​Tips on Signing a Document
Whether you're buying a home or settling a lawsuit, it's essential that you know how to sign a document. Signing your name to a binding document unknowingly or without an understanding of the document's contents and intent can be a costly mistake. If you are inexperienced at signing legal documents, enlist the help of a knowledgeable family member, close friend or legal counsel to assist you in making well-informed choices about the types of legal documents you sign.

1. Read and re-read the document. You don't need to digest the entire contents in one reading; take your time. If you're asked to sign the document within a specified period, though, ensure you set aside enough time to carefully review the document before you sign. Don't be reluctant to ask for assistance in understanding the words or language used in the document. If you need someone to interpret the document's language, ask someone who understands your position or someone who doesn't have a vested interest in the property or issue addressed by the document.
2. Review every page of the document. If you need to make corrections, additions or deletions from the document text, make the necessary notations and sign your initials next to the change or in the margin next to the change.
3. Look at the last page of the document, which is the signature page. Determine whether you need someone to witness your signature. If so, ask someone to observe you when you sign the document. The witness doesn't necessarily have to read the document because her signature merely attests to the fact you signed the document. If the document requires a #notarized signature, wait until you're in the presence of a notary before you put your signature on the document.  You can search online directories   to find a #notary and take your identification with you. A #notary public's signature and stamp attest you are the person who signed the document, hence the requirement that you produce documentation. Many legal documents require #notarized signatures.
4. Use dark ink to sign legal documents. If it's necessary to distinguish between the original signed legal document and copies, use blue ink. Otherwise, black ink is acceptable, but refrain from using red ink or any other unusual color unless it's unavoidable and no other color ink is available.  Pencil is not favored because it can smudge and be erased, but a signature made with a pencil is equally valid as a signature in pen.
5. It’s always a good Idea to request a fully signed document. That is, if the document is signed by another party, which is generally the case, request a copy of the signed document for your personal files.

If you decide to utilize your document to be Notarized, please be aware of the notary disclaimer.
Notary Disclaimers: A notary public or other officer completing the notary certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.

according to a survey by the National Notary Association in 2015 there are many notaries threatened but few call the police. Overall, 26 percent of notary survey participants said they’d been in a hostile or dangerous situation during a notarization.
This happened to me this morning:
A customer called me this morning for a GNW needing a paper notarized by her husband at 1st she was going to come with her husband to my office, then she changed here mind and asked for a mobile notary service agreed. I take the address down and drive to her house. I show up and her husband is obviously ill because he can barely move and didn't say much, she shows me the papers and tells me he wants one document notarized even though it doesn't show any notarial working, like an acknowledgment or Jurat. I explained to the wife (who was doing all the talking) that the notary certificate needed to be stapled on to the document. We agreed. He (the man/husband) is getting ready to sign, while I complete the journal and she asks me where should he sign, I reviewed the document with her (reading it out loud) & we get to the part of the signature which showed 2 options, Patient or Representative, she says she needs to sign it because she is the "representative" I asked her if she had a POA (Power of Attorney) or Healthcare Directive ( she had neither) then suddenly she gets heated like upset, because she says that during the conversation she "clearly" told me that she was signing a POA (Power of Attorney) which is what I agreed to #notarize (which is untrue) I told her that the document we were notarizing wasn't a POA but a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) She said "Never mind I aint paying you" & you need to get out of here! I said "well you still need to pay-me for my trip" She said Naw" I ain't paying you because you didn't do anything" The husband looked upset and told her to pay me but she kept running her mouth (which I couldn't understand) she was so angry . I explained to her that next time she calls a notary to her home to be very clear about what service she needs. I couldn't wait to get out & so I left getting paid gas money 🙁. I was so nervous I almost walked into the closet 😁🤣she slammed it and said "wrong door" She practically threw me out of her house. all she needed to do was kick me in the butt like in the cartoons (😆) . "My stomach was in knots I was so scared" But I was glad nothing serious happened & made it safe back to my office.
As notaries we are unaware of the environment or situation we are about to face when it comes to Mobile Notary assignments, specifically when entering a person's home. The basis of the notarial request is unknown until the meeting . As Notaries we take great risk every time while performing a mobile notary assignment and the outcome is unpredictable.
https://www.nationalnotary.org/…/survey-notaries-threatened…

