Posted by Christine Maddox on 8/5/08 1:06pm
Msg #258612

Question about seal

I'm fairly new at this, and have a question - on some loan docs there is what I would call an acknowledgment. I'm required to sign as the notary, but the page does not ask for my seal or expiration date. Other ack pages do. Should I put my seal and expiration date on ALL pages with an ack?

TIA!

Reply by Pat on 8/5/08 1:43pm
Msg #258624

Idaho Notary law includes an "Acknowledgment Format" and acknowledgments must be worded thus. You state, "What I would call an acknowledgment". There should be no question! You can purchase Individual Acknowledgments from the NNA to use in cases where the format is not IAW with Idaho requirements. Not all Acknowledgments are going to specify "Seal" or "Expiration". Many times the Deed of Trust (DOT) will not specify seal or expiration, but the DOT must ALWAYS include an Acknowledgment of the borrower's signature.
To be a valid Acknowledgment in Idaho, it must include the venue (state & county); proper wording for Idaho; notaries' signature; seal; and expiration date.

I think you need to become familiar with the Idaho Handbook and take the NNA course so you know exactly what you are doing.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 8/5/08 1:48pm
Msg #258628

Very bad advice to take the NNA course. n/m

Reply by Colleen Heaton on 8/5/08 1:51pm
Msg #258631

Re: Very bad advice to take the NNA course.

Based on what fact?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/5/08 1:53pm
Msg #258633

Based on the fact that their info in not always

accurate - I threw my primer away - I use my state handbook and no other..

Reply by Linda Juenger on 8/5/08 2:04pm
Msg #258641

Thanks Linda for stepping up for me. When I first started

closing loans I joined the NNA. It didn't take me very long at all to figure out that I could not rely on their answers. They were wrong twice. That was the end for me. I never got any closings from their site either. Total waste of money. They have ruined this business and are only in it for themselves, not us.
Everyone has to learn, some the hard way, but don't say we didn't warn you.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/5/08 4:18pm
Msg #258683

There are a lot of us who got sucked into the NNA machine

Most of us have learned better since then!

Reply by rengel/CA on 8/5/08 1:43pm
Msg #258625

I would suggest that you go to your state's notary handbook and read exactly where you can place your stamp and for what purpose.

And then think about what it is you are doing, are you notarizing someone's signature? THAT requires a stamp, as long as that 'someone's signature' is not YOURS. In California we can only use our seal when we are notarizing someone's signature and for no other purpose.

This is just a matter of common sense, don't try to overthink these things

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/5/08 1:47pm
Msg #258627

Christine, a wealth of information is found in message 33325 and all of the posts following it. Use the orange search button and look up that message. It has lots of advice and wisdom from experienced Notaries. Since you stated you are "fairly new at this"....those posts will answer many of the "how to" questions you may have.

Reply by desktopfull on 8/5/08 4:45pm
Msg #258688

If this isn't a joke all I can say is OMG, the poor borrower

that get you for his closing.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/5/08 9:10pm
Msg #258732

Re: If this isn't a joke all I can say is OMG, the poor borr

A surgeon had to perform his first surgery, a lawyer had to argue his first case, a detective had to interview his first suspect.....we all had to start somewhere.

Reply by desktopfull on 8/5/08 9:50pm
Msg #258735

That's true, but I'll bet

the lawyer didn't have to ask if he had to go to the courthouse to argue his case, or the Surgeon have to ask if he needs to use a scapel to perform the surgery.... we have a notary performing closings that doesn't know if she's supposed to notarize an acknowledgement if it doesn't say "notarize here." No wonder the companies keep lowering our fees and won't treat us as equal professionals in the mortgage field. This is a notary that is totally clueless as a NSA and as a general notary.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/5/08 6:24pm
Msg #258697

I use my seal (stamp type) on everything I sign as a Notary. I suggest you get your state's notary handbook (some are available online) & make sure you know it inside-out. A notary is a public official. IMO, you are doing a disservice if you aren't clear about what you're doing.
This may sound tough, but we are aware of a lot of notaries out there doing this business that are clueless. Their poor performance hurts all of us.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/5/08 11:42pm
Msg #258755

<<Their poor performance hurts all of us.>>

While I believe that to be true, more importantly, it could get them into a whole lotta trouble, and possibly cost someone - or several someones - a great deal of $$...

Reply by froggyID on 8/6/08 11:34am
Msg #258840

Some of you are unnecessarily cruel and mean. Others are very helpful.