Posted by Barbara___IL on 6/5/07 8:59am
Msg #193654

Quick question....

I did my first refinance signing last night, and there were a few documents that I wasn't sure whether or not to notarize, so to be safe, I did. I figured "better safe than sorry." Does that sound like something anyone else has ever done? I think there was a total of 112 pages, and I notarized 8 times. I am sure most of them were definitely to be notarized.

It was too late to call anyone to ask, so I did my best.

Thanks for any help or encouragement you can give me.

Barbara

Reply by CopperheadVA on 6/5/07 9:11am
Msg #193656

Barbara, which documents were they? You can always tell if the signatures on a doc are to be notarized because there is notarial wording at the bottom of the doc. Once in a great while, you will receive instructions to attach a loose ack or jurat onto a document. *My opinion* is if there is no notarial wording or a specific instruction to add an ack or jurat, one should not notarize the signatures on that doc.

Reply by LisaWI on 6/5/07 9:14am
Msg #193657

Re: Quick question....Barbara

Question, what training or education have you received to do notarizations and or loan signings? And either a signature needs to be notarized on a document or it doesnt. Pretty black and white. There are a few exceptions, but not many. Your "better safe than sorry" could be "sorry" without knowing how loan signings work or how to properly notarize a signature. Putting your notarization on a document could cause problems if it wasnt supposed to be there.
My opinion on this situation, if you not sure, maybe get some education of some sort before you do loan signings. There are a lot of bad things that could happen if not.

Reply by LJ on 6/5/07 9:19am
Msg #193659

Re: Quick question....Barbara

Do you have an IL law handbook? Read it cover to cover till you know it frontwards, backwards, sideways and upside down. What part of IL are you in?

Reply by DogmongerCA on 6/5/07 9:18am
Msg #193658

All documents that should be notarized should have the

notary wording on them. If you are notarizing documents without specific intructions to do so and don't have a jurat or acknowlegement wording you may want to reconsider. World Saving used to have you add a Ack to their Deeds of Trust, but most are included. Which documents were in question. You didn't notarize the Note did you:-o

Reply by CopperheadVA on 6/5/07 9:22am
Msg #193660

Re: All documents that should be notarized should have the

Somes states do have the Note notarized - about half the loan packages I see here in Virginia do have Notes with notarial wording on them. I'm not sure why some have it and some don't. If the Note has notarial wording, I notarize. If it doesn't, I don't.

Reply by DogmongerCA on 6/5/07 9:25am
Msg #193661

Nice to know

But in Ca, there are NO notes that are notarized, and this is a common mistake by newbies, but apparently not in a state rooted in common law:-)

Reply by Becca_FL on 6/5/07 9:28am
Msg #193662

Re: Nice to know

VA is the only state, that I am aware of, where the Note is notarized.

Reply by jba/fl on 6/5/07 9:42am
Msg #193667

Re: Nice to know

Barbara, as you can see there are no quick questions.
first problem: You are not responding for any real help, so we can't respond beyond what you have seen so far.
2nd: Over-notarizing, and if you have done so, you need to get back w/bor and get redone. You can print clean copy from pkg, so you are ready when you get back w/bor and don't waste too much of their time, or you can kill time and pull from their copy. Then you must trot over to shipping co. and get out today.
Also, now is the time to call your signing agent trainer (factory) and see how much advice you can get from them.

Reply by Becca_FL on 6/5/07 9:32am
Msg #193664

Re: Quick question....Barbara

Do yourself, your clients and your borrowers a HUGE favor and quit doing closings until you have the education and training to do so. It's SAs like you that make our profession look incompetent.

Start with reading this board and read everything you can get your hands on re: Real Estate closings. Learn to google and read.

Reply by LisaWI on 6/5/07 9:38am
Msg #193665

Re: Quick question....Becca

What took you so long?? LOL Thats pretty much it in a nutshell. Do what LJ suggested, and as Becca said, get your hands on everything and anything to learn this PROFESSION. They even sell a program on Ebay for real cheap. It doesnt have all the right answers, but its a start with most of the documents that will require notarized signatures.

Reply by Becca_FL on 6/5/07 9:43am
Msg #193669

Re: Quick question....Heck Lisa

Brenda has a FREE getting started ebook on her website. For goodness sake newbies, do your frickin homework.

