Good afternoon fellow notaries! I live in Florida and I have been asked to do several POA’S and quick claim deeds. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with either of these and would be willing to share this information it would be greatly appreciated. What do you charge for these services?? Thanks
A Quit Claim Deed is 2-3 pages–but they usually throw a few more papers in. Same with Power of Attorney.
Table time is quick. What’s your fee for drive time, mileage? Bingo… you’ve got your Fee answer.
I’m in Florida too - it’s a “Quit Claim Deed” -
For both documents you’re going to need two witnesses. For the deed you can be one, but possibly not on the POA if you’re notarizing the witnesses signatures. For that reason I always err on the side of caution and tell the client they need to have two witnesses present with current valid photo ID.
I limit my GNW work to my own county - but when I do these I charge $10/notarization plus $35 - $50 for travel and time - in most instances the time is consumed by making sure everyone understands what they’re doing and the principal understands the document he is signing. Make sure when you speak with whoever is initially contacting you and requesting your services that you ask all the right questions: ID? Witnesses? If in a nursing home - can they read the document and sign for themselves? Been surprised a few times that I got there and they either had no ID, hasn’t read the document, COULDN’T read the document, (if blind you have to read the entire document to them), no witnesses, principal doesn’t want to sign POA (had this just a couple weeks ago - think there was an element of dementia there).
Be very careful - you said quit claim deeds and powers of attorney - be very very careful and make sure the people signing these documents really want to do this. Also, price yourself adequately and make sure you get paid at the table - preferably cash unless you trust the check they give you.
Good luck
P.S. - if this is in a nursing home - my understanding from the staff at the homes around me here is it is against the law for any nursing home staff to be witnesses - that’s why they don’t have notaries on staff any more - it’s against their regulations. I had a funny thing happen - someone rounded up two staff members to be witnesses and they agreed to do it - we got all the way through the signing and when I handed the pen to the first witness to sign they said “Oh, we can’t sign anything - we can watch but we can’t sign”…well THAT was a waste of time!!
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Linda’s FLORIDA answer is far better than mine. Listen to her words of wisdom and experience.
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Thank you very much for your advice, I greatly appreciate it!! It is hard to find solid answers sometimes. I want the experience but I don’t want to go in with zero knowledge ya know.