Posted by Notary Express LLC - Rita on 3/3/07 8:59pm
Msg #178190

state that a attorney has to do the closing

what states an attorney has to do a witness closing?

Reply by Janet Sobers on 3/3/07 9:06pm
Msg #178194

NOT Louisiana

Contrary to popular misinformation, Louisiana is NOT an attorney state. We ARE a civil law state, so notaries can prepare and notarize mortgages without an attorney or mortgage company. Just letting you know before someone lists us folks as an attorney state. Like the NNA. They just recently changed Louisiana after much "convincing information" from me.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/3/07 9:20pm
Msg #178197

Re: NOT Louisiana

Not surprised that the NNA gave out misinformation! They had Florida notary fees as $10 per signature when it isn't. Even when we got corraboration from the SOS, their response was that they disagreed with our SOS.

I am so glad I belong to the ASN instead. They are more concerned with the education of notaries instead of lining their pockets.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/3/07 9:25pm
Msg #178200

J Sobers, Your posts have been very interesting reading.

I knew that notaries went through tough testing in LA but I did not know that notaries were more like paralegals than simple public witnesses like the rest of us.

Tell us more about the situation with parishes. Can you only notarize in a parish you are commissioned in? Can you be commissioned in more than one parish? If so, how expensive is that for you?

We have very few posters here from La. We did have one pretender who called herself "Judy Smart" and her posts were, ahem, interesting...you oughta do a search for those just for the entertainment value. She called everyone "lemmings" if I remember correctly. Somehow I never really thought she was a notary from La. but she was sure funny reading.

Reply by Janet Sobers on 3/3/07 9:41pm
Msg #178206

Louisiana Notary Info (if you all are interested)

Hello: I have been a member here for a while but didn't participate much because we are so different. Louisiana is a strange one. I am commissioned in eight parishes, having taken the test in 1999. The passing of that test allowed me to be commissioned in what is called the group of "reciprocal parishes." The same price but for 8 surrounding parishes. Now, passing the test allows you to be commissioned statewide. I plan to take it again in June (it is only given twice a year here). The test to become a notary is very comprehensive here. (four hours long) They give you a blank piece of paper and ask that you draw up certain documents (mortgages, wills, renunciation of right to concur, subrogation of mortgage,etc), and they even present a map and you must draw the legal description from the map. It is no fun to say the least. In any case, we are allowed to do many things, including wills, trusts, mortgages, separate property agreements, notarial emancipations and adoptions, etc without an attorney. I love the work and the signing part keeps life interesting but we are more responsible for the mortgages than others. We are required to record any act involving immovable property ourselves within a certain time frame (different in each parish). Therefore, if a mortgage company fails to record the mortgage, we can be sued by the very company that should have recorded it. Last year, we were given a gift in our laws....that if the mortgage releases us from responsibility, then we are off the hook. Well, too much information? If so....sorry. In any case, I will check out the other person from Louisiana and hopefully enjoy a laugh. Have a good weekend

Reply by hcampersFL on 3/3/07 10:19pm
Msg #178211

Brenda I think that Judy was from La as in Los Angles n/m

Reply by christiSocal on 3/4/07 1:43am
Msg #178215

awww, do we Have to claim her??? n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/4/07 5:29am
Msg #178217

Re: Brenda I think that Judy was from La as in Los Angles

Msg #102077
Msg #129322

This is the one I am talking about. Where mine says TX, hers says LA.

There's another one where she talks about parishes.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/4/07 5:31am
Msg #178218

Re: Brenda I think that Judy was from La as in Los Angles

Here's the one where she mentions a parish...


Re: Louisiana notaries / experienced signing agents:
Posted by Judy Smart of LA on 2/16/06 12:20pm Msg #97691

How about Lafourche Parish? St. James?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/4/07 6:46am
Msg #178221

Re: J Sobers, Your posts have been very interesting reading.

There was one lovely person I remember as being a notary in LA - Her first name was Nina. I think she had a "double barreled" surname. She was really nice. Haven't seen her around the boards in a while.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 3/4/07 7:47am
Msg #178224

Found her

J. Check your PM.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/4/07 7:52am
Msg #178225

Sylvia - it was

Ninna Mantooth-Lopez in Bossier City.

Sharp lady.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/4/07 8:44am
Msg #178228

Re: Sylvia - it was

That's her! Real nice lady. Wonder where she is hiding.

Reply by Rita Knox on 7/24/07 10:11pm
Msg #201592

In northern New Jersey, the attorneys do the closings. Now in southern New Jersey, the title clerks do the closings. Funny how the same state does things totally different.