Posted by vonneycali on 10/26/05 12:17pm
Msg #72419

Notary Services Fees for wills, etc.

I just got a phone call from a Borrower who wants me to also do some notary work for a will drawn up by an attorney.. Does anyone know how much I should charge for this type of notary? I will be traveling about 40 miles round trip to complete this signing.. Thanks in advance!

Reply by srnotary_CA on 10/26/05 12:22pm
Msg #72420

I believe in Cali that it invalidates a will to notarise it. At least that is what we were told when we took the course. I would look it up in your handbook b4 notarizing a will.

Reply by vonneycali on 10/26/05 12:35pm
Msg #72427

SRNotary- in California, according to my book, "A notary SHOULD NOT NOTARIZE A WILL UNLESS an attorney recommended that the will should be notarized." Which, in this case, applies. Thanks for the heads-up though.. It made me consult my book to find out the answer. Don't want to be doing anything wrong..(:

Reply by Anonymous on 10/26/05 1:31pm
Msg #72453

Actually I believe the correct version is do not notarize unless under the direction of an attorney. So unless the Attorney asked and paid me, as a CA notary I would not be notarizing anything.

Reply by Art_MD on 10/26/05 12:24pm
Msg #72421

Charge him $10. I believe thats the state limit for a doc.
If you wanted to charge more, then you would have to reason this way:

I am traveling 40 miles to notarize the will. While I'm there, I'll do the loan closing. Since there is no state laws governing my fee for doing SA work, I can charge what I want.

say your closing is $100 with 5 notarizations. Breakdown - $50 for notarizations, $50 for presenting and describing docs, and all other work ( faxes, drop off etc).

Notarizing will $10 for notarization, $xx for 80 miles travel.

Art

Me, I'd look at the loan docs, if the borrower has a lot of $$, get some of it.

Art

Reply by Anonymous on 10/26/05 12:32pm
Msg #72425

I get the top portion of your answer, but the bottom .. Me, I'd look at the loan docs, if the borrower has a lot of $$, get some of it. .... Are you serious?? or joking?? Now that's professional.

Reply by vonneycali on 10/26/05 12:39pm
Msg #72428

Oh Anon! No need to get all stuffy on us! Art, thanks for the advice..

Reply by Art_MD on 10/26/05 12:41pm
Msg #72429

In a way I was serious.

If the person who took out the $500,000 HELOC asked me to notarize a will, I might charge him $20.
If the person asking was taking out a second mortgage at 12% because he's in financial difficulty, I would probably charge $5.

Art

Reply by srnotary_CA on 10/26/05 12:44pm
Msg #72430

Thanks for looking at that Vonney was not sure and didn't want you to get into a mess over it. I didn't remember that all I remembered was the don't do it LoL.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 10/26/05 10:08pm
Msg #72532

Re: Notary Services Fees for wills, etc. Vonney

Please use the search button for information on notarizing wills in California.

It is OKAY. The state bar has convinced the SOS to post a huge disclaimer about notarizing wills, to their own advantage.

Harry of Notary Rotary wrote a GREAT post on this issue, I'd encourage you to find it and read it.

Charge as you would for ANY signing...you are mobile and the fee does not depend on the document, but for your time and effort. Good luck.