Posted by Ronda Alvarez on 6/25/07 1:05pm
Msg #196821

blind lady signing for refinance.....

I turned down a signing.....The lady is blind for 50 yrs, never had a pic ID. She is getting an ID today but still she cant see to sign. The agency that called me said her family member would put her hand on the line for her to just sign. I told them to give the family member POA to sign for her and they said no, so I said get someone else to do the signing. Was I right?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/25/07 1:11pm
Msg #196822

Was I right? NO. At least not in Florida...

Why do you think that's right?
IMO you're declining the signing due to a physical handicap, which is illegal.
In Florida, I would read the blind person the document in it's entirety, and have her sign.
I may charge a little more for the increased time involved, but I wouldn't decline the appointment. It doesn't make any sense to me why you did decline.

Reply by Ronda Alvarez on 6/25/07 1:17pm
Msg #196824

Re: Was I right? NO. At least not in Florida...

It was the first time I'd ever came across this situation. I've had people in the past that couldnt sign for themselves and a POA was there to sign for them. Since that has been the case in the past, I thought I was doing the right thing by asking for a POA. Thank you for letting me know.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/25/07 1:11pm
Msg #196823

Was I right? NO. At least not in Florida...

Why do you think that's right?
IMO you're declining the signing due to a physical handicap, which is illegal.
In Florida, I would read the blind person the document in it's entirety, and have her sign.
I may charge a little more for the increased time involved, but I wouldn't decline the appointment. It doesn't make any sense to me why you chose to decline.

Reply by LynnNC on 6/25/07 1:54pm
Msg #196837

Re: Was I right? NO. At least not in Florida...

I believe that a notary signing agent, as an independent contractor, has the right to turn down any closing with which they feel uncomfortable. While I would be willing to point out the key information and describe each document, I would not read the entire documents to anyone for any price.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 6/25/07 6:32pm
Msg #196893

Re: Was I right? NO. At least not in Florida...

Lynn, and I am going to be a real PIA on this, you are a Notary Pubic, commissioned or appointed by your state FIRST.

Yes, you can turn down jobs, but be very careful in articulating why, especially in the case of the handicapped, or you will see your pretty little certificate turned into toilet paper.

Reply by Philip Johnson on 6/25/07 1:24pm
Msg #196826

The state has a direction for this in their guide.

NCGS (22A-I).

Reply by PJM/MI on 6/25/07 1:28pm
Msg #196829

Re: The state has a direction for this in their guide.

I had a blind signer in Michigan. He could hear just fine so I explained the docs and his mother guided his hand.

Reply by Roger_OH on 6/25/07 1:39pm
Msg #196834

Re: The state has a direction for this in their guide.

The blind signers I've done have had a small slotted card that I just aligned on the sig line for them. Then they sign within the slot.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 6/25/07 3:35pm
Msg #196856

Re: The state has a direction for this in their guide.

That's what I've done too

Reply by John_NorCal on 6/25/07 1:53pm
Msg #196835

Aside from being blind, I think the main issue is identification. Ronda states that the lady had no picture ID. If she can not be properly identified then there was cause to decline the signing.

Reply by John_NorCal on 6/25/07 1:53pm
Msg #196836

Aside from being blind, I think the main issue is identification. Ronda states that the lady had no picture ID. If she can not be properly identified then there was cause to decline the signing.

Reply by Amalia Contreras on 6/25/07 3:43pm
Msg #196858

I also had a signing for a brwr that according to the DMV he was legaly blind. He had proper id. and I went through the docs like it was a normal signing! He was in agreement with the docs, no problem, his wife guided his hand and he signed.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 6/25/07 4:43pm
Msg #196871

I had one too. She had her hubby take her down for an ID. We read the documents to her but often she was fully aware of what she was signing. She had been through this before.
That is a signing I was never paid for by the way. FOX

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/25/07 6:13pm
Msg #196885

I had a similar situation once. There was some reason we weren't able to sign the first time (incorrect terms in the loan package), but when I went back for a second visit I was amazed to find out that the woman was legally blind. She was so capable, that I hadn't even noticed anything out of the ordinary. (ID was a DMV issued ID card - and SHE was the one who had handled the discussions with the LO, not the husband.) She was one of the sharper borrowers I've ever sat down with! She was fully capable of signing her name, as long as either her husband or I placed her hand at the right point to start. BTW, I went through the docs as I normally do, except for saying out loud the items that I would normally just point to in a document. She had obviously prepped in advance or was in the loan business. Ya just never know...

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/26/07 11:34am
Msg #196993

She is getting an ID today but still she cant see to sign.

C/P from the original post: That was how I understood this post.
It was my understanding she wasn't going to sign her due to her inability to see the docs!

Reply by BP/WV on 6/25/07 6:33pm
Msg #196894

Re: blind lady signing for refinance..... My 2 cents

On the issue of not having proper identification, yes you were correct.

However, a blind person is fully capable of signing his or her own name. It is a legal signature, no matter what state. It may not be a pretty signature, or straight on the line, but it is a legally binding signature. Being visually impaired does not make one incapacitated.

Reply by RalphNC on 6/26/07 4:58pm
Msg #197045

I do not believe you can legally turn down a signing on the basis of sight or no sight. I recently did a signing in which the borrower was non-sighted. His wife placed his hand on each document and it went reasonably fast. He had a wonderful sense of humor and we had a great time.