In 2016 Christina Hough arranged to meet an elderly signer at a Starbucks in the San Diego County, California, city of Escondido to provide the client with free Notary services. The signer was on a tight budget and desperately needed to have time-sensitive estate documents notarized in the presence of a witness. Everything was going as planned until the unthinkable happened: The signer’s witness was a no-show.
“My client was devastated,” said Hough, a California Notary for 17 years who is dedicated to helping those in need. “It was imperative that the notarization happened on that day. So to solve the problem, I asked a few random customers if they would be willing to serve as a witness, and one agreed. We got it done!”
This is just one of Hough’s countless stories demonstrating her commitment to helping the underprivileged in times of need, particularly the terminally ill, elderly, low-income, or those who live in remote areas like Indian reservations where most Notaries won’t travel. The National Notary Association is honored to name Christina Hough as its 2023 Notary of the Year for her commitment to notarial excellence, compassion, and unbound benevolence.
“I can’t even describe how I feel. I’m so honored and surprised because so many Notaries are doing amazing things,” said Hough, of Lakeside, California. “To have been chosen as the Notary of the Year is just beyond amazing. Thank you, NNA.”
The honor is fitting for Hough, who has leveraged her notarial and legal expertise throughout her career for compassionate purposes in her community.
“I have realized that one of my essential purposes in life is to help people in need or with no easy access to resources, and it’s so rewarding,” Hough said in a recent interview, adding that she balances her pro bono work with general Notary work. “It’s so important to make yourself available to help people when you can, especially in our current social climate when kindness isn’t often the topic of headline news.“
A journey rooted in compassion
The professional path that defined her career began in 2006 when her boss at a pre-litigation legal firm asked her to become a Notary to provide expanded service to their clients. She glided through the NNA’s Notary training course, passed the state exam, and immediately began performing notarizations for clients. She quickly realized how rewarding being a Notary was and decided to start providing mobile Notary services with a focus on helping the needy.
During this time, Hough recalled another experience on the Mesa Grande Tribal Reservation in Santa Ysabel, California, that further cemented her passion for giving. A woman had purchased a car for a family member and needed someone to come to the reservation to notarize the title transfer documents. The rub? The woman could not find a Notary willing to travel a long distance across miles of pitted and rocky terrain.
Until she found Hough.
“She was so excited that I was willing to come out, and was even more excited about being able to help her family member,” Hough said, recalling the signing. “If I didn’t come out, they would not have been able to receive the car, which they really needed for basic life needs. They live miles away from the grocery store and other basic services.”
As her career and life developed, Hough decided in 2015 to begin volunteering with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s AIDS/HIV Clinic, where she elevated her services to include terminally ill patients with end-of-life needs like estate documents and advance directives. When called to service, she travels to health clinics, nursing homes, private residences and other locations to serve her clients, all of which are performed at no charge.
Her continuing path of personal growth
While Hough has a long list of accomplishments to be proud of, she’s not done yet. She is studying to become an attorney at the University of San Diego School of Law because the only thing better than being a Notary providing pro-bono services to the needy is being a Notary who is also authorized to practice law.
She has even applied to the school’s Study Abroad program that would send her to Spain this summer, where she would immerse herself in learning and experiencing the Spanish culture and language, which would help her better serve her Spanish-speaking clients. She also looks forward to learning more about the divergent legal aspects surrounding common and civil law notarial practices — a serious issue that often confronts Notaries and confuses immigrant signers in border regions.
As you might assume, continuing Notary education is of monumental importance to Hough, which is why she consistently pursues continuing legal education (CLE) courses that relate to Notary law, is a longtime NNA member, a reader of The National Notary Bulletin, and a staunch advocate of the NNA’s Notary Hotline.
“The NNA Hotline has saved me so many times, and it’s always there when I need it,” Hough said. “It’s extremely important to keep on top of legal and procedural changes because if you don’t, you could find yourself in hot water and can’t effectively help the people in need of your services.”
Editor’s Note: Christina Hough is an inspiration to the entire Notary community. She will be recognized as the 2023 Notary of the Year at the NNA’s annual Conference, themed ‘Shine,” in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 4-6. It’s an event you won’t want to miss. Spots are limited, so register soon if you’re interested.
Phillip Browne is Vice President of Communications for the National Notary Association.