Notaries authenticate the identity of document signers.
Notaries are appointed public officials who help ensure the integrity of signatures on important documents. A notary public verifies the identity of somebody who signs a document, witnesses the signature, affixes the notary seal to the document and then records the signing in her notary journal. The scope of practice of a notary public, as well as the amount of money he can charge for services, varies according to state. The types of documents that need notarized signatures include, legal documents divorce agreements, letters, consent to travel forms, deeds and trust documents as well as some contracts.
Why have a document Notarized?
For "Self-Authenticating." 
What is self-authenticating?
A self-authenticating document, under the law of evidence (Rule Number 902) in the United States, is any document that can be admitted into evidence at a trial without proof being submitted to support the claim that the document is what it appears to be. Several categories of documents are deemed to be self-authenticating:
Certified copy of public or business records;
Official publications of government agencies;
Newspaper articles;
Trade inscriptions, such as labels on products;
Acknowledged documents (wherein the signer also gets a paper notarized);
In short, these are documents those which do not require outside evidence of authenticity in order to be admitted in evidence.
§ 1451. Acknowledged writings
California Evidence code section 1451. A certificate of the acknowledgment of a writing
other than a will, or a certificate of the proof of such a writing, is prima facie evidence of the facts recited in the certificate
and the genuineness of the signature of each person by whom the 'writing purports to have been signed.
Administrative and Professional Positions
In many instances, a notary public may work in an administrative or professional position for either a private company or a public agency. These notaries provide their services, as needed, to their colleagues and managers. The rest of the time, these notaries have other job duties that occupy most of their time. For example, a company's office manager may be a notary public, notarizing documents, as needed, while also performing tasks such as scheduling meeting rooms, ordering office supplies, and helping onboard any new hires in the company. Similarly, a paralegal may conduct legal research, prepare documents, and assist lawyers at trial, while also providing notary services to partners and staff.
Mobile Notary
Notaries in some states can work independently and may provide on-demand services to private clients. These mobile notaries will travel to meet with clients and to witness their signatures. Mobile notaries are often called upon to witness signatures in real estate transactions. They can also provide services to businesses that do not have a notary on staff and may also work with individuals who need to sign a legal document, such as divorce papers or an authorization to make changes to an investment account.

• Tip

States often set restrictions on what a notary can charge for his or her services. However, state regulations may also allow notaries to charge a reasonable fee for traveling to meet a client. Make sure that you understand your state's laws before offering mobile notary services
What Kind of Work Can a Notary Public Do?
Range of Duties
Depending on the state, a notary public can do more than witness signatures. A notary public in New York, for example, can take affidavits and depositions and administer oaths and affirmations. In Washington, a notary public can certify that an event or an act occurred and can take acknowledgements. While notaries public in Florida can perform a civil wedding ceremony, not all states confer this power to notaries.
 
Loan-Signing Agents
Many notaries are also loan-signing agents. Loan-signing agents are trained in to properly execute loan documents and often provide notary services to mortgage, escrow, and title companies. A loan-signing agent explains the documents to the signers and witnesses the signatures. Some states have restrictions limiting what a loan-signing agent can do. For example, Nevada, Nebraska, and North Carolina limit how much a notary public can charge for providing these services, and other states, including West Virginia and Massachusetts, require a notary public work to work in concert with an attorney admitted to the bar in the specific state.
Oaths Affirmations and Acknowledgements
Notary Publics in all states can administer and sign oaths, affirmations, and acknowledgments, according to the American Society of Notaries. Some documents, including applications and affidavits, require the signer to swear an oath, affirm or acknowledge under penalty of perjury that the contents of the document she is about to sign are true. The signer must sign the document in the Notary Public's presence, and the Notary Public must verbally ask the signer to acknowledge the oath or affirmation. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, the Notary Public can notarize the document.
Contracts
Some states allow Notary Publics to sign contracts. Contracts are agreements that can be enforced by law, with specific remedies if the agreements are not adhered to. Contracts must include a promise made in exchange for fair consideration, according to the Cornell University Law School. Contracts may be signed prior to being notarized, but the signer must appear in person before the Notary Public and affirm that the signature is genuine.
Power of Attorney
Notary Publics in some states can sign powers of attorney. A power of attorney grants authority to one individual to handle the affairs of another individual, and to enter into legal and financial agreements on that person's behalf. Powers of attorney may be unlimited or limited in scope. The Notary Public must ensure that all required elements are present before signing a Power of Attorney.
Deeds
A deed is the legal document used to transfer real estate ownership. A deed typically includes a description of the property, along with the names of the new owner and old owner. The individual who is transferring the property must sign the deed, according to Nolo.com. Some states allow Notary Publics to witness and sign deed transfers.
Copy Certification by Document Custodian
States that do not permit copy certification may allow what is known as "copy certification by document custodian." Copy certification by document custodian is the process where the holder of the original document signs a notarized document stating that the copy is identical to the original. In the cases of copy certification by document custodian, the custodian of the original document, rather than the notary public, vouches for the legitimacy of the copy. A notary public notarizes the document stating that the copy is an original rather than notarizing the actually certified copy.
Exceptions
Some states do not accept copy certification for documents of any kind, while others only accept it for certain documents. For example, New York does not accept any copy certifications, and in California, the only copy certifications allowed include powers of attorney and some notarial journals. Additionally, some documents may never use copy certifications, including U.S. naturalization certificates, vital records such as birth or death certificates, or recordable documents such as deeds. Clients wanting a certified copy of these types of records must request it from the custodian of that record, such as the state government or federal government.
Notary Pay Scale
Charging for Notarial Acts
Each state establishes a maximum fee a notary can charge for each notarial act, which consists of a signature on a single document. For example, the maximum per notarized signature, fee in California is $15.00 if a notary signs five documents, she can charge a total of $75 for the notarizations.
Charging for Services
In addition to notarial acts, notaries can charge for related services. A notary signing agent, also called a witness-only loan closer, may charge a fixed fee for a loan closing, such as $150. For Example, If the closing takes place in New York and there are 10 notarial acts in the closing, the notarial fees are $100, with a loan closing fee of $50. Notaries must pay self-employment tax on income that is not from a notarial act, such as the closing fee.

