Posted by Samantha Reed on 3/16/08 9:00am
Msg #239453

Venue state

I am doing a signing today, the property is in another state, a lot of the notarizations are for the seller and the venue is the property state. The problem is that one of the pages that I need to notarize has the venue flled in with the property state. I am in PA - anyone know if it is ok to cross it out and list my state and county? I will contact the mortgage co that hired me to make sure it is ok with them - just wanted your advice. TIA!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/16/08 9:05am
Msg #239454

Yes, line through the incorrect venue and put the correct venue. Initial the change.

Venue always has to be where the notarization is taking place..

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 3/16/08 9:39am
Msg #239455

This is basic notary procedure...

MHO I wouldn't contact the mortgage company with this question if I were you - might not reflect well on you.

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 3/16/08 8:39pm
Msg #239496

The notarization section "belongs" to you

Always call the company if there is a problem with anything in the other parts of the documents, but the notarization section belongs to the notary. If there is any error in it, you can change and correct it.
As Sylvia said, the venue is always the location where the signing is taking place.
If the property is in California, the seller is in Florida, and the buyer is in New York, and the buyer is signing his/her part of the documents in Tennessee because he/she is here on vacation, then the correct venue is Tennessee and the county where he/she is physically signing.
And if the seller is in Georgia and signing there because he/she has already moved, then the venue the notary for the seller uses would be the state of Georgia and the county where he/she is physically signing.
Same for a property in one county but documents signed in a different county. For example, say the borrowers live in Jackson County, but they want to meet me at a location in Putnam County. The notarization section says State of Tennessee and County of Jackson. Simple - draw a single line through the Jackson and write in Putnam.
Elementary and critical notary knowledge, so please write it down, memorize it, whatever you have to do so you will remember "(a) the venue is wherever the signing takes place, (b) you can correct the notarization section without calling anyone for permission, (c) DO NOT change anything in the rest of the document unless you call the title company or lender for permission".
Hope this helps.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/16/08 9:09pm
Msg #239499

Five Star Post, Sharon. Save, Print, Laminate. n/m

Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/17/08 6:14am
Msg #239512

Additionally, I always initial next to any changes I make n/m

Reply by sue_pa on 3/17/08 7:34am
Msg #239514

required education

A week or so ago there was a small discussion and several thought required education should be a step on obtaining a notary commission. Sad to say ... PA requires education for new notaries.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 3/17/08 2:54pm
Msg #239575

We can lead those horses to water. . .

. . .but we can't make 'em learn!

Reply by Gerry_VT on 3/17/08 6:29pm
Msg #239591

Re: required education; too harsh

I think sue_pa is overly harsh. The original poster never mentioned what alternative action she was considering, or what she was concerned might go wrong. People on the board seem to assume she was thinking about using the incorrect venue, which would clearly be wrong. But maybe her concern was that handwritten information would be rejected by the county clerk (or equivalent official) and was thinking about using a typed loose certificate.

One would expect mandatory notary training to cover venue, but not necessarily whether land records offices will accept handwritten documents.