Posted by HSH/WA on 9/14/13 10:55pm
Msg #484713

Went to Search to find out

any info I could on doing mobile notary services for attorneys. Read some where on NR that they want you to be compatible with electronic signing. Does anyone reading this do any work for them and if so can you shed any light on what they need and how to start doing work for them? Thanks.

Reply by Jana Miller on 9/14/13 11:14pm
Msg #484714

I have about 6 estate planning/trust/probate attorneys that I do signings for. I have never had any of them ask about that. I am a paralegal by trade and have worked with trust/estate planning/probate attorneys for over 10 years up until last year and know trust documents like the back of my hand. I never had anything come up about electronic signature..

Working for trust attorneys, in my experience, they are very picky and cautious about the signings of a trust/QCD's etc. Most of these people have over million dollar estates and the ones I've worked for want to be there and have me there where we are all one big family. Ha...

Now other attorneys maybe NOT in estate planning want the electronic sign.

Its a big money maker too. I charge 10.00 p.s. and $30-$40 travel. Married trusts down here have Trust, DPOA, ADHC, DEEDS & WILL (which doesn't get notarized just witness) That is 8 signatures at least so its a good gig. I happened to know these attorneys since I've been in the business for a while.
I would suggest going in to the firms and introduce yourself or even set up an appointment with the attorney. Most paralegals are notaries in my experience I just got lucky to be in the right field.

I have 4 signing appointments next week so I am going to bring it up just out of curiosity. Maybe they do more of that up there.

Reply by BobbiCT on 9/15/13 5:30pm
Msg #484726

notarization services for atttorneys

Jana has it right. Connecticut T&E, litigation and our real estate attorneys not comfortable with E-signatures.

Call or "drop in" with business cards at local law firms. My T&E, Estate planning & administration, real estate firm ALL assistants, paralegals and accountants are notaries public. We travel to clients when needed or asked. BUT SOMETIMES our clients prefer to use a local notary or we can't get someone out as quickly as they would like.

Start out as "mobile notary" 24/7 ASAP. With law firms there are trust and CONFIDENTIALITY are big issues. State bar associations, federal privacy rights/disclosures, PARTICULARLY lawyers having trust that you will NEVER disclose who you went to and what they signed and that your demeanor and appearance don't embarrass the firm. Mobile independent paralegal/notaries I know that do this already have a relationship, past history with the attorneys they get called from.

Hope you have good fee structure in your state. To do this, CT allows $5 per notarization and 35 cents MAXIMUM per mile for travel ... no real profit unless its close or you work "outside the law" and no competitor or lawyer turns you in for overcharging.

I've helped out a few divorce and litigation attorneys as favor traveling to clients; always they wanted wet signatures because documents were created on paper and needed 2-3 originals shared among parties where NOT all agreed to e-signature or the signer was not comfortable with it.

Reply by ikando on 9/16/13 10:30am
Msg #484779

Re: notarization services for atttorneys

Bobbi,

How long has the statute mandating Max mileage been on the books? If I were in CT, I'd be contacting congresspeople to convince them times have changed, & even the feds allow more for mileage on taxes. You can be an engine for change.

Reply by BobbiCT on 9/17/13 10:30am
Msg #484854

CT 35 cent mileage SOTS is AGAINST increase ...

To answer your question, at least 20 years. I've had my State Senator introduce (and attempt to introduce) legislations raising the mileage rate over that period and I've taken vacation days to call representiatives and testify at the Legislature. My request, at least float it with federal businesss reimbursement plus 10 cents per mile. Even with the NNA backing on the first try. No luck. I have given up trying. Every time the CT SOTS would NOT back it and refused to support it (at least her office didn't speak against it). Stock answer, "Our office does NOT introduce legislation." If the SOTS office refuses to introduce legislation to increase notarial fees and mileage reimbursement and refuses to speak on behalf of or support any bill increasing notary fees, that bill is DOA.

LOL. The SOTS introduced and got passed a bill giving notaries the power to certify copies. At at $5 with NO allowing for any fee for the notary's cost to photocopy the document. Unlike all other CT notarizations, this is the only notarial function where the SOTS intentionally did not provide a statutory notarization block for copy certification when she submitted the bill. Write your own notarization text and certify pre-made photocopies at your own risk.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 9/17/13 10:57am
Msg #484859

Re: CT 35 cent mileage SOTS is AGAINST increase ...

Since I have relatives in CT and visit on a regular basis, I took a look at the CT notary manual and notice it says CT notaries have no authority to certify copies. So is there a change in the law that didn't make it into the manual yet, or did the CT SOTS proposal fail?

Reply by BobbiCT on 9/17/13 11:54am
Msg #484867

CT Notary Manual NOT updated ....

The CT SOTS is not obligated to update the manual that you see online. It is left up to each notary to check the online Conn. General Statutes and follow legislation regarding laws affecting and effecting notaries.

The copy certification law became effective October 1, 2012.

LOL. Years ago when the statutes changed adding specific notarization blocks for LLCs and LPs, not only was the manual out of date but for at least TWO YEARS after the law was passed, the SOTS was including a pre-printed notice with each notary renewal form that there had been no changes in notarial laws.