Posted by Belinda/CA on 7/10/13 4:53pm
Msg #476249

Cannot locate threads on the usual procedure that goes

down when administering an oath to the clients while the judge and attorneys are on the phone. (Non-LSA job.) The client is bedridden and is appearing before the judge from home. They have hired me to administer the oath during this proceeding. I know what to say oath-wise. This is not my question.

I am curious from you folks how this procedure might go down and any experience you may have you can share with me/us.

I assume the judge or attorney will address me and then it's my turn.
Can I then excuse myself and leave or do I need to stay? (Being paid beforehand of course.)

Thank you.

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/10/13 5:15pm
Msg #476252

Sounds like it may be a deposition. There will call the person at a agreed upon time. You will be there along with whoever. Usually on a speaker phone, they will asked everyone there to identify themselves. They will ask if you are a notary in the State of Ca and your commission # and when it expires...You will give them an oath and after they affirm.....you can sit there a listen or sometimes they will dismiss you, depending.
That's it.
I'm sure other's will chime in but that's been my CALIF experience. LOL

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/10/13 6:32pm
Msg #476261

I've done a few...each was different.

1st was as NotarySigner said. Arrive a bit early, get ID/Journal out of the way. Wait for call.
Give oath (and anything else they may want) and leave.
2nd one was handled the same, but the lady was really disappointed that I wasn't going to stay and listen to her side of the story about how he'd done her wrong. Too bad... I am gone.
3rd was a bit screwy as they immediately started deposing the person and I had to stick my mouth in there to explain that I was a Notary hired to give the oath... (I could 'hear' their embarrassment).
Did that and left.
There is usually one page that you have to fax back afterward, but no reason that you have to hang around for the deposition after you've sworn 'em in.

Reply by Saul Leibowitz on 7/10/13 7:04pm
Msg #476268

Re: I've done a few...each was different.

Make sure you give the oath on the record, not before and ask the judge, on the record, if you can leave.
Good Luck!

Reply by ikando on 7/10/13 8:30pm
Msg #476275

Re: I've done a few...each was different.

It's been my experience that either the judge or the attorney will state the oath they want, with me repeating it to the deponent, who has raised their right hand and acknowledges.

I always take care of my business portion before the set contact time, then slide out the door when my part is done.

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 7/10/13 9:48pm
Msg #476280

Re: I've done a few...each was different.

Pretty much the same for me..Arrive, ID the person, fill out journal and wait for the call. When the call arrives the att or judge will ask a you few questions then tell you when to proceed. The few times I have done it I was dismissed after the oath was administered..Nobig deal in and out in just a few mins.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 7/10/13 10:42pm
Msg #476286

Something I always ask the judge

If I may be excused after the oath is administered.
Also, when quoting fee, I notify the witness that my fee includes UP TO 30 minutes of wait time.
After that, fees are at $40/hr. billed in 15 minute increments.
Anything between 1-15 mins wait adds another $10 and so on.
I do "give" about 10 mins of a freebie (I show up 10 mins early to ID and fill in journal and collect the initial fee). After the agreed upon appt time, the clock starts ticking and the meter is running.

Reply by Belinda/CA on 7/11/13 12:27am
Msg #476292

All good information. Thank you. n/m