...and Don't Date it, Either

 As I talked about in my previous post...please do not sign your document before our meeting and also, don't date it, either. The date must correlate with the date I stamp and seal your document. Meaning, if I notarize your document today, August 27th, 2020 your document date can not be August 26th, 28th, or any other date in the past or the future. 

IF you did date your document and it's not current, I will cross your date out and put the current date.

The exception to this is when a date is within the document. For instance, you may have a statement describing an incident like an accident or something else, relative to the document. The contents of the document are not important to the notary, but rather the date of the document itself is.

Do Not Sign Your Document!

 I can't tell you the number of times I've been presented with a document to notarize that has already been signed by the customer. Don't do that! 

The sole purpose of my notary services is to vouch for you. My stamp and seal on your document says, "I verified your identity and witnessed your signature." In order for me to do that, I need to watch you sign the document, along with seeing and documenting your ID. It also avoids messy paperwork or having to reprint and start over.

I know you can be anxious about your paperwork. I know it's important to you and you just want to get it done but you want to get it done properly. The way to ensure that it is done properly is to not sign your document before you bring it to me.

Here's what you can do, though. Fill out what you can...your name, address, anything the document is asking you but avoid the signature line and save that part for us to do together. 

Happy Client - Happy Notary

Help! I lost my notarized document!

Sometimes we lose things. Even important things, like documents we've had notarized. This is a terrible feeling and you've probably wondered what you would do and one of the first things you'll ask yourself is, "Would the notary have a copy?"

Unfortunately, a notary does not keep copies of documents that have been notarized. In most cases, the only copy is the one you have, unless you've made copies. There's really no need for a notary to keep any copies of documents that have been completed, they are usually left at the table with the signers or, as in the case with mortgage documents, have been long mailed back to the servicer. 

It's very important to keep crucial documents in a safe place...a lockbox, a safe, a safety deposit box or, if an attorney was involved, with the attorney. Once the document or documents are lost, you'll have to redo the whole process. 

Now, I will say that when I have e-docs sent to me in any kind of loan process, as in the case of mortgages, I will have those copies. But they are unsigned and not notarized. I usually keep those copies for 30-90 days and then they are shredded.

Invest in a good safe or fireproof lockbox!