Posted by Kathryn on 5/22/11 9:27pm
Msg #384029

Florida

1. Is Florida a witness state?
2. Any advice on marketing in Fla. (maybe those who aren't here can give advice)... I may move to the area.
3. I have done this 11 years in another state so I am not a newby.
4. I will be working in Central. Florida
5. Thanks fellow notaries !

Reply by Kathryn on 5/22/11 9:30pm
Msg #384030

OOPS.
6. Is NNA certification necessary?

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/23/11 5:19am
Msg #384036

NO

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/23/11 5:19am
Msg #384035

I work there during the Winter for the last several years and believe me when I say it's dead, good luck with that. Homes there have lost most of their value the only work I had was out of state properties. And the only time you need witnesses is for change in title. Refinances are no witness required. Why not pull the notary handbook off the internet and review it. You have to take a test, very easy. Good luck

Reply by jba/fl on 5/23/11 9:56am
Msg #384069

How do you hold a commission in Florida and wherever it is you live? Florida does not allow this....or do you know this? Review your handbook, page 6. Last I heard you may not be dual commissioned or we would have notaries along the border of GA and AL doing just that.

Just curious.

Reply by PAW on 5/23/11 10:13am
Msg #384071

Yes you can be dual commissioned in FL. Only thing is, you must be a Florida resident to be a Florida notary. Border states can allow for those who are employed in their state to hold a commission in that state as well as the 'home' state of Florida.

I do know of some instances where notaries have received their commission but really are not Florida residence as defined in the statutes. The SOS doesn't seem too concerned about them either.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/23/11 10:15am
Msg #384072

Well then, now, I am more curious than ever

How does one hold a Florida commission with a MD address?

Reply by NJDiva on 5/23/11 10:23am
Msg #384074

Re: Well then, now, I am more curious than ever

A winter home. Dual residency. People from up here hold dual residencies.

Reply by NJDiva on 5/23/11 10:23am
Msg #384075

6 months up here, 6 months down there... n/m

Reply by PAW on 5/23/11 10:31am
Msg #384077

You cannot be a resident of two states simultaeously

At least under FL law...

(1) Any person who shall have established a domicile in this state may manifest and evidence the same by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the said person shall reside, a sworn statement showing that he or she resides in and maintains a place of abode in that county which he or she recognizes and intends to maintain as his or her permanent home.

(2) Any person who shall have established a domicile in the State of Florida, but who shall maintain another place or places of abode in some other state or states, may manifest and evidence his or her domicile in this state by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which he or she resides, a sworn statement that his or her place of abode in Florida constitutes his or her predominant and principal home, and that he or she intends to continue it permanently as such.

(Note: This is not a complete statute. See full and complete Florida Statutes for additional information.)

See http://tinyurl.com/3h8u6sq

Reply by PAW on 5/23/11 10:34am
Msg #384078

S/B: You cannot have a domicile in two states simultaeously n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 5/23/11 10:41am
Msg #384079

Re: Well then, now, I am more curious than ever

"People from up here hold dual residencies."

For tax purposes that is not allowed either - one must be second home from what I understand.

Reply by PAW on 5/23/11 10:59am
Msg #384080

Difference between "residence" and "domicile"

Residence refers to a place of adode that is more than merely temporary. It is also used interchangeably with the term "domicile". Although a person may have more than one residence, a person may have only one legal domicile, which is their primary residence for purposes of obtaining the jurisdiction of the court in the area of domicile.

According to West's ... "residence n. 1) the place where one makes his/her home. However, a person may have his/her state of "domicile" elsewhere for tax or other purposes, especially if the residence is for convenience or not of long standing."

Reply by PAW on 5/23/11 10:23am
Msg #384076

By the book ...

A resident of Florida can be a Florida notary. No problem there. Having a second commission in another state is up to the other state. Some states simply require that the person be employed in the state in which they are applying. Therefore if some one claimed residency in Florida (and could prove it) and worked in Maryland, there's nothing that would stop them from having two commissions. (Granted, FL-MD is a stretch.)

Another reason that someone may have a FL commission with an out-of-state address is because of work. The may be using the company address instead of their own. (I've seen this a few times with bank employees. Their address is GA, home office of the bank, but they live and work here in FL.)

