   | Welcome to the Notary Talk General Discussion Forum. Before posting, please read the  |
| You are replying to this message: | | |
Posted by Carolyn Bodley on 5/18/19 8:48pm
From OP’s original post, it would appear to me that the issues with this gentleman are being illiterate, which as I posted us that he can’t read and/or write his name. This does not mean he has mental issues. He is blind in one eye—again has nothing to do with his mental state — the same with the need for hearing aids. With the openness of stating his health conditions up front, if he had memory or mental problems, I feel those would have been disclosed up front as well.
As for asking the signer “trick questions” — where did that come from. I said to have a conversation with the man. Nothing tricky about that. No trick or test questions. Elderly people really take pride in someone interested in them. Ask them about something they brought up earlier in the conversation so you aren’t putting words in their mouth or head. I prefer telling family I would like to talk with the family member for a few minutes to be sure they understand why I’m there. None have ever objected — if they would, of course, I would allow them to stay. I simply want to make sure the elder signer seems comfortable away from family. Nothing of what I wrote earlier said I was playing psychiatrist.
Again, maybe because I’ve been around it so much in the past 15-20 years, but it is not that difficult to make a decision if someone understands and capable of signing— but if someone is not comfortable to have a conversation with an elder person to make the decision, then it is best to pass on notarizing the docs, whatever they may be. |
|
