Posted by Carol Graff on 12/13/12 5:11pm
Msg #446443

Does anyone charge to be a witness?

Just curious as I do not. I had a woman very upset call me and said the Notary quoted her $60 total then charged her another $40 for being a witness on 4 docs. Apparently notary said the POA needed notarization and witnesses???? Never heard of that (here in CA).

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/13/12 7:33pm
Msg #446459

If *I'm* the witness, no - I don't charge...if I have to

provide another witness, then there's a fee.

I wonder if what she did is legal...hrrmm.. Sounds like she's charging per HER signature, not per signature notarized. If it's legal, I have to say IMO it sure is tacky to do that.

JMO

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/13/12 8:09pm
Msg #446466

Every POA I've ever notarized required witnesses but I would never charge to be one.
I don't blame the woman for being upset. If I would her, I would inquire with the SOS of the state to see if this is legal or even ethical in their view.

Reply by LKT/CA on 12/13/12 8:46pm
Msg #446475

In CA, a POA is witnessed or notarized - not both. I do not charge to be a witness but I will charge for travel. For example: If someone requests a Will to be witnessed, I will charge a travel fee but I don't charge to be the witness.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 12/13/12 9:10pm
Msg #446477

I do not charge to be a witness, but I have charged a fee, when I was asked to provide addtional witnesses.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/13/12 9:30pm
Msg #446480

Sounds like a notary who didn't know what they were doing. POA forms -- such as the AHCD/POA for healthcare in CA can be notarized *OR* witnessed by two people. It doesn't have to be both. The only caveat is if the signer is in a nursing home, and if it is notarized, then the law requires an Ombudsman to be present as a witness...but the other witnesses are not necessary. The language clearly states it.

I've often been called in to notarize trust document packages that then also signed as the witness on the will at no additional charge. It just seems silly to do that.

There have been times when I've been asked to come and be *just* an impartial witness, no notarization required. In those cases, I charge a travel fee or an hourly rate, depending on the situation. Since all I need to do is show up, watch, chit chat and sign it's no big deal. I'm not acting as a notary.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/14/12 8:09am
Msg #446507

This sounds like the same math applied by a

former poster here..

They would charge $10/signature notarized and, in the case of a jurat, $10 each time they administered the oath for that jurat - so, in essence, each signature notarized was costing $20 PLUS the notary's travel charges. Sounds to me like the same premise was applied here. IMO it was wrong back then and it's wrong now.