Weston Mobile Notary, Mobile Notary & Legal Document Assistant

Ever handed a document to a notary and wondered, “What exactly are they doing?” Notaries play a crucial role in verifying signatures and preventing fraud, but their responsibilities have limits. Let’s break it down!     What a Notary CAN Do: ✔ Verify Identity – Notaries check valid, government-issued IDs to confirm identity. ✔ Witness Signatures – They ensure the signer is present and signing voluntarily. ✔ Administer Oaths & Affirmations – Some documents require a verbal oath before signing. ✔ Certify Copies of Certain Documents – Limited to specific records (but not all). What a Notary CANNOT Do: ❌ Give Legal Advice – Notaries are not attorneys and can’t explain document contents. ❌ Fill Out Forms for You – You must complete your document before meeting the notary. ❌ Notarize Incomplete or Blank Documents – Everything must be properly filled out first. ❌ Verify the Accuracy of a Document – Notaries confirm identities, not the validity of information. Why It Ma...

Recently, I attended a presentation on estate planning by a local trust attorney. Not so much for having my living trust drawn up, I already have that in place (and if you don't, you might want to look into having one done,) but to introduce myself to the attorney, learn something new, and to possibly drum up more business for myself. While I am well acquainted with living trusts and wills since notarizing trust docs is part of what I do, I learned that, as of March 2023, there is 11.9 BILLION DOLLARS worth of unclaimed property sitting in the California State Comptroller's office, the bulk of which is property that lands there when people don't have a trust or estate plan! Do you have unclaimed property siting dormant just waiting for you to claim it? Or perhaps a family member has passed away; are you sure all their assets were accounted for? One quick way to determine if you have money coming to you is to check the California State Comptroller's website and perform ...

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 instan...

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...

  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...

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 ...