I have been trying to verify this requirement when I get assigned orders for signers with Spanish names.
if I get them on the phone while confirming I just ask the question and have been avoiding problems.
I had an appointment today long distance and the signer had not returned my messages or texts.
Got him on the phone today doesn’t speak English.
So I called Title who hired me and said I can’t do this . I was first told of it’s okay the lady at the Credit Union will translate.
And I said no you don’t understand in WA state we may not notarized if we cannot communicate directly with the signer I cannot do this assignment.
I was shocked at the push back. I was told it’s okay with the lender that someone is translating for you. And I had to be adamant that I am very sorry but it isn’t up to the lender or title I may not proceed.
I am just not doing it. It can be challenging enough in English.
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Amazing, isn’t it, how willing they are for us to break the law, while insisting we have background checks to prove we’re good law-abiding people. And that isn’t the only thing crazy about this business
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I should have called before today because last minute cancel is not something I like to do. But they need to be upfront about language requirements
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@johnsonps306 don’t blame you..good on you sticking to your guns. Sadly…somewhere out there is a WA notary breaking the law … probably for pennies.
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When you view the notary as disposable and the signing of the loan papers more important and valuable than the people working for you, it is easy to not care. In the end the notary is the one who is most at risk. It doesn’t matter to them if you lose your commission, they view notaries as plug and play. Take one out, put another, right in.
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In the West coast, teeming with Spanish speaking people, it would be wise to invest some time and money learning a specific language instead of getting these expensive trainings Notaries take elsewhere. Asi ningun Notario tendria problemas comunicandose con el Cliente, Just saying…
I believe being bilingual is extremely helpful not just as a notary but in all jobs. I use ASL more than I ever thought I would , however outside of colleges it’s difficult to find regular classes that build on each other for stream lined learning. More often than not those classes are not in harmony with schedules or budgets for working adults with families . I do suggest the app Lingvano , but it won’t make someone fluent. Being bilingual is an advantage but it’s also not for everyone. For some it’s easier to simply decline an order to adhere to notary law and ensure the client receives the best service possible.
The notary must also serve as the translator. So the loans are point and sign, Firmar, Initiales. Preguntes? Telephono senior Loan Officer.
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I’m not doing point and sign in any language.
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You are “not doing point and sign in any language”? How about “English?
Nope…and no signing agent worth their salt should just “point and sign”….JMO
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No one is going to court saying they had no idea what they were signing if I was there, LOL
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Some of us have evolved since the “Signing Agent dot com” days. For example, I hand the signers the loan docs, instruct them how to sign, and I “witness close” the loan. To keep them on track, I follow them closely with the copies. When the signers finish, I review and notarize the docs, obtain signatures and a thumbprint in my journal, and leave them their copies. You state commissioned jailhouse lawyers can spin each doc and practice UPL to your heart’s content, but after nearly 3 decades as a signing agent, I’m way past that crap.
I don’t let any one else control documents in a signing but that’s just me.
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@johnsonps306 I thought the same thing when I first heard Joe’s procedure - but thinking on it over time I can see the efficiency of it….as long as you can keep signers on track flipping pages like you do
I had a guy last week and I always put a sticky note in front of signers saying please use all eight numbers when you date. This guy wrote 25 for the year every time and had to be corrected. Some signers don’t stay on track because they can’t find the track. But whatever works for other people I won’t judge. I just do what works for me.
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My only little twist to this is I notarize as soon as they sign the document - each document separately - this process has you taking the signed package back, flipping through and notarizing in bulk (I believe) - that’s the only thing I’m not comfortable with.
Was this for a RON signing?
Si senior, she did. (For your translation purposes- he said she did right) lol
