I’m a new Notary Signing Agent in Gaithersburg, MD looking to connect with an experienced local notary to shadow and possibly learn from as a mentor. I’ve been actively applying to signing platforms over the past month and would love to use this time to gain hands-on experience and partner for refinance signings that require two witnesses.
I’m reliable, detail-oriented, and eager to learn from those who’ve been in the field longer. If you’re open to connecting or offering any guidance, I’d really appreciate it.
Hi Arichter, thanks for the heads-up — you’re absolutely right that Maryland has strict rules around loan closings. I actually completed my TIPIC licensing, so I’m authorized to handle refinance and purchase signings under a title producer.
I just posted here to connect with experienced local notaries for mentorship and possible witness partnerships. Appreciate you taking the time to share your insight!
You should do well. I think having your friend, relative or close neighbor is a better solution to the ‘witness’ issue. Witness fees are negotiable…usually $25 is ‘offered’ by hiring party.
Hi Arichter, thanks for the tip — that’s really helpful to know! I didn’t realize witnesses could receive a small fee. Do you usually confirm that with the hiring party before accepting the job, or bring it up afterward?
Usually, they will say ‘notary to provide witness’, so the fee offered would include witness fee. You will have to pay the witness from your pocket. It’s an expense like gas & paper. I usually say ‘I’ll have to pay the witness $XX, so my total quote is $XXX’. Tip: there usually isn’t pushback on witness fee, which is why I split it out when countering. You almost always have to counter because that’s the game being played.
I think it’s a great idea to act as a witness yourself for local notaries so you can observe the way they handle a signing. I learned a lot by acting as a witness. Good luck.
Thanks, Notary_veg — that’s a great suggestion! I’ve actually been thinking about doing that to gain more exposure. If you don’t mind sharing, how did you find opportunities to act as a witness when you first started?
I didn’t find any in the beginning. I did call local notaries to see if they’d act as witnesses for me, but I never succeeded. Maybe I didn’t call enough of them. It was only after about four years that one notary (in another county, who was traveling to signings near me) had started calling on me, and I happened to know her from our Notary Stars program. The point is that even after four years of doing this, I managed to learn some things from her. I also have much respect for her, so that helps. I don’t think I’d act as a witness for someone whose work I don’t approve of.
Just recently here, I posted something about the issue of finding witnesses. This notary and I came up with a one-page form to send to people who agree to act as witnesses. The form states the requirements and expectations for a notary. I haven’t done it yet. The purpose of my post was to ask if it might be a good idea to post something on Nextdoor.com. I’d think that it would be a decent gig for retirees or for local college students. I’m wondering how else one would find witnesses.
Since you’re just starting, I think it would be a great idea to call on some local notaries to tell them you’re available for witnessing. I’d review their website and their reviews first though. I found it hard to find someone who was well-trained. With that special certification you have to get in MD, though, I don’t think you’d have a problem!
Interesting…seems to me that if a tag-along witness sits thru the whole signing, it would most definitely be a violation of the signer’s privacy–which seems to be the main reason most signers have for NOT providing their own witness (don’t want friends, neighbors knowing so much). Even when signers DO provide the witness…I keep the docs that need witnessing to the end…and have them call their witnesses in for only that portion. (I am not comfortable telling signer-provided witnesses to ‘get lost’, so what signers & witnesses do after I leave is between them.) Which is the reverse of when I bring the witness: Witness docs first; then she sits in my car while I finish.
In my direct experience (when Witnesses are needed), after flagging the documents within the stack that require witnessing, the signers usually want the Witnessing done FIRST (I offer them the choice).
Most often, after the signers & the witnesses execute the required documents, the signers Thank the witnesses & the witnesses then immediately depart out of the home/signing location.
“Interesting…seems to me that if a tag-along witness sits thru the whole signing, it would most definitely be a violation of the signer’s privacy”
Thank you, @Arichter - my thoughts exactly; if one goes along as a “tag-along witness” , they’re not going to learn anything as they shouldn’t be sitting in on the entire signing - only the time to come in and sign as a witness.
I agree. I flag the doc to be witnessed, pull it from the stack and have that one taken care of first thing then replace doc in stack. Whether I provide the witness (via Notary Cafe) or the borrower provides the witness, I get rid of them by saying, “Thank you for witnessing, I appreciate your time - you are now excused, have a great day.” Then I grin and wave goodbye.
Many years ago, I mentored new Notaries by meeting them for lunch and going over a mock loan signing with them and also answering any of their questions. My “fee” for this mentoring was them paying for my lunch. Contact a Notary (“Find a notary” search feature here) outside of your service area - at least 30 miles away. They’re not your local competition. See if they’d be willing to meet for lunch - your treat - in exchange for doing a mock loan signing and answering your questions about loan signings and GNW. I used to do that - it was fun! For the reasons the others mentioned, the chances of shadowing an experienced Notary in the field will be slim to none. Try the lunch meet up.
Absolutely 