I have gone round and round with a lender this past week regarding a missing SS# at the top right of the form (the line under to Date of Birth) for a non-borrower.
In 2000+ closings, I have almost never added a missing SS#…even for a borrower. I figured if they cared about the SS#, they would have typed it in when they prepared the document.
This form is for the lender to positively identify someone opening a new account. It is my contention, therefore, the form is not needed for a non-borrower. His name will not even appear on the account. So, for them to request a correction for a missing SS# on a form that’s not even required is over the top as far as I’m concerned.
Additionally, in case you’re wondering, the lender clearly stated they only required one form of identification. And, his driver’s license information was on the form.
It’s not up to you. You just ask the non borrower to enter the number on the form. Going round and round when you’re the notary makes zero sense.
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@johnsonps306 I agree with you. The Patriot Act is a federal government document a tool of control. “The USA PATRIOT Act is a U.S. law enacted in 2001 to enhance national security and expand law enforcement powers to prevent terrorism.” It is not up to us to determine the necessity of “what or why”. it is there for us to complete and met the requirements of the document.
I am just not sure where notaries get the idea they know better than the people writing the loans.
@johnsonps306 Trust me - I’ve experienced instances, and heard of many from other seasoned notaries, who DO know more than those drawing the docs. How do you think we pick up on so may errors in the paperwork?
And I have done enough re-draws to know lots of notaries don’t know much at all.
Here is a practice I follow that has kept me out of toruble:
When I discover that important information (e.g. addresses, SSN) is missing from a document and the signer(s) have that information but will not provide it by writing it in or allowing me to do so, I ask them for it THREE times in polite ways. If they refuse, I advise (not warn) them that I will write in the empty space “Signer refuses to provide this information” and ask them to reconsider. In almost every case, they relent and give me what is needed. If they don’t. I call the signing service or title/escrow/lender as appropriate and ask for instructions. It has always worked itself out. My advice: don’t make a big deal out of this situation. Be clear, firm and sympathetic and it’ll probably work out.
I do agree it’s lazy on the document preparers part not to have entered it. BUT - as a notary you are required to fill in all blanks and that is a blank - so not too hard to ask - hey can you put your SSN in there. It’s no more sensitive information than the rest of the packet.
@miyakmeek, so, are you saying we have to make sure the signer fills in all the blanks and not us as notaries? Sometimes, my mind is communicating things that my fingers forget to include. 
I’m generally not filling in blanks on any form (save for publicly obtainable information that I’m absolutely certain of). Of course, the question is, what if I’m in error about what I fill in? It’s not my job/role to record in writing on forms generated by lender/title/escrow/related service providers information that I know nothing about. If I follow the direction of the aforementioned entities and compete a blank space at their insistance, I do so with great caution and I record the details in my journal and take a photo for my private, secure files. I will also have the signers initial where my entries were made. This action precludes any later claim for falsification of documents. Who do you think would win in a court case regarding the notary’s actions if they were challenged? I’ve seen the bulldogs at work in such cases and it ain’t pretty.
I would welcome another point of view. Maybe I’m overlooking something.
You ask the signer to fill it in. They are supposed to anyway.
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Of course you ask. It’s when the signer declines that’s at issue in this thread. What should the notary do? I’ve had signers get snarky and say that it’s the government’s problem or the lender is lousy anyway or other silly stuff. Just some thoughts on how one might resolve the problem, that’s all. No worries.
Oh missed that sorry. If they refuse to fill it out I just say I do not know if this is a condition of your transaction I can only tell them you declined to provide it.
If whoever hired me provided contact info for calls from the table I would reach out and ask if I should finish. A non borrower probably isn’t catastrophic. But I would ask.
Sorry I just saw this. What I was taught - is that if there are blank in documents - every blank needs filled in. If that’s on the Patriot Act where they don’t have the SSN or address or DOB - then fill that in. If that’s on an occupancy affidavit missing the state/county and years in residence then fill that in. If it’s an owner’s affidavit and have to list other things like construction done in so many ___ years - have to fill it in with something. Whether that’s an unknown, N/A, none etc. Lines have to have something.
That’s how I was taught. No blanks on any documents. If they refuse to fill it in or sign - they have to write that and initial or sign saying so.
