For someone with no stake in the matter, you seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time reading and interpreting information about NSAs outside of your state. But, que sera!
I have read my state’s guidelines and keep a copy for frequent reference in my Notary Resources folder on my desktop, so I am already familiar with the terms you have taken the time to highlight and explain. I’m sure there are those who will benefit from your endeavor. And, I appreciate your effort at trying to bring me along. Thank you. But, since you seem to appreciate credentials, please know that my first (of two) masters degrees was in Speech Communication (Interpersonal and Small Group), and I studied linguistics and journalism before changing majors – twice. Words are my thing. So, your “uninvolved” missives amuse me. Thank you again.
However, two things go missing – this thread is actually about how to appropriately charge for notarial services; and secondly the ultimate arbiter to answer that question is WA state SOS, which up til now no one seems to have taken the time to do. So, just to get a definitive answer to this question I have written to our SOS to ask for them to chime in on this debate. Perhaps being a WA state notary is much more lucrative than I have ever imagined it to be. We shall see! Stay tuned – I’ll be back.
Ashton
What if the person is deaf or mute and does not speak? Do they have to verbalize a Yes?
Actually Washington allows for use of an interpretor so English is not a requirement.
(CA) For the record, I have not read nor have I interpreted any state’s notary rules other than my own. And, I have not highlighted or explained anything. C’est la guerre. Nevertheless, I am pleased that I amuse you. That’s my objective. And, it’s gratifying to know that you’ve decided to contact your state’s SoS to get a definitive answer to the question at hand.
I’m afraid if you’re looking for back and forth refutation, you’re in the ring, swingin’ at the air.
(Incidentally, for a communications major, your response to my “missive” strikes me as one giant non sequitur. Alas.)
Huh!
Ce n’est pas la guerre! Mais, d’acccord. Abientot.
As I read it, if they are acknowledging a signature they have to somehow declare that the signature in the record is theirs, and they signed as their act, or the act of the entity they are representing, and they signed for the purpose indicated in the record.
There is no specific wording required. It could be English speech. It could be Mandarin speech. It could be a nod of the head in response to the notary’s question. It could be American Sign Language. In the case of English speech, if, at the beginning of the appointment the signer says “I want to get this refinance done” and proceeds to sign in the notary’s presence, the notary might decide that’s close enough.
It would be similar in the case of an oath or affirmation. One time, when I renewed my notary commission, I went to the town clerk’s office and recited the entire affirmation to the assistant town clerk, and signed it. She didn’t ask any questions, just filled out the jurat. She didn’t even have to check my ID, in part because she knew me, and for other reasons that could fill a thread. In the case of an oath or affirmation, the notary is expected to use an approach that will impress the importance of the oath or affirmation on the person taking the oath, but the exact method is not specified. In the case of a person who can’t speak, write, or use ASL, a nod might be enough.
OK, C’est la vie, then.
I’m Washington state we can charge $10 for witnessing signatures as well.
You are so correct. That is on the list of notarial acts.
@Tisino You are right. A notarial act is the Seal, which is the STAMP and Notary’s signature; otherwise the Notary would not be needed to just witness signature without her signature and stamp.
If you read the rest of this thread, you will see that if you want anyone to pay attention to a statement like “A notarial act is the Seal, which is the STAMP and Notary’s signature” you would need to say which state you think the statement is true in, and link the law or official rule from the state that says so.
About “the Notary would not be needed to just witness signature without her signature and stamp”. In quite a few states, witnessing a signature, by itself, is not a notarial act. But in many other states, including the states that have passed RULONA (see link elsewhere in this thread), witnessing a signature can be a notarial act. The notary establishes the identity of the signer using a method allowed by state law, watches the signer sign, and fills out a notarial certificate. The certificate for Vermont would be
State of Vermont County of __________________
Signed [or attested] before me on ____________ by __________________X__________________
Signature of notary public
StampNotary Public My commission expires: January 31, 2023.
Vermont added some wording in the law to make clear that if there is no legal requirement that a signature be witnessed by a notary in a certain situation, anyone can witness a signature. If a non-notary witnesses a signature, or if the witness happens to be a notary but is witnessing as a regular guy, then no stamp would be used and the title “notary public” would not be used.
