Posted by Jillian Hinrichs on 2/14/12 1:28pm
Msg #411727

What To Do When Signature Doesn't Match ID Signature?

I just did a signing where the borrower said she has 3 different signatures that she uses - I had her put all 3 into my journal. She signed the docs with one of those signatures but it did not match the signature on her ID. I contacted the signing company and they said since it wasn't a Provident loan it should be fine, but they would put a note in their file about it. They did ask if she included her middle initial and I said she said she did, but you couldn't tell for certain.

I know that if the signature matches the ID I am covered (at least according to my state), but what do you do when it doesn't? Should I have had her write out a statement saying that the signature on the docs was her real signature even though it didn't match the one on her ID, or was alerting the signing company good enough? What if I couldn't reach them?

Reply by MW/VA on 2/14/12 1:46pm
Msg #411732

I know that some states specify that signatures need to match, and also that some notaries are very concerned about that. My take is always that as a notary I positively identify the person signing & witness their signature. People do change their signatures & I've encountered some that use a particular style that represents their signature. IMO that's not for me to judge. PAW had posted several times the fact that a person's legal signature is their legal signature, whether it is legible, makes senses, etc. That was very helpful to me in aiding my discernment as a notary. :-)

Reply by lucky/ca on 2/14/12 3:26pm
Msg #411740

This information was very helpful but I don't know what IMO and PAW stand for.

Thank you.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/14/12 3:29pm
Msg #411741

IMO = In My Opinion

PAW = Paul A. Williamson - one of the most brilliant notaries to ever grace us with his presence. He passed away last July and we all miss him dearly. For those of us that knew him, he left a little piece of himself with each of us when he passed.

JMHO (Just My Humble Opinion)

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 2/14/12 3:39pm
Msg #411745

Yikes!

We're apparently seeing a new generation of notaries unfamiliar with PAW.
Inevitable, I guess. Still, very sad.

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 2/14/12 4:29pm
Msg #411759

IMO = In my opinion PAW = Paul Williams: A very smart

Notary Public with a great wealth of information.
(Paul passed away in 2011)
So if someone referred to PAW, it was good info.
I do not know Paul's middle name.

Reply by Saul Leibowitz on 2/14/12 6:40pm
Msg #411779

Re: IMO = In my opinion PAW = Paul Williams: A very smart

Paul's wife's name was Ann or something like that and the website was PAW for both of them.
"Don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly." His most famous signature line.

Reply by jba/fl on 2/14/12 6:42pm
Msg #411780

Correct, Saul. n/m

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 2/14/12 7:46pm
Msg #411794

Re: Correct, Saul.

I miss PAW! I was always eager to read what Paul had to say!

Reply by lucky/ca on 2/14/12 8:50pm
Msg #411806

Re: IMO = In my opinion PAW = Paul Williams: A very smart

Oh, now I understand. Sorry to hear Paul passed away.

Thank you.

Reply by Belinda/CA on 2/14/12 11:54pm
Msg #411820

How can we still access his website? n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/15/12 5:59am
Msg #411825

Belinda..just go to the site..Sylvia kept it active

www.pawnotary.com