Took a mortgage connect and when confirming with the signer he answered my text in Spanish.
So I let him know I don’t speak Spanish. He replied his son can translate and the title company said that’s okay. But I told him I’d have them get him a bilingual notary.
Called scheduling and explained in WA state you can’t use a translator like that it’s against the rules. They had no idea, said the Title company said it was okay.
Nah - not okay. I’m starting to confirm English speaking because this happens a lot where a company wants to close a transaction and they don’t seem to mind how that happens.
Just a heads up for Washington State notaries. Some companies will tell you it’s just fine.
I’m in CA and this happens all the time. They want us to use a translator even after I explain it’s not allowed. Or sometimes the lender doesn’t communicate this to title. I try my hardest to figure this out before the signing but sometimes they only confirm by text and you still go.
When I got my last confirmation via text in Spanish, I knew that was a problem. But you are absolutely right it’s rare to be told in advance a signer doesn’t speak English. When a name is Spanish, I usually mention it when confirming. Regardless of the law, it serves the signer better when the notary speaks Spanish. So I try to find out in advance.