Notaries are well-qualified to serve as proctors. A background check is the key qualification for a proctor
Many educational institutions are expanding their curriculum to allow students to take classes and study online. But when it comes to taking tests, it’s still essential to have a physical proctor present to ensure students don’t cheat.
When a student takes tests for an online course, typically the student is required to take the test outside the home — a business or anywhere outside the residence with an Internet connection. To ensure academic integrity, an Independent Test Proctor is typically assigned to meet the student at the testing location. Notaries are well-qualified to serve as proctors.
Though proctoring does not require a Notary commission, many Notaries are background checked, whether through the commissioning process as in California or individually as part of working as a signing agent A background check lets the school know the Notary is a model citizen. The student knows the Notary is trustworthy and can be comfortable.
Notary Services etc., offers a Proctored Exam Testing Site. 
How it works:
1.            The Examinee arranges to have testing instructions, a copy of the exam and an acknowledgement sent to Notary Services etc.  office via mail, fax, email or courier, app or online portal.
2.            When the Examinee arrives for his appointment, (s)he is verified and logged in by furnishing a valid form of identification; then administered the exam at one of our internet accessible workstations. Exams can be taken on paper or online.
3.            Upon completion of your examination, Notary Services etc., will certify your exam for forwarding to the receiving agency.
Students
Students taking exam.  Some of your distance courses require you to take proctored exams. Your instructor will indicate this requirement via the course catalog, course syllabus, a Canvas announcement, or an email. Not all your courses may require proctored exams.
⦁              Schedule 1-2 weeks prior to your exam.
⦁              Every educational institution has a process in place on how to schedule your exam through a proctor.
⦁              Your exam information will be emailed to your proctor within 3 weeks of your exam.  You will receive a confirmation email to your email letting you know that is has been sent.
⦁              You should contact your proctor before your appointment to ensure that they have your exam information.  If they do not have your exam information, please contact Campus Testing and it can be resent.
⦁              Then your exam information will be emailed to your proctor within 3 weeks of your exam.  You will receive another confirmation email letting you know the exam information has been sent. .
Bring a form of photo identification.
Bring any items allowed by your instructor for the exam (e.g. calculator, book, notes, etc.).
Reminder: Cell phones, laptops, tablets and/or PDAs are not allowed during your exam.
It’s that simple call 661-864-7647 if you need the service of a test proctor!

I receive several request for my services regarding inmate #notary visits & or jail related #notarizations not necessarily to enter the prison to #notarize the signature of the inmate but to guide the inmate's families on how to handle certain #notary requests from the detainee.  I received a call from a woman who's brother is detained, through California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation system, she said her brother asked her to "go to a #notary so that his kids can go see him". Her request was a bit unclear so I needed some information in order to assist her. Asking a few questions regarding the inmate such as: √Inmate Name DOB √Booking / Register number √Facility name and location , helps to determine, what the visiting rules of the specific detention facility are & necessary documents required for visitation. In this particular case this is what she was referring to:

• Minors (children under 18 years old) are required to be accompanied by an adult who is an approved visitor. If the minor child(ren) is accompanied by his/her parent, the only paperwork necessary is a certified copy of the minor child(ren)’s birth certificate. If the minor is accompanied by his/her legal guardian, a certified copy of the minor child(ren)’s birth certificate and proof of legal guardianship is required.

