Posted by Felicia Tunstall on 11/8/09 9:28pm
Msg #310276

Maryland Notary-Question on Split Signings

Hello,
My name is Felicia. I'm a notary, new to the signing business. State of Maryland in PG County. I'm kinda young, but I gotta start somewhere. I studied upon this career sooo much, took classes and everything. Yet I still seemed to be puzzled at some moments but I always find a way and figure it out and learn on my own, lol. I have a important question for Split-Signing. I tried contacting the lender and they're closed they're only open Mon-Thurs 11-5 and of course they sent me the docs all at last minute. They're never there when i need them, they always assigning assignments when they're closed. Guess they don't wanna be bothered with.....anyway
(Here's the scenerio)
Husband and wife pretty much re-financing. Husband is away on a business meeting in montgomery county, maryland. Wife is back at home in Georgia. Lending company sends me the docs wants me to go get husband signature on it, but in the spot where i normally affix my notary information, its already pretyped in for the georgia. notary (for where i send the docs after I received husband's signature) my question is this. Should i included another sheet where i typed the exact same thing and just affix my maryland notary information. cause i know i should not cross anything out (you now where it says georgia and put maryland and so on) So i'm thinking i should type up another sheet and notarize that stating that i saw him sign the original mortgage docs, and just included that in the documents. What would you do? I need a little training from someone's who's experienced. :-) if you dont mind...

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 11/8/09 9:39pm
Msg #310279

I could tell you what I do, but this is basic notary stuff. You should have learned this in your notary training. (Especially if you really studied as much as you said you did.) Surely,you have an emergency number for whomever hired you. What time is your signing tomorrow?

Reply by Felicia Tunstall on 11/8/09 9:46pm
Msg #310281

My time is at 10am, and NO the company does not have an emergency back up number. I've alot of signing, just never a split-signing. I've been assigned to them but they always cancelled at the last minute. And pretty much those split signings was in the state of maryland and the company supplied an extra sheet for me to complete for myself. This company? NO, lol.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/8/09 9:43pm
Msg #310280

Do what is necessary for your state - type acknowledgments & jurats as needed for Mr. At the bottom reference the individual document and number of pages of that document so that your acks and jurats cannot be attached to other things. Since the venue is GA, I would leave them for the GA attorney/notary to use.

You got the right idea...you done good! LOL. You came with your questions to a good place. Many are happy to assist those who do their homework; we all were there at one time.

Reply by Felicia Tunstall on 11/8/09 9:48pm
Msg #310282

Thanks

Reply by OR on 11/8/09 9:49pm
Msg #310283

If you are signing the docs first you should correct to act. If you are the 2nd signer on the doc's you should never ever change someone elses act. You will need to add your own act. Hope that helps.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/8/09 9:50pm
Msg #310284

Split signings can be a little peculiar, no matter how much experience you have. I would add that you make sure to complete your notarial certificates as being for the husband's name only. If you attach separate certificates, leaving the others for the GA attorney, I think you will be fine.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/8/09 9:51pm
Msg #310285

BTW it is ok to cross out & correct the venue in a notarial certificate. I do it all the time.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 11/9/09 5:34am
Msg #310293

When I've done signings for Georgia property docs, the DOT notary certificate is not compliant for my state. I think it just says, "Sign and sealed this __ day of __, _____." Maybe that's acceptable in your state, but in many others it would need to be corrected by the notary.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 11/9/09 6:00am
Msg #310296

Correction, in GA they may use a Mortgage instead of DOT

I can't remember for sure!

Reply by VioCa on 11/9/09 5:49am
Msg #310295

If the property is in Georgia make sure that you have the husband bring two witnesses to sign on the witness's line. Also have them print their names below their signatures.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/9/09 7:15am
Msg #310299

According to the info I have, the notary can be one of the witnesses.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/9/09 7:55am
Msg #310304

Some company! - doesn't provide emergency numbers for the notary to contact them with questions...boy I hate that.

"Wife is back at home in Georgia......but in the spot where i normally affix my notary information, its already pretyped in for the georgia. notary (for where i send the docs after I received husband's signature)"

No wonder they don't know GA is an attorney-only state - unfortunately many notaries in GA don't know this either (or don't care). I'd be giving the company a heads-up about this before shipping the package.

BTW, since it's Monday and they're open, I'd call the company for guidance before going to the signing - attaching another page may result in higher recording fees (something I just took a hit on here in FL not so long ago) - then sneak in the info about GA's attorney-only status while you're at it - see what they want to do.

MHO and Good luck!!

Reply by MW/VA on 11/9/09 7:01pm
Msg #310404

FWIW, GA is an attorney only state for signings done in GA. I have done a couple of split signings where one party was here in VA.

Reply by Teresa/FL on 11/9/09 7:18pm
Msg #310405

MW/VA - I have also performed signings for GA property

The attorney only law pertains to closings performed within the boundaries of the state of GA.

I am wondering if the OP has a TPL, which is required to perform closings in MD. Or is this only a requirement if the property is also in MD?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/9/09 7:36pm
Msg #310410

No..I know what you're saying Teresa..

but you did mention that "The attorney only law pertains to closings performed within the boundaries of the state of GA."

That's why I responded to you too...

Reply by Teresa/FL on 11/9/09 7:43pm
Msg #310412

Linda - did you really have to pay the recording fees

for your loose certificates? What did they expect you to do? Print or stamp your certificates on the same page as the first notary used?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/9/09 7:50pm
Msg #310414

No...mine wasn't a split...what happened was

name on docs didn't match name on ID - had to do "who represented to me that they took title as..." - not enough room to add wording to document (since they so nicely completed my certs for me in advance - incorrectly) - so I added a Florida compliant cert - one extra page on the mortgage and one extra page on the Warranty Deed (whole other story - what a mess) - so they docked my fee $25 - (a) for the extra recording fees (which I think is bull because additional fees are usually built into the HUD) and (b) for not following their directions and advising them up front that I had to change the cert - told me the cert is THEIR domain, not mine, and I was supposed to discuss with them any changes to the docs.

Reply by Teresa/FL on 11/9/09 7:54pm
Msg #310416

Re: No...mine wasn't a split...what happened was

That is bull...the additional recording fee was probably only a couple of dollars. Was it an out of state TC?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/9/09 8:01pm
Msg #310418

Heh...nope...not out of state compan

National company with Florida Office - Florida Office is the one that contracted me...

Reply by Teresa/FL on 11/9/09 8:05pm
Msg #310419

Re: Heh...nope...not out of state compan

Yeah, just because they have an office in FL doesn't mean they know FL notary laws.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/9/09 7:20pm
Msg #310406

Marilynn and Teresa...I know...please note what the OP said

"Husband is away on a business meeting in montgomery county, maryland. Wife is back at home in Georgia. Lending company sends me the docs wants me to go get husband signature on it, but in the spot where i normally affix my notary information, its already pretyped in for the georgia. notary (for where i send the docs after I received husband's signature"

That's why I said it.

Reply by Teresa/FL on 11/9/09 7:30pm
Msg #310408

Linda- I'm questioning whether the OP has a TPL

And she said she couldn't contact the hiring party before the closing since the closing was scheduled an hour before their office would be open.