I recently went to a refinance signing. When I arrived, the signer mentioned she had met with another notary previously and she decided to using the RTC to cancel the transaction. Now, new terms had been negotiated and she was signing with me. While we were talking she mentioned that the previous notary had arrived with all of notary’s signatures and stamps already in place before she was asked to sign any of them. I was appalled that a notary would place her signatures and stamps on everything before arriving to the signing location. Has anyone else ever heard of a situation like this??
@kromedome42303 Yes, many times over the years this situation has popped up on various notary forums.
I told another notary never do that and I don’t know if he listened or not. It’s not legal to notarize in that fashion. Which everyone knows. He said “it saves time” well you’re getting paid for your time.
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Well, I’m not sure I agree it really saves that much time.
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I don’t think it does either.
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I’ve never heard of a notary doing that. Sounds like a huge red flag, definitely a violation of something, I’d guess. I’d report that notary. Seriously.
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I thought about that. But, I have no idea who she is.
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If you have on direct knowledge of what a notary did or didn’t do, you probably shouldn’t report them for something you were TOLD they did.
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Now we know why some title companies add 20 pages of instructions to the notary…
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I was told in my notary classes that this wasn’t legal. I fill in dates and names but never signatures or stamps. It doesn’t take long to sign and stamp at the table.
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Sometimes borrowers are not as attentive as they think they are. I have everything in my acknowledgments and jurats filled in, except for my signature and notary stamp. I prefill dates and signer’s names to save time at closing. Anyone glancing at the page might mistake that for a pre-notarization. Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear! I had a seller me back after a signing to “inform” me that I had not stamped any of his documents. Of course, I had stamped them, but he just wasn’t paying attention.
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Maybe she meant that the notary had signed and stamped the notarization page before the signing, as opposed to forging the signer’s signature. While that’s illegal, I suppose some notaries may do it to save time at the signing.
I’d heard of some having stamp issues, stamping the certs 1st before the signing to insure they have a good impression on the certificate.
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I totally agree. It be a misunderstanding or even a training moment for the notary. Reporting something that could easily be fixed is unnecessary
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These would be the notaries who think we notarize documents. In fact, we notarize signatures. No signature, no notarization.
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Yes I agree that is not at all professional!! I have had my expiration and/or printed name name written in time to time depending on my day (my state allows different styles so my expiration stamp is separate) but never have I signed or used my stamp! That notary needs training and as I’ve said many times if you’re not professional, dedicated and knowledgeable do not do this job!!
Yes, if time allows, I often will fill in my name, Expiration Date, Title and Comm # ahead of time. But, never my signature or stamp until after the signatory has added their signature. I also don’t pre-fill dates.
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I agree Dan! You don’t always have the best surface to work on. I’ve done everything from picnic tables outside in the wind to unstable card tables indoors. Once I had to walk into their kitchen to use the counter every time I needed to stamp. It’s amazing how many people don’t even clear a spot on their VERY cluttered and quite honestly, nasty table before you arrive! Oh well. All in a days work!
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