Posted by Samuel Selig on 6/4/10 8:50pm
Msg #339868

signing

when i notarize a document of any type, do i put in the county i am notarizing in or the county of my commission?

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 6/4/10 8:56pm
Msg #339869

Uh oh... n/m

Reply by oldhippie_IL on 6/4/10 9:02pm
Msg #339870

Oh my!!! Who wants to answer........ n/m

Reply by desktopfull on 6/4/10 9:06pm
Msg #339871

I suggest you read your manual or resign your commission.

Reply by Roger_OH on 6/4/10 9:18pm
Msg #339873

Re: signing - Sam...

The venue is ALWAYS where your feet are when you notarizing.

The concern fom the others here is that this is very basic Notary 101 knowledge in ANY state, and if you don't know something this basic, what else don't you know that may get you into trouble later? Your lack of knowledge compromises your ability to protect the public, who trusts you to know what you're doing.

Read your manual and learn your state laws thoroughly. Get yourself an Errors & Omissions insurance policy to protect you from notary errors; not knowing your stuff can potentially land you in SERIOUS difficulty.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/4/10 9:38pm
Msg #339877

Re: signing - Sam...

E&O insurance is for unintentional errors. It will not cover you for not knowing what you're doing. It's not a bullet-proof vest.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/4/10 9:59pm
Msg #339885

Samuel
I realize you are a new notary (since the end of March)and the Oklahoma notary guide is a joke (very brief - 5 pages and not enough info for new notaries) so I'll go easy on you

The venue is always where your feet are planted.

Reply by Samuel Selig on 6/4/10 10:21pm
Msg #339890

Thank you for answering my question. Yes I am new and the Oklahoma manual is a joke. I am going to classes as soon as some are available in my area. I have only Notarized one document and because of your answers I did it correctly. Thank you again!!

Reply by Frank/NC on 6/5/10 6:46am
Msg #339901

Oh, well!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/5/10 7:57am
Msg #339904

You are welcome Samuel.

I also sent you a PM last night.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/5/10 8:41am
Msg #339911

At least you knew to come to NR with your question & Sylvia gave you a straight answer. I'm sure she'll steer you in the right direction to get some training. Sorry, we often give sarcastic answers because of those that get into the NSA business without a clue. Your's was a basic notary question. Welcome.

Reply by desktopfull on 6/5/10 10:24am
Msg #339922

My sympathies are with the borrower's

since they are having to rely on someone that obviously doesn't have a clue on how to properly notarize anything and is probably simularily as knowledgable about the documents that he is about to present to these people. One would think that it is generally customary to inform yourself about a job before hanging up your shingle to perform the service.

This is the #1 reason there is so much handholding and lack of respect in this profession. I'm not trying to be hard on OP, but his lack of knowledge can really mess things up for people and himself. I hope that the OP is carrying liability insurance, as another poster stated E & O only covers unintentional errors, not lack of knowledge errors. I hope that the OP takes some classes somewhere to figure out what is required of him before accepting another closing if for nothing else the sake of the borrower's.

Reply by Roger_OH on 6/5/10 11:25am
Msg #339927

E&O - unintentional vs ignorance...

For E&O purposes then, I'm curious to what standard a notary is held if there are no state standards? If an ill-trained notary makes an error, it likely wasn't intentional.

I don't see how an insurance carrier could differentiate between intent and competence, when many states have no standards. If you pass an exam, that's likely going to be considered a standard level of competence for that state, and I'd think most errors would fall under the "unintentional" category.

Here in Ohio, some counties administer exams, some don't - there's no uniform statewide standard. I wouldn't think a carrier could supersede what's required (or not) by that state in considering a claim, especially in states where no exam is required to establish that standard.

Otherwise, how could anyone tell?

Reply by MikeC/NY on 6/5/10 1:38pm
Msg #339935

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

He didn't say he was doing loan signings.

Reply by desktopfull on 6/5/10 4:55pm
Msg #339948

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Mike the OP subject line said "signing", that usually indicates a loan signing doesn't it?

Reply by Samuel Selig on 6/5/10 6:35pm
Msg #339955

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Thank you to all who responded to my question. I am currently taking a course and have ordered manuals from several states to get a general idea of what I am suppose to know. Also to those who thought I was talking about notarizing some kind of loan, not so. I refuse to do anyting that involves money in that way. The one item I did notarize was a car title and I did it correctly. I do have a basic knowledge of what is required of a Notary and the standard I am to adhere to. Again, thank you for your many responses, both good and sarcastic!! I am sure I will have other questions later and this is where I will come for answers.

Reply by jba/fl on 6/5/10 7:15pm
Msg #339956

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

"I am currently taking a course and have ordered manuals from several states to get a general idea of what I am suppose to know. "

That is admirable to take a course where you can get it. Ordering manuals? Did you know you could get most of them free online by downloading from the various states, usually Secretary of State.