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 5/23/11 5:31am
Msg #384037

My advice... Find a new career

You may think this is harsh, but Florida is big time oversaturated. We have waaaayyyyy too many notaries. I don't think you could wrap your head around how bad the situation is in Florida. And you are moving to Central Florida which is big time oversaturated.

Seriously. Please take my advice and find something else to do. There are way too many notaries and no work.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 5/23/11 6:16am
Msg #384038

PLS DO NOT take FlaNotary2's advice...he's NOT in this line

of work as he is NOT an NSA.

Besides, if you've been in this business for that long, then you know what it takes to gain new business, and that it takes much effort, including, marketing, marketing, marketing!

Just do us all a favor and please DO NOT accept low ball fees, it hurts us all in this biz.

Good luck on your move. =)

Reply by NJDiva on 5/23/11 7:59am
Msg #384043

why wouldn't he/she listen to Fla ESPECIALLY...

because FlaNotary2's not an NSA? FlaNotary2 has nothing to gain or lose because he's not working in the field and he doesn't have to worry about competition.

It seems to me like Fla is just giving an honest opinion of his experience in his area.

Like you said, if this person's been in the business for 11 years then they also know to heed advice from a fellow notary.

I'm not defending or challenging anyone...just contributing my two cents.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 5/23/11 12:16pm
Msg #384089

I don't have to "prove" that I'm qualified to respond to

this post... my credentials speak for themselves.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/23/11 12:48pm
Msg #384091

Re: I don't have to "prove" that I'm qualified to respond to

Not everyone here is aware of your credentials.

But, I really don't see how you would personally know how business was in Central Florida for signing agents as you are not in the Central Florida area and you have posted repeatedly you don't do loan signings.
There is an overabundance of notaries in Florida. But I think you will find the majority are notaries because their jobs require them to be.
I have taught many notary classes where the attendees were there because their employers required it.

But, the initial post was asking if Florida was a witness state (answer is "not for mortgages except for Dixie county. Witnesses in Florida only needed for transfer of property - QCD's etc)

Also asking for marketing advice. I would say whatever methods for marketing she used in Tennessee to repeat them here if they worked for her in TN.

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/23/11 12:55pm
Msg #384092

Excellent post Sylvia n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 5/23/11 2:17pm
Msg #384106

Credentials only tell part of the story about a person.

You're certainly willing to speak way beyond those credentials. LOL

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 5/23/11 2:35pm
Msg #384109

That's true, but

when I started out at this board I was constantly attacked for the positions I took and statements I made. Many members went out of their way to make it look like I didn't know anything and was nothing but a troll. The courts have considered me an expert. The State of Florida has designated me a notary educator. No one else on this board holds that designation (although Sylvia and PAW have taught classes, they have not developed their own state-approved curriculum).

Bottom line, when I talk about notary law, I know what I'm talking about. And IMO no one has the right to tell me that my thoughts don't matter when we are talking about the notarial profession in Florida. I don't need approval from this board - I have the approval of attorneys, judges, and the Governor's office.

You're right. Credentials only tell part of my story. Anyone who wants to know my story is welcome to come hear it. We don't know each other on this board. We only know each other's attitude as it appears in typewritten form. Marilyn, you don't really know anything about me. Neither does Cari. If either of you want to take the time to get to know me, maybe your opinion of me would be changed. Maybe it wouldn't. We all have lives outside this board, and it is easy to forget this. I am a notary but I am also a lot of other things. So are all the other members here. We all have families, friends, hobbies. Let's keep that in mind before we right-off-the-bat condemn anything posted by FlaNotary2 before we've taken the time to read it and take it for what it's worth.

Reply by jba/fl on 5/23/11 3:13pm
Msg #384111

Excellent well-thought out response. n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/23/11 3:33pm
Msg #384113

Re: That's true, but

It's true that neither Paul nor I have submitted any curriculum to the state, however we both have extensive knowledge and experience as we have been doing this for years.
The classes I have taught have been approved by the state.

Sounds like you want to play "¿Quienes más macho?"

But " IMO no one has the right to tell me that my thoughts don't matter when we are talking about the notarial profession in Florida"

The general notary profession is a little different than the NSA profession.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 5/23/11 5:49pm
Msg #384125

Absolutely not

I respect yours and PAW's vast knowledge. I only wanted to point out that I don't deserve to get slammed every time I post as Cari did above.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/23/11 6:39pm
Msg #384131

Re: Absolutely not

Explanation accepted. I just failed to see how your credentials had anything to do with the current topic.
can understand Cari posting that as you are not in the signing agent business you really don't have first hand knowledge as to what the business is like in the Central Florida area, but I didn't care too much for the way she delivered that message.

