Posted by Carol_in_MI on 7/28/09 10:19pm
Msg #297808

Split notary block

In a package I got today, three of the documents have the notary block split onto the next page. I don't think I have ever seen that before. One only has "State of... & County of... SS" at the bottom of one sheet with the rest on the last page. Another only has the signature line on the last page.

Is that legal? I re-read my state's guidelines and it doesn't say anything about pagination. I have always been cautious of pages that only have the notary block. If there is nothing else to identify which document it is a part of, I have printed the name of the document at the bottom. But only my signature and stamp on a page?????

Reply by LynnNC on 7/28/09 10:23pm
Msg #297809

I would hand write the signature line on the page with the rest of the notary block. or attach a certificate.

Reply by Carol_in_MI on 7/28/09 10:36pm
Msg #297812

Yes, I had considered both of those. I prefer adding the signature line.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/28/09 10:37pm
Msg #297813

Adding signature line then keeps all on 1 page. Best I think n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/29/09 6:49am
Msg #297825

I'd put my signature line on the page with the rest of the block and move on.

It's an error. It happens.

For instance, the doc prep person may have it perfectly aligned in the word processing software with their printer default is set to a certain printer. Let's say the doc prep person is out of the office and the person next to them has to convert the document to PDF for emailing. They are using a different printer as their default. They convert without opening the document and re-aligning to meet alignment needs of the other printer. The PDF comes out with split last pages like you see.

Don't ask me how I know. Maybe I just heard about it somewhere around a water cooler.

It's never happened to me when doing doc prep.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 7/29/09 7:49am
Msg #297831

I've encountered several of these - I will either amend it so that everything is all on the same page, or I will stamp my ack or jurat stamp and complete that, or I will attach a loose certificate. I do not feel comfortable having 1/2 my notary cert on one page and 1/2 on another.

Reply by Julie/MI on 7/29/09 8:23am
Msg #297843

I get those all the time and just fill them out with the venue at the bottom and signature on the second page. I mean, really all they are are signature affs or some junk docs and I have been doing closings in this format since 1983 and I have NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER seen or heard of an instance where some sinister lender or title company employee took the signagure page WITHOUT THE MIGHTY VENUE and incorporated it into another document.
Again, too much "what if thinking". JMHO

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/29/09 9:35am
Msg #297859

Re: Split notary block....I've had them too

I just draw a signature line on the page with the rest of the cert mostly because it's quicker to draw a line than to write out an entire notary block....

Julie..I'm going to disagree with you here....if I just sign and stamp a page with no notary wording on it...well, I can't do that here - despite the fact that that single page COULD get waylayed to another area it's illegal for us to affix our seal without a notarial act...and maybe *I* know it's okay...but the recipient and future readers of the document don't...my signature and seal is just floating around loose in there...you may have never had a problem but that doesn't mean it can BE a potential problem - and I just don't chance it...but that's just me.

Reply by kathy/ca on 7/29/09 11:19am
Msg #297874

Linda, me too! I would NEVER do what Julie said she does,

doesnt matter what kind of document it is, what is so hard about drawing a signature line, stamping with a notary act or attaching a loose certificate? I have had this happen in the past and always do one of the 3 options mentioned.