Posted by nancy in florida on 5/12/05 9:37pm
Msg #37428

ID question

I had a closing and the borrowers name on the docs for example was Verna Ball but on her Driver's license it was her picture but the name read: Mevirna Erestine Ball. I also got a copy of her Social Security Card which had Verna Ball so I went with it. She said that her license had her full name because that is what was on her birth certificate but she never has legally used her full name and never goes by it at all. Also the Loan Officer was there too who verifiied who she was as well.

I thought at the time I did the right thing but now I am second guessing myself, should I have done anything differently to confirm ID?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/13/05 12:21am
Msg #37448

You could not identify her as the name on the docs, and you can only notarize the name you can identify. A Social Security card is not acceptable idenfication for notary purposes, and we cannot use credible witnesses when the signer had identification. So, the loan officer verifying who she was is not acceptable.

I would have called the title company to get permission for her to sign Mervirna Ball aka Verna Ball, then you could have notarized "Mervina Ball who represented to me that she is also known as Verna Ball" (This is allowed in Florida)

And she is saying she has never legally used her full name, seems like the title is in her full name, or where did they get her name from for the mortgage?

Reply by ts/ca on 5/13/05 2:51pm
Msg #37559

"would have called the title company to get permission for her to sign Mervirna Ball aka Verna Ball, then you could have notarized "Mervina Ball who represented to me that she is also known as Verna Ball" (This is allowed in Florida)"

I am fairly new at this and have run into this so often. Is Sylvia's suggestion allowed in California and if so,what if it is after hours and there is no one to reach should I go ahead and have her/him sign as suggested by Sylvia?

Reply by Mysti_FL on 5/14/05 1:09pm
Msg #37793

Re: My Mistake!

Sylvia, I made an error, but didn't know how to correct.

I took a job (never again) 2 1/2 hours away from me and it was an 8:00 PM closing. When I get there, the gentleman had left his ID in his "niece's car which is in Miami". I went ahead and signed all the docs, since I was there and he said he would fax a copy to me by 4:00 the next day because I had to send off docs. He had no other ID short of his Social Security Card, but nothing with a picture.

Next day I called him twice and each time he states that he has been unable to get hold of his niece and that he is still trying. I sent the docs off at 6:00 PM after including a note advising he was not able to prove who he was.

Now what???? Did I blow it big time? Should I have just left and not done the closing after driving this long distance. I make the mistake of not reminding him to have his license with him, thinking everyone would have it on them!!!!

Mysti

Reply by ernest3 on 5/15/05 12:04pm
Msg #37931

It was my understanding from the NNA classes I just took in Florida, that as long as the longer version of her name was on the driver license and the shorter version on the documents, it was ok. If the docs have the full name and the DL is less than the full name - that was then a problem.

Reply by Nancy in Florida on 5/17/05 11:48pm
Msg #38540

Ernest, that is what I thought when I took it but afterwards I was questioning myself, hence the reason for my post. I also thought that having the LO there to verify as a person whom she was personally known was an added benefit but I was unaware that you can only use a witness if ID is not available.