Pax

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 5/24/11 2:29pm
Msg #384205

and you tell your 'story' at EVERY opportune moment...

but no one is talking about your experience in notary law here...the post was about NSA business...and you ALWAYS put your nose into these particular discussions which truly do not pertain to you, as you have admitted and have written many many many times over on this board, that you do not work as an NSA.

So when you respond to these particular topics of discussion, as a non-experienced NSA, why should ANYONE even bother to read your responses?

My response to those OP, to not pay you any mind, is very much valid.

So I guess I too will continue beating a dead horse each and every time...

Reply by MW/VA on 5/23/11 8:04am
Msg #384044

I'm curious here, again. Isn't it kind of ironic that you

want to gain respect for the role of notary as a public official, yet constantly try to limit
your competition? At the same time you teach a course?
You are employed, and use your notary skills primarily in your job. This is true of many notaries. The majority are not self-employed, as some of us are. This site is for professional notaries, and you & your opinions are welcome here, like everyone else. I'm not thrilled with your personal agenda of trying to advocate fewer notaries. Many of us, whether NSA's or not, take our role very seriously. It is a big responsibility to conduct loan signings, whether you agree with that or not.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/23/11 7:57am
Msg #384042

Kathryn, you asked the same thing at the beginning

of March and got several responses Msg #375553

You've also asked this same questions about relocation previously, with good response - do a search and refer to your older posts...

And why in the world would you ask if NNA certification is required??

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 5/23/11 8:26am
Msg #384049

Kathryn
As has been pointed out Florida is saturated with notaries. The NNA had several classes on how you could make $125 per signing and how Florida needed notaries. These classes brought a lot of hopefuls into the business.
When I started doing loan signings there were two notaries in the county doing loan signings, I was one of them - and the other girl also had a full time job, so you can guess which one of us had the most loan signings. I was making real good money.
But now, it is more or less "dead". I even closed my Signing Service because business was getting bad and plus I needed to spend more time taking care of mine and my husbands health.
Central Florida is especially saturated.
You would be better getting a regular job (and even those are hard to get, unemployment is high), and doing loan signings on the side to test the waters.

With things as they are I would seriously reconsider.
You would have to study the notary handbook and take a test and be bonded. Florida notary laws are more detailed than a lot of other states (they are more like California's).

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Reply by Kathryn on 5/23/11 8:52am
Msg #384050

THANK you for all of your responses ! I so much appreciate it~ yes I did post in March but couldn't find my previous post. Thank You Linda for pointing me to that area!
I didn't want to know if NNA was required... I should have worded that different. I wanted to know if it was helpful to put that on my profile. Where I came from , it didn't matter !
Thank You to all the NSA who commented.
God bless you.

Reply by jba/fl on 5/23/11 9:45am
Msg #384068

You can find your posts by searching under your name or posting name. If you cannot use the orange search button, you will be severely hampered searching for business.

I live in Orlando - central Florida is my area. I welcome your competition for all the low-ball crap that poses as business here. You can have it all. Many of us are leaving the business. I just recently downgraded my listing to Basic as I have had no new leads from here in a coon's age. The property values are 1/2 what they were couple of years ago, and are falling as we speak.

Job market in general? You need to know someone to get hired. Your presense in the state is not enough. Our cost of living is as high as most other places, and we pay more for food than many other states. Utilities are high as well.

I think I would reinvent myself in my current place. At least I have a friend base and knowledge of the area and how to get around from place to place and where to find local bargains; who offers what in the way of aid is also important. You need to research all of this BEFORE you move.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Reply by MW/VA on 5/23/11 2:11pm
Msg #384104

Absolutely, Julie. That's why I realized a move to FL is

not in my future at this point. At least not as long as I need to work (which may be until I die).
LOL

Reply by MW/VA on 5/23/11 8:54am
Msg #384051

Well said, Sylvia. The fact is that many people are

getting out of this biz because there just isn't enough business & fees being offered are too low.
It won't stop the XYZ from selling their wares, unfortunately.