Being a Notary As a Side Career

Posted by edwardjohnson on June 27th, 2019

A Notary Public

A notary public is a person who has passed a test administered by each state's government. Their responsibilities include being a final signature on certain judicial documents. A notary administers an oath declaring that the document is true and correct. It's easier than ever to find a notary near you because nearly every business or industry will require their services.

Why Notaries Are Needed

All documents that will turn into legal paperwork requires the official signature of a notary. Granted, notaries normal work a 9 to 5 schedule, but this is changing. Springing up in businesses are services that can be contacted after hours. Lawyers do not work an eight-hour day. When they work early in the morning or late at night, they need the services of a notary. Like Superior Notary Services, their notaries are mobile, meaning that they will come to your location any hour of each day.

The National Notary Association reports that over four million notaries operate in the U.S. The notary demographics include mostly female workers, with a college degree, and are older because often independent notaries are their side job. Traditionally, notaries are most often called upon by the real estate industry, the legal industry, and in health care and banking.

Notarized Paperwork

State certified paperwork that courts and attorneys must have with a notary signature can include the following:

• agreements

• bonds

• certificates

• contracts of any type

• divorce papers

• mortgage loans

• power of attorney clauses

• property deeds

• real estate closings

• purchase or sale of a business

• wills, directives, and more

Notary To-Do Responsibilities

By using the services of a notary, the person signing the document affirms that they fully understand what they are signing, that the signature is their own, and that there was no coercion involved in their signing the document. If however, a person appears before a notary and the document that they are presenting is unsigned, then the notary will require them to sign it in front of them still under the required affirmations.

As a certified public official, a notary not only certifies the legality of documents, they also administer oaths and affirmations, serves as a witness, and in some states can officiate weddings. Yes, a notary in Florida, South Carolina, Maine, or Nevada can perform a marriage ceremony. What do notary's carry as their tools? All a notary is required to carry is an official notary seal and a notary journal. Yes, notary publics do charge a small fee. They can work independently or they can be employed with notary's making as much as + an hour.

To Sign or Not To Sign

When you appear before a notary regarding a document to be signed, you will be required to show your ID that can consist of a driver's license or passport. These documents feature a photo and signature for legal verification. If you are considering becoming a notary, there are famous individuals who started as notaries, like Jennifer Lopez, Salvadore Dali, actress Mindy Cohen, and famous writer Samuel Clemens.

Again, talking about what it takes to become a notary, each state is different. Your state probably has a website that identifies how to become a notary. Traditionally, a notary position is issued through the Governor's office or Secretary of State. When a notary is working, they are trained to understand that there are documents that they should not sign. These situations involve documents that are missing pages and are incomplete or documents that are dated several days earlier. 

Sign My Paper - Except...

Notaries take an oath not to discriminate against anyone who requires their services due to cultural differences, age, or gender. Notaries must also be careful when individuals appear before them for documents to be signed. Certain situations for not signing a document include the following:

• a substitute person is asking for your official seal when the owner is not present

• their identification is unclear

• notary and person who is a signer do not speak the same language

• the person appearing before the notary seems confused or is mentally challenged

• must not be a party to the document being signed, i.e., family affairs

Future of Notary Public

A notary career is here to stay. Legality in businesses remains the same requirements as it did years ago. If anything is true, becoming a notary in today's tech world regarding contracts is a lucrative job. I doubt if you will get rich becoming a notary, but whether you are an independent notary or an employed mobile notary, your services will also be required.