Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 3/30/07 9:26pm
Msg #183070

Public notary work

Laura Vestanen and I both agree that public (non loan signing) work is very interesting and can be more profitable and easier than loan signing.

I also think the only way you can make a "living" as a notary, is to be a loan signer. I probably make $200-$300 per week in public notary work.

In the last 3 months I have hired by "Recovery" companies to do notary work. These companies take 10% of the amount they find for companies/cities/counties/individual/etc.

The 5 companies that have hired me are all from different states, but, the notary, work is usually 2 jurats and 2 signatures and takes about 10 minutes. I charge the company $65-$75 to do this and I don't go outside of the cities of Riverside or San Bernardino.

I've done 10 of these and all the companies include my check when they FedEx the documents to me to be signed.


The people getting the money are delighted and the amounts have been approx $3000 thru $12,000 with the 10 I have completed.

My point is look for other work than a loan signer and be open to accepting it!!

I don't know how these companies found me because I forgot to ask. Next time someone calls I ask.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 3/30/07 10:04pm
Msg #183073

Hi Joan,

I appreciate you sharing this information in the forum. I too have been focusing on growing my non-loan business. However, you have mentioned a market I didn't know existed until now. I look forward to hearing more about this. Thank you.

Reply by Jacqueline Dyson on 3/30/07 10:15pm
Msg #183078

What are these companies recovering?

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/30/07 10:44pm
Msg #183087

I haven't paid any attention to why an individual/business/government gets this money but I can remember the last business.

1. A business had closed down in 1999 and a vendor of this comppany had made a payment of over $10,000, which this company had no idea the vendor had made this payment and it wound up in some Government account in another state.

The person I needed the notarization was located in Riverside.
I do so much notary work that I never pay much attention to the type; but this kind is so much fun because people are so delighted to see me!

Reply by Jacqueline Dyson on 3/30/07 10:52pm
Msg #183088

Gee, your are so right..sounds interesting and rewarding.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/1/07 3:41am
Msg #183213

I believe this is a small niche opportunity - a drop in the bucket compared to loan docs. I believe the point is not so much to go out searching for a piece of the recovery business pie but to be open to general notary work in a variety of arenas. This is just an example of the possibilities.

Reply by Blueink_CA on 3/30/07 11:06pm
Msg #183092

It's unclaimed money/property that the state controller's office is holding until claimed. Here's the site for CA www.sco.ca.gov/col/ucp/ I myself and many people I know have 'found' money that was either forgotten or not known existed. If the amount is over $1000.00, the claim form needs to be notarized.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/30/07 11:21pm
Msg #183096

I have done quite a few of those.

Make it very clear to the people that you are a third party who has nothing to do with getting the cash to them. They'll hound the crap out of you if they don't get their money in their perceived appropriate window of time.

Just hammer it home that you are just a notary from the phonebook that these people located to come get a few signatures for them. If there is not a copy in the package for the signer, make one or you'll be faced with them calling you the next week asking for a copy.

On a positive note, the check has always been with the few little documents for the job. $50 - $75 depending on distance.

Reply by Les_CO on 3/31/07 12:10am
Msg #183112

It so nice to be paid in front!!!!!!! These... I could do 10 a day! Some out there say they can do that many moblie loan signings. Not me. Three at the most. With late/revised edocs, download and print time, contacting the borrowers, arranging signing times, about four calls to title, drive time, faxing, courier drop off, plus more emails. Where are the good ol' days when the docs came overnight the day before, and you scheduled with the borrowers?

Reply by James H. Lissemore on 3/31/07 6:30am
Msg #183131

Last 2 days. $100 fee Private investigator called, met him, notarized affidavit. Time 45 min.
Next day $180 fee. Legal firm called, meet witness for telephone deposition. Swear in witness . Time
1hour 30 min. Both clients out of state. Got my name from listing with Notary One.

Reply by ME/NJ on 3/31/07 9:42am
Msg #183143

James you need to make 360/year or more to cover the cost

with Notary One in order for it to be worth it you would 10x's the cost to justify the cost.

Reply by James H. Lissemore on 3/31/07 9:58am
Msg #183146

Re: James you need to make 360/year or more to cover the cost

Thank you but I know how to add. I have 35 years experience running companies.
I know when something pays and when it does not. I only spend money to make money.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 3/31/07 11:22am
Msg #183160

Re:Thanks for the CA unclaimed funds site

Thanks for the info Joan! I checked out the site and found, no money for me, but my in-laws are owed money. I love to do what I call general notary work, corporate stuff, adoption clearances, affidavits of support. I too do anywhere from $100- a week +, quick, and paid on the spot.

Reply by kathy/ca on 3/31/07 11:57am
Msg #183163

Sheila, I checked out the site too and you have to pay to..

join to find out if money is actually owed to your inlaws and not to someone else by the same name. At $12.99 a month, it might be worth it though.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 3/31/07 12:27pm
Msg #183166

Free site:

missingmoney.com

Reply by Tamiako Rogers on 4/1/07 12:17am
Msg #183208

Thanks for the website. I just found $1898.00 due to my husband!!!