Some other posters have commented on using "we" rather than "I" in your profile and website, and the website looking more line a signing service website than the website of a notary. I don't think the criticism is just nit-picking; I think there's genuine confusion about your role. I know I'm confused.
My tip is to always be clear in your own mind, and make it clear to the people you are dealing with, what your role is at any given moment. Also keep in mind you might have more than one role at the same time, or your role might change from minute to minute. I'll give a few examples.
Someone calls me and asks me to complete the employer part of Form I-9 from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. I'm familiar with the form, and know I would be acting as the employer's representative, so I need a written request from the employer; an oral request from the new employee isn't enough. Also, I would be acting as an ordinary person, not a notary.
I get a call from someone with a form they are sending in for a court case, and they were told to get it notarized. I look at the form, and it has no notarial certificate. I'm not a lawyer, so it isn't my role to tell the signer what kind of notarization should be done.
A fellow has appealed his property appraisal for real estate tax purposes to my town's Board of Civil Authority; he thinks it's too high. The usual chairperson couldn't make the meeting, so the members present agree I will be the acting chair. I TELL the fellow he must take an oath to tell the truth before he can present his case. In this case, because I'm the acting chair, it IS my role to choose the notarial act. |
