At a Signing at a public place; a Panera Bread location. I arrived early to ask an employee who was a manager if he would mind acting as Witness for a signing. He said, absolutely!
I proceed to the signing and wave him over for the Warranty Deed; he watches the couple sign. I instruct on where to sign, print his name and address. It is required in Florida. He looked up at me, horrified–no, I won’t sign this and I won’t give my address as its private.
I’m thinking–this couple had just signed in front of this reluctant Witness. Now what. I went over to a nearby table and politely ask a gentleman if he’d mind signing as a Witness. No problem. He included his address. Even though he hadn’t DIRECTLY Witnessed them sign; he heard from his table.
Sighs.
What would you have differently?
That first person agreed to Witness did not want to include his address. I told him it was kept private. It didn’t change his mind.
The only thing I would have done differently is to bring the second gentleman over to your table and have the signers re-acknowledge in his presence that the signature on the document WAS their signature and they had signed it of their own free will.
I do understand the reluctance of some people to give out their private info.
The only other thing…and I just picked up on this….I would not have said “I told him it was kept private” because it’s not private - the WD is going to be recorded in the county records and is public info
I had a recent deed claim that required a witness. I’m in Florida, too. Florida allows us to be a witness as well. But there are stipulations: Florida Notary as a Witness. Of course, I also added a fee for witnessing.
