Good advice below regarding completing as much as you can in the notarization blocks (venue, date, my stamp w/name etc. under where I will sign) and using a post-it flag to mark where your notarization blocks are.
I would NEVER complete, or partially complete, my notary journal before I am sitting with the signer and the signer AGREES to sign that document. I may quick fill the entry, adding particularly such as date, location, signer's address after to save time at the signing table; the first entry may be complete with everything I need for the next 5 or 10 entries. After I leave, I'll move down the road and sit in my car to finalize the other journal entries (my style, some do it when they return to their home office).
Think of it this way: What a mess your journal will be if you complete 10 journal entries for a refinance signing and then the borrowers decide to not sign the documents once you arrive ... cross all your entries out, initial and note in your journal why you didn't complete them. Have a few no signs and your journal could have more "not notarized" pages than notarized ones.
Good luck with your new career. This is a very competitive industry at a time when business has slowed to a crawl and fees offered are less than half of 3 years ago. |
