Posted by eXpedN_TX on 2/13/06 10:52pm
Msg #96926

Common notary mistakes

I am interested in writing up some blogs, to follow in the footsteps of our wonderful MKIA, BrendaTX. I thought an interesting subject would be common mistakes notaries make. If you wouldn't mind participating by letting me know mistakes you have made (so I can use them on my blog spot) I would be very grateful. Of course, different mistakes can be made in one state that won't be a mistake in others, but still...please share....

Here are some to start:

1. Upside down seal
2. When printing edocs from an .xls file and missing the second page because it is under another workbook - I made this mistake once. Never again.
3. Missed seal
4. Forgetting to give the borrower their set of documents.
5. Missed filling in the venue/parish

Keep 'em coming.

Reply by Pamela on 2/14/06 12:08am
Msg #96933

How About These? Re: Common notary mistakes

6. Pressing too hard on the seal.
7. Forgetting to have borrowers sign journal.
8. Attaching incorrect certificate.

Pam

Reply by TitleGalCA on 2/14/06 12:09am
Msg #96934

Here's the ones I see, as being the final recipient of the documents:

1. Not filling out the acknowledgment correctly;
2. Not filling out the acknowledgment correctly; and
3. Not filling out the acknowledgment correctly.

Other than that, no problems =)

Reply by Beth/MD on 2/14/06 8:17am
Msg #96975

Re: Common notary mistakes So TG

Does that mean you see a lot of incorrectly filled out Acks???

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 2/14/06 4:18am
Msg #96941

for all my former co-workers and my current NSA buddies =)

I've post-close audited over 10,000 pkgs coming 'through' 600 settlement agents, so I saw a pretty large sampling - these errors are more common than you'd want to think:

1. missed signatures (either notary or borrower)
2. 'suspicious' signature on a single doc ('self-correction' of missed signatures)
3. delayed returns of pkgs
4. missing documents
4. wrong date by borrowers on 1 or 3 or 12 pages (usually indicates back-dated pkg)
5. notarizing things that don't require notarization, no ack/jurat blocks, still stamped & signed!
(no problem for lender, but could be for notary, and definitely a 'give away' of inexperience OR possibly using as a means of fudging the tax numbers!)
6. using highlighters in colors other than YELLOW (never use anything BUT yellow, IF anything)
7. having borrower alter his signature on the Signature Affidavit - effectively negating the signatures on the rest of pkg. Always keep signature consistant - then no problems =)
8. using expired D/L for ID (can't do, in MI)
9. loans folding at the table for very minor things that could've been fixed - like misspelled name, or wanted/did not want escrows, or balance being paid on an account was not current, etc.
10. Using white-out!
11. Docs printed with incorrect formatting (these are obvious when you look at them), or missing 1003 - two common issues with one lender I worked for - and nobody CALLING to advise so it could be resolved.
12. Signing in "Closing Agent" or "Settlement Agent" or "Lender" areas - even signing 1003's (on L/O line) and Huds, Note Assignments, closing instructions, etc.

Reply by eXpedN_TX on 2/14/06 11:40am
Msg #97044

Wow ReneeK!!!

Great list. Thank you.

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/14/06 11:42am
Msg #97045

Re: for all my former co-workers and my current NSA buddies =)

Renee, Will you do that for my newsletter? Pretty please?

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 2/15/06 4:16am
Msg #97275

Brenda - sure, and for kicks I'll toss in ...

The "Best Of" list - now THOSE are priceless. Absolute all-time favorite was on a 'fax backs', closer sent me wrong TIL, I needed to make sure she had correct one signed, she claimed she was still "at the table". I ask for X-TIL, she says "Oh, here it is, right here - faxing over now" I get it, it's signed - good to go, authorize her to fund.

Get the pkg back, that correct TIL she'd faxed me? It has a COPY of borrower's signature, cut off another page and SCOTCH-TAPED onto the TIL signature line! AND SHE SENDS IT TO ME?!

Reply by Sandy_MD on 2/14/06 11:43am
Msg #97046

forgetting a borrowers Initials on a survey Afidavit

Reply by MelissaCT on 2/15/06 2:50pm
Msg #97457

Re: Common notary mistakes (and lender mistakes)

How about putting the borrower's social security number in the venue section of the Deed when creating the docs...I've had several documents come pre-printed with this. Wouldn't you love to have your personal information printed on a public document??