Whether it was helping a bedridden signer obtain a proper ID or sharing kindness with parents going through an exhausting adoption process, Notaries across the country had memorable stories of helping signers that they shared in our recent New Year’s survey. And while 2012 was also a year filled with challenges, Notaries told us they are already looking forward to what’s waiting in 2013.
When asked what your most memorable experiences were as Notaries in 2012, one response that stood out came from Richard Stewart of San Marcos, Texas. Stewart had been asked to notarize the signature of a bedridden woman with an expired ID for an important notarization. While unable to complete the notarization himself, he decided to check with the DMV on her behalf to see if there was any way the signer could obtain alternate proof of identity — and he was able to put them in touch with a service that enabled her to obtain a new ID and get the notarization completed by someone else a few weeks later. “Although I did not get to do the signing, I feel blessed to get an opportunity to assist some folks in need,” Stewart wrote.
Jon Baker of Corona, California, also found it rewarding to help signers in need last year. Baker was called on to do several notarizations for prospective adoptions in 2012. A parent with an adopted daughter himself, Baker notarizes adoption documents at no charge and always strives for sensitivity when dealing with exhausted signers going through the application process. Baker says he finds it fulfilling to use his commission to help others become new parents. “Sometimes it is not just about the money, but what we can do to help,” he said.
Maria Torres-Lopez of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was optimistic when asked what she looks forward to the most in the coming year. “The business is growing fast,” she said. In fact, business is going so well that she says her husband is getting his commission this month and joining her as a Notary Public!
David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.