Posted by Jennifer Jackson on 10/14/12 9:11pm
Msg #438568

WEIRD

Got the weirdest call today from a guy saying he needed me to notarize his ID, passport, and SSN card. WHAT? I told him notaries do not notarize these because we notarize signatures, not photo IDs...he told me he has had it done before. By who, and where???

Reply by pan/nd on 10/14/12 9:23pm
Msg #438572

Where? could be anywhere


WHO? that's easy.....by a dope who doesn't know any better

Reply by Roger_OH on 10/14/12 9:54pm
Msg #438577

Not a weird request at all...

The fellow was likely asking for certified copies of those documents. State laws vary as to how the notary actually handles these. In some states, the notary can directly certify that the document is a true copy; in others, the requester may make a written statement as the document custodian that the documents are true copies, and then their signature on the statement is notarized.

You should know your state notary laws regarding the handling of copy certifications, as well as the restrictions as to the types of documents that cannot be certified as copies. You may have done your customer a disservice by not helping him.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 10/15/12 6:12am
Msg #438584

Some states do allow this - if he were in my state of VA a notary could certify copies of these items for him.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/15/12 7:39am
Msg #438589

Agree, not weird...we could do it here in FL too

but WE must make the copies. Either WE make the copies and certify that copy or we notarize the custodial doc that Roger mentioned and notarize their signature - then the signer is certifying the true copy, not us.

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/15/12 11:27am
Msg #438609

Re: Agree, not weird...we could do it here in FL too

Like Fl, my notary trainer stipulated that certifying true copies meant copies of the original were to be made by Us. I remember questioning that, since when I worked in a F.I., I'd bring documents to the desk notary to certify (I wasn't a notary then) and he'd hesitate a little. Since we were colleagues I thought I was saving him time; we all used the same system, though, so anyone could see these were the orig printouts. Even with coworkers, you have to be cautious.