Posted by Michelle/AL on 8/29/08 4:06pm
Msg #262623

Journal Entries


Other than listing the document and Borrower name/addy; certificate type, what else do you capture in your journal entries? Alabama’s only requirement is to have a journal – nothing more. If I were asked by the court or a Title company to provide information about a closing that occurred months ago, or longer, I may have to give them that “deer in headlights” stare. This week I had a repeat customer and the husband and wife remembered me very well. I have no recollection of ever meeting them before. If it wasn’t for my journal, I’d say they were fibbing.

Again, if you are recording anything other than document name, certificate type, and Borrower name and addy, please share. I’m interested in hearing what others are doing and why.

PS: I did do a search. There was quite a bit of information regarding California and the benefits of using Not/Rot's journal but not much else.

Reply by Paul2_FL on 8/29/08 4:27pm
Msg #262625

"If I were asked by the court or a Title company to provide information about a closing that occurred months ago, or longer, I may have to give them that “deer in headlights” stare."

Michelle, Unless there is something really unique about a signing there's really no reason to add anything else to your journal. A Title Co or a Court should not ask you about anything other than the documents you notarized. BTW - I recently experienced the same situation with borrowers who remembered me but I didn't remember them. I did a signing with them 3 years ago.

Reply by Cam/CA on 8/29/08 5:14pm
Msg #262631

Re: I add date of document if there is one, how many pages

it was, and 'loose certificate' if I used one.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 8/29/08 5:31pm
Msg #262637

Re: I add date of document if there is one, how many pages

When I notarize a document or loan package in addition to the required info. I might add notes regarding the service provided and any concerns I may of had. Such as this week I notorized a will, living will and executor of an estate document. The man was on his death bed and so week barely able to sign and the lawyer read the documents to him and made him answer with witnesses in the room. I wrote all this down on the notary log verifying his answers and his condition. He has a dtr that may contest everything so we all crossed our p's and q's. If there isn't anything that stands out nothing more is required. I'm sure as you are gaining experience you'll fine tune what you think you need.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 8/29/08 6:25pm
Msg #262645

Cam/Ilene, that's just the input I was hoping to hear....

...makes sense to me to add those types of comments. I do quite of a few general public notarizations and those are the ones that tend to be a little more "outside the box".

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 8/29/08 7:18pm
Msg #262652

Re: Cam/Ilene, that's just the input I was hoping to hear....

Anytime kiddo

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 8/30/08 7:55am
Msg #262698

In MI we're also without any guidelines - journals aren't required, though they are "recommended". I make a note about the type of transaction - refi, purchase, etc. I also note next to each person's name "Sole borrower" or "Primary /Co-B" or "Non-B Spouse" whatever the case may be. My biggest concern in RE transactions would be some spouse that appears out of the woodwork years down the road, and that's my reason for noting how things were presented to me at the signing.