Posted by Robert Lauterio on 4/9/07 9:09pm
Msg #184392

New Notary but not a Signing Agent

Okay,
I am so very new and have been taking the advice of others on the forum and started reading from message 1. Have already had more than a few questions answered. I am very greatful. I tried searching on Signing Agent info but was so overwhelmed that I had to post.

I took the notary class through our local community college, took the test and ultimately became a Notary. So now I want to start a mobile notary service. Am I to understand that I can not charge for trip fees and the like unless I am notarizing lending institution/loan paperwork? I was not aware that I could not notarize loan paperwork unless I was a certified Signing Agent. I may have misunderstood my instructor at how lucrative it was to be a Notary. I think I imagined driving a number of miles for some guy that needed an acknowledgment notarized and making a 5 or 10 dollar fee on the notarization and then charging a fee for my driving. I think I will just sign up for the Signing Agent certification. Thanks. (please don't flame me, I will cry....lol.)

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/9/07 9:18pm
Msg #184393

You can charge travel fees per your state law for any kind of notarization. Most states don't have a set fee/mile; some do. Most important is that you let client know what the fee is before you go--don't surprise 'em. Certified/schmertified. It doesn't hurt if you're a newbie, but it is NOT necessary. At one point in time a few years ago being a Signing Agent was lucrative--depending upon location. Not so much today. Less loans/more notaries. Much harder to get started today than 3, 4 years ago. Oh, and don't quit your day job.

Reply by Robert Lauterio on 4/9/07 10:08pm
Msg #184397

No intention of quitting my day job. (even though I really want to...) Much thanks for the information. I do appreciate it. I am glad that I was not entirely wrong in my thinking. I live in Santa Cruz, CA. From what I understand there is still a niche, albeit it is a small niche that can still be 'lucrative'. Much thanks again.

Reply by ZeeCA on 4/9/07 10:24pm
Msg #184399

I think your question was a double question... you asked if you had to be a certified signing agent..

first you have to become a signing agent than you can deal with certification..... or not....

and calif is OVER RUN with NSA's.... thanks to XYX ......

jmo

Reply by DEvans/CA on 4/9/07 11:54pm
Msg #184407

Hi Robert, Once you become a notary you can do loan signings. You don't need a certification but it does help to take a class. There are schools that have classes that give you information for loan signings. Help you to familiarize yourself with the loan documents. This is a great site for info as well. If you do e-docs you have to know your way around a computer. That is what surprised me the most. How much computer knowledge I needed. The docs I could handle, it was the computer that I had problems with. lol

Reply by Ernest__CT on 4/10/07 9:46am
Msg #184440

Signing loan documents without training ...

... is a recipe for disaster. For you and for the borrowers.

Purchase the notebook from The Signing Registry through Notary Rotary. It will give you lots of practical advice, including general Notary work and how to operate a business.

Good luck!