There. I said it!

Reply by LisaWI on 6/5/07 9:45am
Msg #193670

Re: Quick question....Heck Lisa

There you go!! Thats the girl I know and love! Say it like it is.

Reply by LisaWI on 6/5/07 9:55am
Msg #193673

Re: Barbara

These are basic how to's that you are asking. You display, IMO, that maybe you dont even know what a notarization is. There are many, and I say many, other variables that will include lots of confusion with this profession. Knowing the basics is critical. Not to mention the mess that could be made. Take the advice that has been given to you and run with it if you are serious about doing loan signings. Its a very rewarding career, but takes lots of inititive on your part.

Reply by dickb/wi on 6/5/07 1:29pm
Msg #193720

you have pm.......... n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/5/07 11:59pm
Msg #193804

Better yet...

... first learn how to be a notary! Once you've got that down, THEN think about learning to be an SA. They are two different things. Learning about loan documents is important, but anyone who isn't completely familiar with completing an Acknowledgment and a Jurat (which includes knowing when to use which) and their state's notary laws has no business doing loan signings.

Come on, people... I can't think of a single profession where there isn't some kind of material or skill that needs to be mastered - or at least have a working knowledge of - before expecting to get paid doing it. There are abundant resources out there to help you acquire a basic working knowledge, but you have to put some time and effort into it. And yes, I was new once, too, but I was a notary for a couple of years before I started doing loan signings and then I spent a few months reading and studying up before I even tried to get any business. It just never occured to me to do otherwise. (And I didn't expect my competition to train me...)

What if I decided I wanted to cut hair for a living? No one would expect me to go take a one-day class, pass an exam the same day to get licensed, then just put out a shingle. If I cut your hair after that, you'd probably sue me!! ;> But the consequences of a botched signing can be much more significant. Think about it...

A heavy dose of preparation up front will actually save you time and money in the long run. You can't avoid a learning curve (see Marlene's message), but you won't make as many screw-ups (you will still make some, since we are all human) and you will be more likely to keep clients that you manage to convince to give you a try when you are new. Also, you will have a much greater feeling of confidence if you have a better idea of what you are doing. This just seems like common sense to me.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's what I truly believe. I strongly recommend that you put on your 2-inch thick skin and take all this advice to heart. (This goes for anyone else reading this who can relate!) Best of luck to you.

Reply by Barbara___IL on 7/2/07 11:54am
Msg #198133

Re: Quick question....Barbara

Dear Becca,

Thanks for the message and sorry it took me so long to reply. I was extremely nervous about my first signing, and did panic when I wrote my question on the forum, but now I'm fine with it. I have completed 9 signings now, and am doing great.

I am background screened and certified by the National Notary Association. Sorry for my temporary nervousness. I never showed any of it to my client or the borrower, so I guess the only ones who saw my insecurity were my husband and notary rotary members.

I'm going to post a message on the board to apologize to everyone. It seems that several people were angry about the question.

Thanks again.
Barbara

Reply by dollyPA on 6/5/07 12:12pm
Msg #193693

My first signing was a....

refinance and this is my feedback... I did a tone of studying and am very proud :-)

Dolly,
As far as I know everything went fine. I have not heard anything negative
from the Title company. Congratulations on your first successful signing !!

Reply by Michael Landrove on 6/5/07 12:23pm
Msg #193697

Re: My first signing was a....

Good to go! I'm hoping to hear the same when it comes from my first signing. Do your studying and it sure will make things a whole lot easier!

Reply by JenCA on 6/5/07 12:41pm
Msg #193704

Re: My first signing was a....

My first signings (2 in one day) I was nervous as all get out, but one was a refi and the other was a timeshare... I havent heard heard any negatives, but I as well studied my butt off, because I was so scared that I would mess up someones loan.

Make sure you know your stuff before you even attempt one!! Good luck!!

Reply by dickb/wi on 6/5/07 1:21pm
Msg #193717

barb....NO NOTARY BLOCK-NO NOTARIZATION...unless..

you are advised by title or lender to attach a loose ack or jurat!!!!!!!.......that would hold true in all states...............

Reply by LynnNC on 6/5/07 4:39pm
Msg #193754

I didn't read through all the other responses, but you should become certified ASAP, and not handle any other loan closings until you do.