Hotline

Keeping Your Official Tools Safe And Secure   NNA Member Content
September 8, 2010
One of the more troubling challenges many Notaries face is juggling the expectations and demands of their employers with proper notarial ethics, duties and practices. Many employers believe that a staff Notary’s vital tools — the seal and journal — belong to them and not the Notary, or they impose rules that run counter to state law. D.H. of Eureka, California, recently ran into a workplace situation where she felt her tools of the trade were in jeopardy:.. Read More
Keeping Proper eNotarization Records   NNA Member Content
July 7, 2010
A well-kept record book is an essential tool that not only protects you from liability, but also guards the public from fraud and preserves valuable evidence for authorities investigating fraud. .. Read More
Variety Of ID Types Confuses Issue Of Identifying Signers   NNA Member Content
May 5, 2010
One of the essential tasks a Notary performs is the vetting and verification of a signer’s identity. While it may seem like a straightforward task, the process can be complex because there are so many types and styles of IDs that vary from state to state, and from various authorities and government agencies. Many identification documents are also issued by trusted, well-known authorities, but they still might not meet the criteria for acceptable satisfactory evidence of identity. D.A. of New York, New York, encountered just such an ID and posed this important question: I have to notarize a document from a UN official. Do I ask for UN official ID only?.. Read More
Sticking To Fundamentals Is Your Best Protection   NNA Member Content
March 10, 2010
While the circumstances of a challenging notarization often seem complicated, the reality almost always boils down to the same solution — rely on the best practice fundamentals you gained in your Notary training, and fully understand what notarial acts your state allows you to perform. That’s what J.H. from Venice, Florida, found out when he asked: What is required to identify a signer who has had a legal name change and, because of that, the ID and document names don’t match? .. Read More
When Notarizing For Your Boss, State Law Comes First   NNA Member Content
January 4, 2010
Notarizing documents at the request of an employer can put Notaries in a difficult situation because they have dual responsibilities: to their boss as an employee; and to the state as public officials. That’s why some of the trickiest notarizations we’re asked about involve workplace documents, like the situation in which W.H. of Christiansburg, Virginia, found himself:.. Read More
Mortgage Document Certificates Must Be Handled With Care   NNA Member Content
November 2, 2009

Sometimes even the most straightforward notarizations can come with complications — some of which are trickier to deal with than others. Loan documents are a prime example, as they are complex and typically require multiple signatures. If you’re not used to these types of documents you could find yourself not knowing how to proceed. That’s where our Hotline comes in to help you sort through these challenges. T.W. of Jacksonville, Florida, discovered the value of our help when he asked: Are there certain mortgage documents to which you have to attach a loose acknowledgment certificate, and, if so, do you attach it with a staple?

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A Notary Has Got To Know The Office’s Legal Limitations   NNA Member Content
September 1, 2009
It is our duty on the Notary Hotline to guide you in difficult situations. But we do so carefully because being overeager is the best way to fall into the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) trap. The road to UPL has many on-ramps, and we have to be aware of all of them. One of those simple requests that may seem innocuous and innocent could be rife with the potential to cross the line. As Notaries, your authority generally is limited to properly completing the notarial act each client requests. You cannot even suggest what type of notarization is needed, since that would be giving legal advice, something you cannot do unless you are a lawyer... Read More
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