<<<My question is: Can anyone offer any thoughts why other Notaries would not want to go to a county jail and notarize for an inmate?>>>
I've notarized a couple of times at detention centers - not worth the hassle. Lots of wait time and if facility is on lock-down when you arrive, you have to leave and come back with no info as to when the lock-down will be lifted. You just take your chances showing up later and hoping the lock-down was lifted.
As others stated - find out facility requirements for yourself. I had to take a clear tote bag with only the very essentials - photo ID, commission certificate (they kept a copy), journal, thumb printer, seal and ..........AND a pen *refill*.....no ink pens in its normal state allowed. They only let me take in the *refill*. Also, the desk sergeant went through the paperwork....would punch buttons on computer keyboard and say, "Nope, can't take this paper in...not this one either", etc. They scrutinized the paperwork the girlfriend of the inmate gave to me to take in. Also, girlfriend presented a general POA for inmate to sign which inmate refused to sign because he informed girlfriend that he only wanted her to close a bank account and would only sign a POA limited to that one task. Had to make a 2nd trip with the correct POA.
Does the sister have the inmate's ID in her possession or is there an inmate ID card issued to the inmate? Or did the police take the ID because the charge was a DUI? What does your state's notary laws say about the IDs you can accept? Make sure that you have that clear before going to the appt.
I was wise and got my fee upfront and in cash. Be sure to collect your fee in CASH before you step foot in the facility. Make that clear to the sister that you won't step foot into the facility before you collect the payment in cash. I refer ALL jail requests to a notary I know of who advertises that service. |
