Some of the LSA classes that I have taken suggest having the signer initial the DOT and other documents. While others suggest do not add additional signatures and initials. Of course we have to follow the signing instructions and ask the company that gives us the order is the best rule of thumb. On a side note, what are the documents that most notaries have signers sign and initial to cover themselves if the signing instructions do not say otherwise?
You go with what the instructions say. Some lenders have documents where an initial line exists on the Deed of Trust and note and riders. If the line is there, the signer initials. Sometimes a lender wants the credit reports initialed. Check Escrow instructions sometimes buyers and sellers have to initial items on that. If there is a map that shows the location of the property, that is usually initialed. You shouldn’t have things initialed if not required. Some lenders want the NRTC initialed next to the date of closing and the last date to cancel. You have to ask to be sure what they want. I don’t ever assume something should be initialed. On the application if joint credit each borrower has a line to initial. Other than that you should ask the SS or the title officer. I see instructions now that say “DON’T have signers initial if not requested” so don’t guess. Check with who hired you.
@barberienotary The execution requirements can (and do) vary from Lender-to-Lender for loan document packages. As such, there isn’t a general baseline rule to follow.
As you’ve indicated, review the Signing Order [SO] instructions, ensure those instructions are within the bounds of the Statues & Regulations of your State & your State Notarial Manual/Handbook.
NOTE: There are initial line indicators on documents found throughout various loan, seller, etc. packages. Being observant for initial line indicators is important.
As I often express on the Notary Cafe forum:
- Always employ critical thinking skills
- Make decisions from a business owner viewpoint (not an employee)
- Research & follow the Regulations & Statues within your own State for owning, launching, & operating a business
- Utilize your individual State Notarial Handbook for insights & guidance for establishment of a foundational baseline to operate from for your business decisions
- Undergo a reputable professional training program; i.e., Notary2Pro
- Review the Signing Order [SO] instructions in detail prior to reaching out to the hiring entity for clarifications
- Seek out the guidance & support of fellow business owners via a reliable & professional online format; i.e., Notary Cafe
GENERAL DECISION GUIDELINE:
- Employ critical thinking skills.
- Consider the source
- Evaluate the potential ulterior motive
- Trust your instincts
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FYI: The axiom “rule of thumb” is no longer utilized in general parlance due to the negative connotations of that phrase.
Why? (one might ask)
According to Google AI . . .
" AI Overview
The idea of a “rule of thumb” permitting men to beat their wives with a stick no larger than their thumb was not officially codified or outlawed at a specific date, but rather gradually rejected by courts over time. The earliest mention of this concept in legal settings appears in 1824 in Bradley v. State in Mississippi, where a judge acknowledged the existence of a thumb standard but rejected it as justification.
In North Carolina, there were a few cases where judges discussed this “rule of thumb” and rejected it. In 1873, in the case of State v. Oliver, the judge stated that the “old doctrine that a husband had the right to whip his wife, provided that he used a switch no larger than his thumb, is not the law in North Carolina,”.
While there’s no single “outlaw” date, the notion of a legal thumb-sized limit for wife-beating was generally rejected by courts by the late 19th century.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- 1824:
Bradley v State in Mississippi: A judge acknowledges the existence of a popular thumb standard but rejects it as justification for wife beating.
- Late 19th Century:
North Carolina courts, including State v. Oliver in 1873, reject the idea of a “rule of thumb” as legal grounds for wife beating.
- 1868:
State v. Rhodes in North Carolina: A judge initially suggests a thumb-sized switch as permissible, but the case is later dismissed on other grounds.
Generative AI is experimental. Learn more "
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