Posted by Marian_in_CA on 3/24/10 11:48am
Msg #328732

Old school style notarizing... with ribbon

The discussion below about embossers and gold seals reminded me to post this --- it's something I've been wondering about. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to simply serve as a witness to a signature on a document. I wasn't actually acting in the role of a notary then. We were at an attorney's office, and the attorney prepared this big package of documents (estate related), one of which I had signed as a witness.

The attorney's assistant (also a notary) did something I haven't actually seen done in person yet... she placed a cover on the package, punched holes across the top, then weaved and tied this ribbon in the neatest way, bringing them behind and through a particular page on the package and then used a sticky gold seal over the ribbon, embossed it, then used her ink seal right next to it. She was not notarizing my signature... but that of one of the other individuals on a sworn statement related to the entire package.

It looked pretty cool, but I can't imagine it being very practical. Of course, there were multiple copies made without the fancy tie job, and attached to each of those were sworn statements from all of us (which were notarized) that we observed the entire process of copying the original, etc., which we did.

It did seem a bit like overkill... but given the circumstances of the situation, I understood why they were being meticulous about it. They even had a video camera rolling the whole time.

Do any of you do this or have an example of how that looks? I should have asked her how she did that, but was in a hurry to get to another appointment.

I'm not sure I'd ever have a need to do that.... but it was neat to watch.

Reply by Robert/FL on 3/24/10 12:06pm
Msg #328733

I have done this on attested copies.... it is quite easy and looks VERY impressive. But no, it's not practical if the document is going to be photocopied again or recorded, as this makes it impossible to separate the pages other than to cut the ribbon.

It's hard to describe how to do it.... if you want, I could mail you a sample of what it looks like so you can see for yourself. Basically, you punch a hole in the top left corner, fold the ribbon in half and stick the folded edge through the holes and then wrap the loose ends into the loop, pull it tight, and then place on the foil seal and emboss over it.

Like I said, it's hard to explain it other than to show you an example.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/24/10 12:12pm
Msg #328736

It is a larks head knot - for those who have done macrame, you know it as the starting knot in most instances.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/24/10 12:14pm
Msg #328737

Posted too fast

But, that is knot (pun) what was described in the original post.