There is an organization that will sell them to you, but sometimes they 'rewrite' them, and add their own interpretations as well. I would hate to see you spend money on something you can get for free.

This is for Florida - we have an excellent manual and many of our rules will work anywhere. Of course, you should cross reference with whatever it is that OK has to be certain.

http://www.flgov.com/notary_ref_manual

And, please, do return with your questions. . . that is exactly why we are here, to help each other. I like that your are being careful - that is of great importance.

Reply by Doris_CO on 6/5/10 7:16pm
Msg #339957

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Samuel, you have a great attitude and you'll do well as long as you're willing to learn. Check under Notary Public 101 on this site to see if there is a training course available to you. A lot of states have their Notary Public manuals online and if you want a hard copy you can print the manual from your own printer. Also, the Professional Signing Agent Training Manual, which is sold here under Notary Supplies is very highly recommended. Even if you don't plan on being involved in loan signings, there is great information on running your Notary Public business in the PSATM.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/5/10 7:44pm
Msg #339959

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Doris
The Oklahoma "notary guide" which is available online is, as I said earlier and Samuel confirmed it, is a joke.

I did send Samuel a PM yesterday offering him help, but am not sure he understands PM's.

Reply by Doris_CO on 6/5/10 8:40pm
Msg #339961

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

You're right Sylvia. I was thinking that many states have their manuals online but I guess I didn't express it properly.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 6/5/10 8:51pm
Msg #339962

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Several states have handbooks that are less than helpful to new notaries.
Florida's and California's are the best ones I have seen.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 6/5/10 7:18pm
Msg #339958

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's

Not always. Someone who doesn't do loan signings wouldn't know that's what we usually take the word to mean here. Apparently, he was just referring to signing some general document (that's the way I read it, at least).

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 6/5/10 1:52pm
Msg #339936

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's...DTF

He said "I am new and the Oklahoma manual is a joke. I am going to classes as soon as some are available in my area. I have only Notarized one document"

It was one document - not a loan signing - I agree he needs classes but don't chastise him for something he didn't do.

Reply by desktopfull on 6/5/10 5:01pm
Msg #339949

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's...DTF

Linda in the subject line the OP said "signing" that generally indicates a loan signing. But, what the heck let him learn from the school of hard knocks along with the people he notarizes documents for, it won't affect anyone that I would know. Good luck to the OP.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/6/10 12:38am
Msg #339979

Re: My sympathies are with the borrower's...DTF

"Signing" may mean loans to us, but not necessarily to others who are engaged in our business. A signature is, after all, what we notarize.

I agree that Samuel showed a refreshing attitude compared to some who come here asking for a handout and are just charging into business like a bull in a china shop without a clue or a care.

Best of luck to you, Samuel!

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 6/5/10 12:29pm
Msg #339932

***I am going to classes as soon as some are available in my area. I have only Notarized one document***

I can appreciate your dilemma; what I cannot appreciate is your answer to it.

If you don't yet have the tools to do the job, then you should not be accepting work. That's true in every profession from nuclear engineering to hair dressing. Why would you think that the notary public profession is any different?

Reply by Yoli/CA on 6/4/10 10:55pm
Msg #339892

Really? n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 6/4/10 11:44pm
Msg #339894

Let this be a lesson to us.

There are still a few states in the Union that don't require anymore than a fee and a pulse in order to get a commission. So lets go easy until we find out if we are really are dealing with a dummy or one of those no training, no useful manual states.

Reply by Lee/AR on 6/5/10 1:01am
Msg #339898

Very true, Glenn...

When I was first commissioned in WI, the 'handbook' was not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes and was only about 12 pages of completely useless info. In Arkansas, the first handbook I received really only dealt with the procedure of obtaining a Notary Commission. It has improved over the last 10 years, but still leaves a bit to be desired. I honestly have learned way more on NR over the years.

Reply by PAW on 6/5/10 8:05am
Msg #339907

The last requirement is optional in many cases! :)

>>> There are still a few states in the Union that don't require anymore than a fee and a pulse in order to get a commission. <<<

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 6/5/10 3:31pm
Msg #339939

In Illinois, a pulse is optional (if you know.....

the right politician)

Reply by Shauna/WA on 6/5/10 11:45am
Msg #339928

Re: Let this be a lesson to us.

True, to a point. My state requires a pulse, $50 and a bond. Beyond that, it's on the notary to obtain the proper training. I'm new but didn't do my first closing until I knew all documents so well that I dreamed about them and knew not only my laws but standards I should adhere to. I wouldn't notarize until then.

Reply by BrendaTx on 6/5/10 8:44am
Msg #339912

The OK notary handbook leaves much to be desired.

Samuel,

As Roger stated, you fill in the county as the county that the notary act takes place. Of course, the state will always be OK because you cannot notarize outside of your state.

Given the brief set of notary rules you are provided by the State of Oklahoma this is not a surprising question for a new notary to have.

I did not see where your notary FAQs or notary handbook covered this.