Posted by cawest/PA on 3/12/10 1:57pm
Msg #326928

As anyone ever been called for a notarization in Jail?

Now that I was thinking that Mickey from California might spend some time behind bars (highly unlikely but than you never know that Judge came back with a fast decision), has anyone ever been called to go notarize in Jail?
That might be another venue where we might do some marketing, there is a huge population behind bars and they need to sign over some of their assets.

Reply by Traci/MD on 3/12/10 2:06pm
Msg #326931

A few years back. I closed a loan in the federal prison.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/12/10 2:07pm
Msg #326932

Yes, lots of notaries do this all the time.

Where I live, it's not allowed because the notary would not be allowed to have a contact visit with the prisoner. I was called by a desperate mom of an inmate who needed a POA signed by the inmate so they could get the car out of impound (racking up daily impound fees), but when I called the jail to see how the notarization could be facilitated I was told that they have deputies who are notaries and they "will get to it when they get to it".

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/12/10 2:07pm
Msg #326933

I have performed weddings in the correctional facility

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 3/12/10 2:18pm
Msg #326938

Whi's Mickey?

And why is Mickey going to jail?

Anyway.. sure, I've done plenty of them. The majority of the ones I've done are at the Immigration detention center that is run by the county. I'm there all the time.

The thing with jails is that each one is different, and procedures vary widely. For example, there is a privately run jail about an hour north of me that does not allow outside notaries. They have an in-house notary. Next door the one I go to all the time is a state prison -- and the procedure for getting in to state prison is much more difficult. Inmates there really should go through Litigation Office. They have a Litigation Coordinator that might allow a notary to come in, but it's up to them. Most of the time, an outside notary has to be put on the inmate's visitor list and have go through an entire background check and approval process. It takes a long time, and not really worth the trouble. I always tell family members to talk to the Litigation Office.

Then... there are the County jails. In Los Angeles County, each one of the jails is different. Men's Central, which is downtown, will only allow certain types of documents to be notarized, and you have to go through the legal office. I don't deal with them, either.

Marketing to the jail directly isn't very helpful. However, learning the procdures at your local jails can be important.

Like I said, for me --- I get a LOT of business to the immigration detention center. They make it really easy for notaries to visit, and I always feel safe there. Most of the time, I'm called in to notarize Inability to Appear affidavits -- because they're trying to get married to avoid deportation.

I also get called to our county courthouse a lot -- especially by guys who are being housed at Men's Central and have court in the area where we are an hour north. It's far easier to get things done at the courthouse than at the jail facility itself.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/12/10 2:23pm
Msg #326941

Re: Whi's Mickey?

I believe Mickey is referring to Michael - the one involved in James' court case

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 3/12/10 2:24pm
Msg #326944

OH!!! Why would he be going to jail?

The talk about the pokey was a joke. Nobody's going to jail for a civil complaint.

Reply by cawest/PA on 3/12/10 2:24pm
Msg #326943

Re: Whi's Mickey?

Mickey was just a *pun*

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 3/12/10 2:24pm
Msg #326945

I think my new medication is getting to me. n/m

Reply by Jim/AL on 3/12/10 3:23pm
Msg #326960

Re: Whi's Mickey? I think James NotarySigner is being

referenced here. May be going back to teaching or painting, lol.

Reply by Laura_V on 3/13/10 9:55am
Msg #327091

yeppers and LOL is right! n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 3/12/10 2:19pm
Msg #326939

I used to do it back in CA. One of my clients suggested I stand in front of the facility and hand out pens during visiting hours.
Another one had a terrible thing happen. I did a POA for her husband who was the inmate. Sometime after he was released he had a stroke (young man) and was incapacitated. She called me, crying to see if I had a copy of it as she threw hers away after he was released. Sad because they had a child.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 3/12/10 3:08pm
Msg #326956

Jojomn and I left our cards at the sherrifs when we decided to go get ourselves fingerprinted after imbibing a bit one night. I have gotten 2 calls who said they were given my number by the sherrifs dept. Both were shut in's who were signing complaints or affidavits.
On another occaision, a judge freind called me and asked me to go to the jail to get a signiture on a deed. The wife was inthere for contempt of court in a divorce case. She was also facing other charges for emptying the house of everything when she had been ordered to stay away from the house until things were settled. She didn't sign. The last I saw of her were the bottoms of her feet as she was being dragged back to her cell.

Reply by Grace Gully on 3/12/10 3:50pm
Msg #326966

I've closed loans at correctional facilities, don't pack to heavy as you will get checked by a metal detecter and frisked, the officers will supply the pens. I just brought my journal thumb printer and stamp can't get anything else in. My fees are much higher for this type of signing. Good Luck

Reply by ChristineHI on 3/12/10 5:39pm
Msg #326988

I did a jail signing for the same guy twice. Our jail in Maui is pretty low security I am sure compared to the mainland, but it was scary nonetheless. This guy had committed a pretty horrible crime so I was a bit nervous. The first time I met the prisoner with his realtor and attorney. The second time I was alone. He needed to sign some sales papers for the sale of his property and some banking stuff. I had the jail issue me a jail ID that I used for ID purposes. I also dressed very conservative as I was told that I could be told to leave if they felt my dress was not conservative enough. I wore a turtle neck with long sleeves and a long skirt....and it is hot in Maui so that was fun. I thought about marketing there until that experience. It was quite depressing and I decided that I didn't want to make that my area of expertise.
Make sure you know all the rules of the jail before you go. That is probably what I think is most important, and give yourself extra time because they didn't seem to care how long it took. They would get you the prisoner when they were good and ready to, even with an appointment.

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/12/10 6:45pm
Msg #326990

Yes, I have done jail notarizations (general notary work). They are time consuming (lots of waiting around) and can be a hassle so I charge a premium and require a signed customer agreement and advanced payment before I'm willing to go.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 3/12/10 6:53pm
Msg #326992

Yes...I've done two signings at the county jail. Allow extra time.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 3/12/10 9:08pm
Msg #327011

LOTS of extra time. n/m