@LindaH-FL and @Arichter are absolutely correct in what they’ve stated here. As a Post Closing Paralegal for a real estate law firm, I couldn’t even notarize closing documents due to the laws here in Georgia that STRICTLY PROHIBIT this very thing. This law has been challenged but upheld several times over the years! The rationale has to do mortgage fraud if my memory serves me correctly.
I understand the feeling of seeing YouTube videos or people on social media making these posts about how they’ve cleared $10k-$12k a month doing this and again, that very well could be the case; however, they are participating in UPL in this state by doing so. Here’s a golden nugget for you: DO NOT market yourself, in ANY capacity, as a Loan Signing Agent/Notary Signing Agent to attorneys here in the state. I can all but guarantee you that you will get several phone calls about from angry attorneys telling you how you’re breaking the law. In Georgia, we’re simply Notary Public’s and referencing yourself as anything else could be problematic for you.
If you haven’t already, check out the Georgia Notaries Group on Facebook and have yourself a good read to answer the questions you currently have. I’m sure you’ll enjoy that thread bc it is quite informative. I know Mark Wills probably hyped you up about agents making money in “attorney only” states and as I previously stated, that is partially true but at what real cost are they making this money? The law is not ambiguous and they make it VERY clear about what you CANNOT do in GA.
All hope isn’t lost, you just have to pivot! There IS work available but you may need to be creative about HOW you plan to work it. Courier services, wedding officiant, document prep are the first three things that come to mind. You’ve got this!
Go easy on Thumbtack. Some have had a good experience, but I sure didn’t and quit the site.
It may have changed since I used it, but, tho’ I did get a couple of inquiries, there just wasn’t enough info provided for me to make an intelligent, reasoned fee quote. And most calls for a mobile notary are for 1 or 2 documents, so we’re hardly getting rich on these. Most people don’t like paying a travel fee and will blow you off, but the fee Thumbtack charges for the ‘lead’ must still be paid. The thing I didn’t like about it was all communication goes thru them and it seemed that they edited ‘what I need to know prior to giving a quote’ into…well, I don’t know as I never saw what they sent to the inquiring party, BUT never got the info I requested…it just sorta died on the vine with no response at all. But I was charged for the lead.
Honestly, the best &, by far, the cheapest (like FREE) inquiries come from Yellow Pages, Yelp/very good, and similar sites. Most of whom WILL try to get you to pay for ads, but I never have and never will as General Notary Work with 1 or 2 notarizations is really only pocket money–won’t be a liveable income, by itself.
You have a hard row to hoe and will have to produce many different income streams to make this worth doing. Hospitals, nursing homes, sr. living, maybe a few lawyers who do Living Trusts.
It’s going to take a lot of RESEARCH and work and I wish you the best of luck…but don’t give up your day job.
Worst advice I’ve heard yet - so lie to companies that you want to get work from? Where’s the integrity in that?? And believe me the lie will come out and the inexperience will show.
No, everyone does not. Again, where’s the professionalism and integrity in doing something like that.
Go look on my snap doc profile, I am getting hits on all types doc. I put this on my profile, Please be advised that Georgia Notaries may NOT act as a ‘notary signing agent’. Georgia notaries may notarize documents related to a conveyance of real property ONLY under direct supervision of an attorney So you can help with notaries on real estate doc but it not as easy as the flashy YouTube video. I call real state attorneys, I go to ‘old folks homes’ etc. I also have home inspections that I got from being a notary and GNW. Thumbtack I sign up but I didn’t use it, I don’t like paying to play. But if help getting more work I don’t mind paying.
As a signing agent who does 25+ signings a week and have been doing them for years, I think the issue now is the market is very over saturated. Snao Docs like many work on a seniority basis. Once people are the top of the list declines it go to the next person. You will eventually get an order just be weary of some companies will try to low ball most new notaries, and may not pay. Good luck
Strike a nerve, did I? Look in the mirror - Your suggestion to others to “lie” about their credentials on a platform used by title companies and signing services was, in your words, “classless and egregious” - what has you upset is I called you out on it.
You may be able to get away with lying about abilities in a run-of-the-mill job and fudge your way through, but when you’re dealing with possibly the most important financial transaction of someone’s life, and their money, you can’t bull your way through. Not to mention a Notary Public is held to a higher standard of integrity and honesty…at all times.
Sorry, but that’s how it is…and I am done with you. And please, no more private messages.
It appears to me that most of the newbs already have jobs and have been lured into this by hype videos that make it look easy to make a lot of money with little work and even less knowledge.
I’ve said it in other threads here…if you fudge your experience, you will make a rookie mistake and then your honesty and integrity are in doubt & down you go. I see the really super basic questions from newbs on FB groups … yep, the course-takers & graduates of this or that training ask questions & post answers that make me cringe (& also understand why doc packages continue to grow with way too many instructional pages).
Go to “Notary Rotary” and sign up with all the Companies with a 3+ Star. There are Hundreds that you can apply for. Just wait, there will be companies who will take Newbies. Definitely go to Notary Rotary as I mentioned above.
Right. And when you screw up, it’s you who goes back for free to fix it. Yes, I made mistakes and paid the price and learned from the experience. This isn’t rocket science, but the devil is in the details.
Please don’t get discouraged. Try getting in with companies like Bancserv, express Notary and build a Google business page. That’s how I get a lot of my signings. Through Google searches. Also, try joining some notary Facebook groups. I’m a member of 5 and the help and feedback you can get is beyond valuable. Good luck. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions.
Don’t forget to include that fines and prison are penalties for fraud and not following protocol. National Notary Association will provide your Georgia state specific laws and your Secretary of State.
May I suggest you get thorough training of loan documents on the Notary Stars platform for free or become a member for $25 month. No contract. The notaries on YouTube aren’t telling you how they got blacklisted because they made repeated common errors. When you are commissioned, you swear/acknowledge that you will handle the position with integrity. You really can’t lie about your experience because they see when you’re commissioned. The Signing Agencies can see the reviews and comments in the background regarding notaries esp on Snapdocs. If seasoned notaries are repeating you have be under an attorney with loan signings in an attorney state, it’s true. We all want to win in our role. Take your time and learn the process. Anyone that encourages you to lie doesn’t have your best interest in mind. Choose your mentors well. Respectfully. Vicki
