Your Questions Answered
Mobile Notary Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ About Notaries
A Notary Public is an official of integrity appointed by Secretary Of State — to serve the public as an impartial witness (duty-bound not to act in situations where they have a personal interest) in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. These official acts are called notarizations, or notarial acts.
A Notary Signing Agent or NSA is a Notary who has special training to handle loan document signings. Title companies and signing services hire NSAs to deliver loan documents to borrowers, oversee the signing and return the documents.
Notarization does not guarantee that the information on a document is accurate or legal. The signer is responsible for the content of the document. The Notary Public simply certifies the signer’s identity, usually by verifying a current identifying document containing a photo, physical description, and signature.
Government issued photo IDs, such as driver’s licenses, state ID cards, passports, military IDs, and inmate IDs are sufficient for certification.
Social Security cards, birth Certificates, credit cards, immigration cards, and temporary driver’s licenses are not suitable for certification.
The Notary’s function in executing a jurat is to appeal to the signer’s conscience and to initiate a process that could result in a criminal conviction for perjury if the signer is found to be lying under oath.
In executing a jurat, the Notary must watch the person sign the document, then have the signer make either a solemn, oral promise of truthfulness to a Supreme Being (called an oath) or a promise on one’s own personal honor (called an affirmation). The oath and affirmation have the same legal effect.
Jurats are common with documents that may be used as evidence in court proceedings, such as depositions and affidavits.
The notary certifies having positively identified a document signer who personally appeared before the Notary and admitted having signed the document freely.
- It shows that the acknowledging party appeared personally before the Notary Public taking the acknowledgment.
- Identifies the acknowledging party by a name corresponding to the acknowledged document.
- A notary public signs it.
- It is sealed with the notary’s official seal.
- Proves signature’s authenticity.
For a notary to issue acknowledgment, the document doesn’t need to be signed in his or her presence. However, the signer must still appear before the notary at the time of the acknowledgment to swear he or she freely signed for the purposes stated in the document under his or her own will.
NO State law strictly prohibits Notaries from the practice of law. Notaries should never advise on any matter relating to a document unless they are an attorney or professionals certified or licensed in a relevant area of expertise.
PREPARING FOR YOUR NOTARY
What You Should Know before scheduling Your Notary.
The Notary Public laws require Notaries to take special precautions before notarizing documents:
- The document or form requiring notarization must be completely filled out. Notaries do not draw up documents or help you w/ filling out the document
- All signer(s) must be present at the time of the appointment
- All signer(s) must provide an original up to date photo I.D.(no copies or expired I.D.’s)
- The signer(s) must be of sound mind, alert, and mentally competent
- The signer must want to sign the document being notarized
*Ebony’s Mobile Notary Service may charge additional fees for extra services including but not limited to printing and distance traveled.
Why Was Your Document Not Notarized?
- The signer was not physically present at the time of the appointment
- The document was incomplete or blank
- The signer had been adjudicated mentally incapacitated and had not been restored to capacity as a matter of record
- The signer could not produce acceptable identification; valid legal government issued identification
- The signer appeared to be intoxicated, sedated, or disoriented
- The Notary knew, was informed or suspected that the transaction was illegal, false, or deceptive
- The signer did not speak English and the Notary did not speak the signers language
- The Notary believed that the signer was being coerced or did not understand the consequences of signing the document
- The signer or witnesses did not agree to sign the document
important things you should know
FAQ About The Notary Process
No. Identification must be up to date and have the same name as the documents being signed.
All the legal terms are explained and defined in the document. If you have more detailed questions we always defer to whoever drew up the documents.
You can depend on me to keep you informed throughout the whole process.
My background has taught me to value and protect client’s privacy and handle all matters with discretion. I am also commissioned by the state which is something I take very seriously.
Yes we are available 24/7. Just click on the click the call/contact us button at any time.
You can count on me to not pressure or rush you to sign. Additionally if you are not comfortable signing you are free to stop the process at any time.
No we are not like attorney’s, we do not practice law or give legal advice.
If scanbacks are requested, I will do that promptly. I also return documents promptly, as soon as the signing is complete. FedEx and UPS have multiple locations in my area, for ease of shipment.