Weston Mobile Notary, Mobile Notary & Legal Document Assistant

Like most people, I'm exploring different strategies that will allow me a comfortable retirement. As we all know, retirement requires money!  One of the options at my disposal is a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) or commonly know as a reverse mortgage. It is a home loan only for homeowners who are 62 and older. With a reverse mortgage loan, monthly mortgage payments are eliminated. Interest and fees are added to the loan balance each month and the balance grows. The loan is repaid when the borrower passes away or no longer lives in the home.  Reverse mortgage borrowers must pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, keep the property in good condition, and use it as their primary residence. As a notary signing agent, I've sat at the signing table with many a borrower guiding them through their reverse loan documents. These borrowers who utilize this type of loan product were able achieve their financial freedom while not having to move out of their house. In one instanc

Working within the real estate field as a mobile notary signing agent, I have a professional network of colleagues who keep me in touch with most things real estate. Consequently, you should know that real estate fraud is on the rise. This means, that thieves are in force, stealing real property right out from under unsuspecting owners. Filing a fraudulent real estate document with the county recorders office is easier than you think. The county clerk does not evaluate the veracity of a document that is presented for filing. They do make sure there are no blank lines, and they do make sure the notary seal is properly placed and that the notary commission is not expired, but a criminal can have stolen a notary seal, or have one illegally made, or a notary may have been duped into notarizing a fraudulent document. On every California notarial acknowledgment, and jurat the following verbiage must be included:   A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the

It's true. If you're familiar with real estate loans, you've probably seen a section on the loan estimate disclosure form, also known as Good Faith Estimate , that says "Services you can shop for".   These services, as pictured at right, are Pest Inspection Survey Insurance binder Lender's title policy Settlement Agent Fee (AKA escrow or title) Title search While a notary signing agent is not specifically listed, you can ask your escrow officer (or your real estate agent) to use your trusted notary signing agent. It should be noted that not just any notary will do; she should be a certified notary signing agent. (See my blog post on NSAs.)    Why would you want to choose your own notary signing agent? The notary signing agent's job, while a small step in a long process in the acquisition of real estate, is important nonetheless. A misstep at the end of the process can derail the whole transaction. Personalized service with a seasoned NSA can make all the d

  All notary signing agents (aka NSA, loan signing agents, or signing agents) are notaries, but not all notaries are signing agents. So, what's the difference and why should you care? A notary signing agent has additional training and certification to handle real estate documents: purchase, sales, refinance, HELOC etc. They also carry higher E&O insurance policies. In essence, NSAs perform two functions: The certified NSA guides the signer through the real estate document package making sure all the required forms are correctly signed and dated, boxes are checked, and is tasked to make sure the signing process goes as smoothly as possible. After docs are signed and double checked for errors, the NSA gets the documents back to escrow as quickly as possible. The NSA also is performing her notarial duties by verifying that the signer is indeed who they present themselves to be, and to notarize and document in her journal all the required documents within a real estate package.  Th

  As a notary signing agent, I come across the many elements that bring a successful real estate transaction to fruition. An often underestimated, important element in the long line of steps that occur when a real estate transaction is initiated, whether its a purchase or refinance, is title insurance. According to the California Department of Insurance :  "Title insurance is a contractual obligation that protects against losses that occur when title to a property is not free and clear of defects (e.g. liens, encumbrances and defects that were unknown when the title policy was issued).  Title insurance also guarantees loan priority. The terms of the policy define what risks are covered and what risks are excluded from coverage. The title insurer will reimburse you or your lender for losses that are covered, up to the face amount of the policy, and any related legal expenses. This protection is effective as of the issue date of the policy and covers defects arising prior to

Often, I am asked what my fees are to notarize a document. Per California notary law, the maximum a  notary can charge per notarized signature is $15, as of this writing. Note that I said per notarized signature, not per document. This means that if three signatures must be notarized for a single document, the notarization fee is $45, plus any travel fee that may be incurred. Travel fees vary from notary to notary, and they are not regulated by the state of California. Notaries are required to disclose the travel fee prior to the appointment. My travel fee is $2.50 per mile round trip from 90807 with a $25 minimum. If the appointment is at the height of traffic, notaries often charge an additional fee. More time spent traveling is a premium.  Parking fees, in the instance of meeting a signer at a hospital, are in addition to the notarization fee, and travel fee.  Mobile notaries provide a much needed service by traveling to a signer when they may not be capable to travel themselves. I

  A California notary must have a valid government issued ID in order to perform a notarization. Government issued ID is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a form of identification issued by a government entity. The most common forms are US state issued driver’s license, a state ID card , and a US passport. O ther forms of acceptable identification are: Military ID Canadian, and Mexican driver’s license Foreign passport I nmate ID card Acceptable ID for a California notary must be valid, meaning it must not be expired. The ID must have a photo of the individual, a physical description, signature, issue and expiration dates, and government issued identifying number. Social security cards are not acceptable. Y our ID must be physically present. Photocopies, or digital images are not acceptable. A California notary will refuse to notarize if you present her with such. Question : What if I’ve lost your driver’s license and have no other form of acc

  One does not think about notaries often, much less a mobile notary, until you need one. Then there’s a mad scramble to find one, anyone, to get the job done. In most cases a trip to a mailbox store will most likely get the job done and is not a bad choice if you have single, simple document you need notarized. There are times, however, when traveling to a notary is not convenient or even doable. Perhaps you’re housebound, or the signer has mobility and/or health issues. Maybe the signer is in the hospital, a nursing facility, or rehab. It may be a case of not being able to leave work, or you have strange work hours that preclude you from visiting a notary public during regular business hours. Or maybe, you just like the convenience of a mobile notary coming to you. In these instances, a mobile notary is essential for getting the notarizations you need. Choosing the right mobile notary is important for the following reasons: A traveling notary who regularly makes hospital