Posted by Krista Rogers on 8/22/10 2:29pm
Msg #349993

Per Signature charge

Question? If I have an appointment with 1 client, but STAMP 4 pages,... what is the charge?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 2:52pm
Msg #349996

Answer is in your handbook.

This is not to be mean or snide. If you don't know what's in your handbook, you're not ready to do this work.

Reply by Krista Rogers on 8/22/10 2:56pm
Msg #349997

Re: Answer is in your handbook.

Yes, I see the answer, but all it says is PER Signature???? I would take that to mean $40, but I only charge $10- and I thought this forum was to HELP

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 3:01pm
Msg #349998

Re: Answer is in your handbook.

You didn't say all this oin your original post. We are not mindreaders.
Yes, the max in CA is $10 per signature. We do not stamp by the page. You may also charge for travel. Why would you stamp on 4 pages if there weren't any signatures to notarize as well as the proper cert?

Reply by Krista Rogers on 8/22/10 3:05pm
Msg #349999

Re: Answer is in your handbook.

Thank you! Power of attorney and it needed four pages (of the same page) to be filed at the proper clerk's office. So (I also left this out), but 4 signatures and stamps of the same perosn... I only charged $10..?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/22/10 3:09pm
Msg #350000

You did 4 notarizations of the same original signature?..

for one person? They signed 4 pages and you notarized each one? That's $40 in CA...plus a fee for your travel and time

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 3:14pm
Msg #350003

Give her a break Linda!

She needs to read her handbook before she unknowingly commits a felony!

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/22/10 3:15pm
Msg #350004

Okay..I'm really tired today...so please tell me

where did you see she's committing a felony?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 3:19pm
Msg #350006

I never said she committed a felony.

I said, if she doesn't read her handbook she might! Don't you agree?

Reply by GA/Atty on 8/22/10 3:24pm
Msg #350007

Not reading the handbook is a felony? Ouch! n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/22/10 4:00pm
Msg #350014

No, but's it's really easy to commit one if you don't read

it and pay attention.

I can't tell you how many notaries I've encountered who didn't know some of the basics... I swear to you, these are the same people who take the seminar classes advertised to "pass the exam" where the exam is given right after the class.

There is zero retention, and with the time it takes to get the commission after taking the exam? They're are a bunch of really stupid notaries out there.

Many of them don't even know that they can download the most recent handbook from the Secretary of State's website for Pete's sake...

I met a notary just yesterday who I saw flipping through the 2005 handbook! I about died... went to my car and gave her my copy of the new 2010 one.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 3:12pm
Msg #350002

Re: Answer is in your handbook.

So you undercharged.
I once had a job in CA where I had 40 sigs to notarize. I gave them a break on that one.
Pls read your handbook. WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU!!! How will you know if you are committing a felony or not?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/22/10 3:18pm
Msg #350005

Last week...

I was admonished by an AZ newbie who told me I was crass and rude on this board! Honestly folks, if you don't read and digest your handbooks, how are you going to differentiate between what's legal or illegal? We seasoned notaries who read our handbooks cannot help you when you commit a felony!!!

Reply by Krista Rogers on 8/22/10 3:30pm
Msg #350008

Re: Last week...

Thank you all! I have read my handbook, several times. Just had 1 question! All the book says is per signature and customers seem to think that means per customer! I just wanted clarification. So yes I usually undercharge and NO that is not a felony.
Thanks again!

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 8/23/10 3:04pm
Msg #350143

Sent a private response/No harm done/Just trying to help n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/22/10 3:57pm
Msg #350013

The answer is pretty clear... it's a MAXIMUM of $10 per signature notarized. You can charge less if you wish. You cannot charge anything in certain circumstances, but those are rare.

If you have two people signing one document, yet you only apply your seal to one page, that's TWO SIGNATURES. You can put both names on a single certificate. Think of it as $10 Max for every entry in your journal --- and You BETTER be making a single entry for each signature. In California, you can't combine them... nor can you use ditto marks or a diagonal line for multiple entries. Some teachers still say this is okay, but is isn't -- it's one complete entry per notarized signature.

The others are right, you need to read the handbook a bit closely, but it never hurts to ask clarifying questions.

Bit of a hint to make yourself sound more professional --- don't refer to your notary seal as a "stamp" or the act of applying your seal as "stamping" -- because not all notarial seals are stamps.

So if you have a single signer on four different documents... meaning four complete entries in your journal, you can charge a maximum of $40 for notary fees, plus travel or other service fees that might apply. Be sure they are aware and your receipt/invoice itemizes each notarial fee separate from the other fees... otherwise you could be accused of overcharging.

Personally, if I have somebody with 3 or more signatures to notarize at the same time, I tend to reduce the notary fee for each signature a bit... or I throw in a free one for every 3 they pay for. It depends on the situation and how good a negotiator they are. I'm usually fairly open to negotiating fees within my target profit margin. However, I make it very clear what their discount is, too... so they know I'm doing them a favor.

Reply by garland/CA on 8/22/10 11:02pm
Msg #350059

what about NotaryRotary Journal

it is set up for one signature line per signer. you have the option to choose numerous types of documents, allowing multiple documents to be marked for one signer - on one journal line. Different signers, of course, require separate journal line entries

Reply by John Tennant on 8/22/10 11:22pm
Msg #350064

California is one line per signature in the journal

My journal also has the multiple boxes on each line. In California, they are basically a convenience for noting what was done on that particular line.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/22/10 11:54pm
Msg #350067

Yay for Oregon - OAR 160-100-220 allows for abreviated

multiple entries in our journals.

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 8/23/10 2:55pm
Msg #350141

Re: Per Signature charge...Krista...

When you say
I have an appointment with 1 client, but stamp 4 pages, do you mean you will need to notarize 4 signatures of 1 client?

If so, California notary Law allows you to charge no more than the maximum of $10.00 per signature that you notarize.
Whether it is for 1 client or 3 clients, you may not charge more than the maximum of $10.00 per signature that you notarize.