document. WE ARE NOT COMMITTING PERJURY FOR YOU!
People not only don't seem to get just what a notary is supposed to do, they think we can be bargained with! For example, state law absolutely forbids a notary from certifying a copy of any document, public or private. That means when someone is directed to send someone a notarized copy of their driver's license, passport, massage school certificate, etc., we have to tell them it's illegal to notarize it in this state. But that doesn't stop the wheedling and begging. "Can't you do it this once?" No. You can obtain a certified copy through the original issuer. Please stop trying to get me to commit a crime.
Another thing that just makes this part of the job wonderful is the scammers. The ones where mom or dad (or grandma or grandpa) is confined to a bed/in a nursing home/out of state, and can't we please please please notarize this will/living will/mortgage even though they aren't here? Some are possibly legitimate. Those people are usually happy to hear that one of the stores in our chain offers mobile notary services. The scammers are always put out that I won't just trust them. Because trust is a vital part of a notary's function.
One last fun part...the clueless who think that we will have what you need as far as documents. I can almost understand this. But...we are not a law office. We're a shipping store. Therefore, when I tell you that I'm not allowed by law to give you legal advice and that giving you a prepared document constitutes legal advice, you should once again not ask me to commit a crime for you. Giving legal advice without having passed the bar in this state is bad mojo. No, I won't google it and print out a document for you. I will not give you a copy of a notarial certificate so you can tack it on to your document at home. Go to the library or to a lawyer.
What prompts this long tirade? Months of backed up clerk rage, plus the dimwit I had this morning who didn't understand why I couldn't notarize a settlement agreement for his dad, who wasn't present. Argh! What I wouldn't give for the power to choke people with my mind!
-People constantly bring in documents that have already been signed.
-People bring in documents that they personally are not signing.
-People bring in documents (or expect us to produce documents) that CANNOT legally be notarized.
-People are surprised that we require ID before we sign anything.
For those who don't know, a notary serves one simple function (at least in the State of Maryland). We make sure that the person signing the document in question is who they say they are and that they are signing of their own free will. The law requires that we actually witness their signatures and confirm, to the best of our ability, who they are.
Because we've been called to court more than a few times (my boss twice, a co-worker twice and myself once) we have become very strict as to what we will or won't do. Once we would sign off on hand-written documents. We now require that they at least be typed out. Professionally prepared is even better, since we are also now not signing anything without a notarial certificate. There cannot be white-out ANYWHERE on the page (happens all too often). If the document has already been signed, regardless of who is presenting it to us, it is spoiled. If we have to testify, we're going to be asked if we actually witnessed the signing of the document. WE ARE NOT COMMITTING PERJURY FOR YOU!
People not only don't seem to get just what a notary is supposed to do, they think we can be bargained with! For example, state law absolutely forbids a notary from certifying a copy of any document, public or private. That means when someone is directed to send someone a notarized copy of their driver's license, passport, massage school certificate, etc., we have to tell them it's illegal to notarize it in this state. But that doesn't stop the wheedling and begging. "Can't you do it this once?" No. You can obtain a certified copy through the original issuer. Please stop trying to get me to commit a crime.
Another thing that just makes this part of the job wonderful is the scammers. The ones where mom or dad (or grandma or grandpa) is confined to a bed/in a nursing home/out of state, and can't we please please please notarize this will/living will/mortgage even though they aren't here? Some are possibly legitimate. Those people are usually happy to hear that one of the stores in our chain offers mobile notary services. The scammers are always put out that I won't just trust them. Because trust is a vital part of a notary's function.
One last fun part...the clueless who think that we will have what you need as far as documents. I can almost understand this. But...we are not a law office. We're a shipping store. Therefore, when I tell you that I'm not allowed by law to give you legal advice and that giving you a prepared document constitutes legal advice, you should once again not ask me to commit a crime for you. Giving legal advice without having passed the bar in this state is bad mojo. No, I won't google it and print out a document for you. I will not give you a copy of a notarial certificate so you can tack it on to your document at home. Go to the library or to a lawyer.
What prompts this long tirade? Months of backed up clerk rage, plus the dimwit I had this morning who didn't understand why I couldn't notarize a settlement agreement for his dad, who wasn't present. Argh! What I wouldn't give for the power to choke people with my mind!
I get those a disheartening amount of the time. So much that I've taken to questioning anyone who even calls about notary services.
) I had to get a new learner's license.
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