Oh sorry, I’m in Florida.
Our role as a Notary Public is to authenticate the identity of the signer.
Prior to meeting with the client for a regular notarization, I ask how many signers, type of document and where do they live.
I then provide my travel fee and fee to notarize the document.
I believe that OP is confused. We do not need to know the content of the documents. Only if it is an acknowledgement or a jurat.
Yes, I would notarize documents for fellow notary public colleagues. It’s not required that we preview signer’s documents, so it is her right to deny your request. What I would have asked, what type of notarial act will be performed and how many? Once she and the other signer arrives and present the document, you do need to briefly review the document for being complete and no blank fields (spaces). Just my opinion.
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I am not sure, but a Notary Publics do not “legalize the signature” of a person signing a document. As Public Officials we witness people signatures, that just one of our duties. Of course, I am not an attorney so my understanding of the term “legalize” is limited to layman understanding.
I agree. I think this is an overreach on the part of the electronic journal. A notary does not need to maintain a photo of the signer for a GNW appointment nor do they need to note how tall the person is, etc.
I am a Florida-based Notary Signing Agent. There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a handwritten, bound paper journal. It doesn’t make one antiquated. I prefer not having to pay monthly or yearly fees to maintain access to my journals since we have to keep them for 10 years. I also have the freedom to record as many notes as I like for each signing. Florida does not require a journal, but strongly encourages it. I consider it best practice to notate every signing encounter. It has come in handy a number of times.
Florida law does not require notaries public to keep a notary journal for paper notarizations, but it is considered best practice. However, online notarizations do require a secure electronic journal of the notary’s acts, as per Chapter 117.245 of the 2020 Florida Statutes.
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In Texas recording any biometric information, including an ID/DL number, is illegal. The only thing we can now record is the expiration date of the photo ID.
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I generally never see the document – until I meet with the signers… I then review for completeness. If I, as a notary, needed something notarized for my own, and the notary asked me to send it to them ahead of time – I would think that was strange. And I don’t know about Free – Unless they were a friend??
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