OR

• If the minor child(ren) is accompanied by someone other than his/her parent or legal guardian, in addition to the certified copy of the minor child(ren)’s birth certificate, the adult must also bring a #notarized written consent authorization form signed by the minor child(ren)’s parent or legal guardian expressly giving permission for the minor child(ren) to visit a prisoner. The written consent authorization form must include the name of the prisoner the minor child(ren) is allowed to visit, the name of the person who is authorized to bring the minor child(ren) into the prison, and the date(s) of the proposed visit(s).

The #notarization must be on the original written consent authorization form and cannot be attached to it. The written consent authorization form to bring in a minor child(ren) must be updated each year
With this information I was able to download the form titled "Written Consent for Minor Visitation", which needed to be signed and authorized by the legal parent (in this case the minor's mother) . The detainee did not provide this document & she had no idea where to look to find this document causing my customer a bit of confusion on how to proceed and because this document needs to be signed and notarized the detainee requested she "go to a notary"
As a Full Time Independent Notary Public, customers have the expectation that I should and must know what needs to be done when the word "notary" comes up. I inform my customers that I am not an attorney and cannot give legal advice or accept fees for legal services. However, I do explain while I am downloading documents for them, I am simply providing a secretarial service and not acting as a Notary but as an Independent contractor. That way there will be no miscommunication regarding my role as a Notary Public & the Ancillary Services provided. I do feel it is my responsibility & top priority to go over & above the call of duty to assist my customers in meeting their needs, without the Unauthorized Practice of Law particularly drafting of documents and giving advice.
Information regarding detainee's in the California Department of Corrections is available to the public at their website: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/index.html-

One of the documents included in a loan package  is the Signature & Name Affidavit  this form  lists variations of the borrowers name such as “AKA’s” that the lender may have located when checking the borrowers credit or when the title search was completed. 
The name variations may differ from their name as it appears on the lender’s loan documents as those appearing on the credit report, are or maybe  included in the affidavit.
What is a Signature & Name  Affidavit?
Signature Affidavit document is generally combined with the Name Affidavit &  is a document in which a person certifies that the signature provided is the true and correct signature used by the person; Name Affidavit  allows a person to give a declaration that they are the same person as another name. This might be necessary in the event the person may have been known by or used different names in the past. Sometimes they are given under oath while other times they are given before a notary public.The person can enter into a contract using the signature provided. It is similar to providing a signature card when open a bank account.
The purpose of the Signature Affidavit is to provide a sample signature that can be used to establish if the borrower signed a document or not. This document is mainly for the protection of the lender who will verify that the  name of the borrower against  the signature  provided is correct. The legal documents (Note, Deed, etc.) are signed using the same signature as in the Signature Affidavit. 
During a Loan Signing some borrowers have as much as 3 pages of AKA's and others may have just one page with one name.  I compare this form with the Driver LIcense or ID presented to me at the beginning of the signing, and often time their legal name ( as listed on the ID) is not included in the AKA form so I write it as it appaers and make sure they sign accordingly.    
Those borrowers with multiple pages often ask , 
"Where did all these names come from?" 
"Your credit report!  Which  could contain different versions of and maybe even misspellings of your name. For example, your first and last name might appear along with your first and last name with your middle initial. Your credit report is compiled using information from the creditors and lenders you do business with. The name you put on your applications (the one that appears on your credit card or your statements) is the name that appears on your credit report, so be consistent. Also, if creditors have misspelled your name, that misspelling will appear on your credit report.
This document sparks up a conversation regarding the various names showing up  because clients are surprised to see so many name variations, which they have no knowledge of, So recommend they  pull their credit report, which is available for free once a year, and dispute any minor credit reporting mistakes with the credit bureau  because if those names -- and any un recognized accounts could be  the work of an identity thief

Completed a Conference Call Closing today; the property is in [SC] and closing in [CA] and requires an attorney to be present via a Conference Call.
What is a Recorded Conference Call Closing?