I’m replying to a post that we do not pay self employment tax as notaries. I was just told by my accountant that we do pay self employment tax when we are not on a w-2 payroll.
We are self employed on a 1099. Because my income was a wash for 2021. I didn’t have to pay the self employment tax. Otherwise unless you are on someone’s payroll with a w-2, you are self employed.
Hi Tracy, I am in Washington too. WAC states $10 PER NOTARIAL ACT (not per signature). So where ever your inked notary stamp goes, that is $10. WAC 308-30-220:
When I do my quarterly reports for Washington Dept of Revenue My DOR: Sign In, I am reporting the total income I earned as a notary during that quarter. I hope this helps you.
If you are filing for the first time, and especially if you are unsure, do yourself a huge favor and call their customer support folks and have them walk you through it to make sure you are doing it correctly and to make sure your account is set up in their system correctly. If it is filed incorrectly, you will have to file an amended return. Save yourself any hassle or frustration. DOR folks are very helpful and friendly. Contact numbers | Washington Department of Revenue
Hi! Thank you for your reply. This is what the NNA said. I also am reaching out to the DOL advised by the SOS but am still waiting for a response. Seems that the idea of what a Notarial act is perceived differently by many here. So confusing 
From NNA : The fee is $10.00 per Notarial act. This is based on how many names are entered into one acknowledgement or jurat. So, for example, if you entered the names of a couple in an acknowledgement, then it would be $10 for each person. Even though it is one acknowledgement, two Notarial acts were performed on that one acknowledgement form.
I am a W2 employee for a different job and self employed as a Notary public and Real Estate Broker.
Tracy, I had the same question when I began in 2015 and NNA wrongly told me it was $10 PER SIGNATURE. But this is not what our Washington state law states.
Please do not listen to NNA, listen to Washington DOL notaries division. Phone: 360.664.1550
Email: notaries@dol.wa.gov If you email DOL and ask for clarification, they will respond and then you will have their answer in writing.
I wish you the best.
Yes, I have already reached out to them, Still waiting for their response unfortunately. The problem is some consider administering an oath to 2 different people, 2 different notarial acts, as I do too, then resulting in 2 notarial acts per 1 stamp. Then for acknowledgements also saying “do you acknowledge that this is your signature” and again saying it to the other signer, again being 2 different notarial acts per 1 stamp. I believe creating where the confusion lies. Thank you again
In my opinion only , when a notary asks the client and SHOULD ASK
" DO you swear to tell the truth, nothing but the truth before each affidavit, " That is called a JURAT ,
JURAT is one notarial act , KACHING $10
Stamp on the "Subscribed and Sworn on … is another notorial act … Kaching $10 * I always add by // Mr X , Mrs Y, etc …
Does state law says, per stamp, per person, per notary act ?
Devils Question: Are you supposed to ask every time or One time for multiple affidavits in multiple documents?
Each Acknowledgement is One act , Per person $10, two person $20, KACHING , KACHING …
DO THE MATH !!
Don’t undercharge or over charge.
Also read the notary law of your state, Is a JURAT & AFFIDAVIT one act or separate act?
In my state, VT, the act is defined as taking the acknowledgement, administering the oath or affirmation, or witnessing a signature. I linked the VT law earlier in this thread.
The word “jurat” is not defined in the VT law. I think the most common meaning around the country is a special name for the certificate the notary fills out after administering an oath or affirmation. My impression of what jurat means is supported by this definition from Black’s Law Dictionary, 10th ed., Brian A. Garner chief editor: “A certificate added to an affidavit or deposition stating when and before what authority the affidavit or deposition was made.”
Notaries in VT have a duty to create a certificate for every notarial act; if several signers give an acknowledgement (for example) one certificate with several names in the certificate is acceptable. Creating the certificate is not a notarial act, but is a required duty. In VT a stamp is not required so long as the commission expiration date and commission number are in the certificate.
Where is your “sense of humor” Bobby.
So are notary fees not considered income for the notary .
I’m really confused.