• Title/Escrow company with coordinate the closing in a mutual location where the borrower, notary, and witness will meet
•  representative (#Notary) calls into the Conference Call; the information such as the phone number and pin numbers are provided by title or hiring entity. 
• attorney gets on the line with the borrower(s), witness and #notary
•  The attorney usually lays a little ground work, maybe goes over the CD and deed briefly and is there to answer questions.
•  Some attorneys do the entire closing, and point to where the borrower signs. Others have covered the funding docs and then turned it over to the notary and then some have just introduced themselves asked if I had any problem completing the closing. It all depends on the attorney
• attorney will speak to borrowers about a couple of state specific docs along with the mortgage, note and riders. Then either stay on line or hang up and be available if any
• depending on the state, the witness & #notary print & sign their name on the Mortgage/Deed as well as the borrower.
• once the signing is complete the attorney hangs up the phone & the #notary finalizes the signing with the journal entries, thumb prints and couriers the documents back to the shipper to the receiving company. 
• The following states are notary witness states:
  Connecticut– 2 witnesses and one can be the Notary
  Florida– 2 witnesses, one CAN be the notary – Quit Claim Deeds Only, not the mortgage unless it is the Lender requirement.
  Georgia– 2 witnesses, and one MUST be the notary
  Louisiana – 2 witnesses, and CANNOT be the notary
  South Carolina– 2 witnesses, one CAN be the notary
  FL Notaries: Although it is not a State requirement, Lenders may request witnesses on their mortgages. 

Recently I received a call from a woman, requesting information about “Medallion Seal or “medallion notarization,” She was looking for a Mobile Notary to come to her location, for a Medallion Seal. Her elderly’s caregiver was donating a bond that required a “Medallion Seal”
Exactly what service is being requested?
a “medallion signature guarantee,” is a special signature guarantee required for the sale or transfer of securities. The most common use for a signature guarantee is to authenticate the right to sell or transfer securities. It protects the person who owns the stock or certificate and makes it more difficult for someone to forge a signature. To be able to affix the signature guarantee stamp or imprint, financial institutions join a signature guarantee program, the most widely used being the three Medallion Signature Guarantee Programs. Like a notary service, a representative of a participating financial institution reviews your paperwork, witnesses your signature and then, in applying the signature guarantee stamp, guarantees that your signature is genuine. The stamp uses a bar code, special ink, and other security features to make it more difficult to copy or counterfeit.
 This is different than a notary’s purpose in performing an acknowledgment or oath/affirmation notarial act. A Notary determines that the person who signs a document in her presence is in fact who that person claims to be. When appearing before a notary proper identification is presented, the notary compares your appearance, name and signature to the identification, & verifies the signature matches and applies a seal to the document. The notary, in effect, acts as an impartial witness and implements requirements that deter fraud.
A medallion signature guarantee is the issuing financial institution’s certification that a signature related to sale or transfer of securities is authentic.  Medallion signature guarantees have a completely different purpose from notarization, & should not be confused with notarization, and cannot be performed by a notary unless he/she is a certified participant in a financial institution’s medallion signature guarantee program. Any requests for a “medallion signature notary” or “golden medallion notarization” or similar should be referred to a bank. The requester may contact any local bank and ask if the bank can issue a “medallion signature guarantee.”

https://www.sec.gov/fast-answers/answers-sigguarhtm.html
​

​The frequency of mail-away closings is increasing. In an industry, when buyer or seller conducts a real estate transaction in absentia, it is called a “mail away and have become increasingly popular, to the point where it is a rarity for buyer and seller ever to meet, ever to communicate directly, or ever to sit down together at the same closing table. If you are involved in a closing that requires the mailing of documents below are some tips that can help avoid delays.
 

• If Borrower, Buyer, or Seller will be out of town on the date of closing, notify the closing agent as soon as possible so that the closing agent can coordinate a mail away of the closing documents
  • Borrower, Buyer, or Seller should choose a local professional with expertise in specific areas of the transaction such as a Certified Notary Signing agent who specializes in loan transactions. Documents notarized at the local Pack n Ship stores will be rejected because those notaries are not certified.
  • Not all lenders allow documents to be signed in advance of the closing date

·         Find out if the state requires the signature of a witness – if so make sure a witness is available to sign at the time of the appointment.Witness RequirementsThe following witness requirements must be followed for any document being recorded in the following states.
Connecticut: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary)
Florida: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary)
Georgia: One witness required (can’t be the notary)
Louisiana: Two witnesses required (neither can be the notary)
South Carolina: Two witnesses required (one witness may be the notary).
 
If you're not sure, just call the phone number for your closing company, contact information is listed on the instruction page included in the loan package.  if any questions arising during the signing, they would rather talk you through every little step than to re-do everything later because something was unclear.