A couple weeks ago I posted an article about what fee should a notary charge. This article is a follow-up to that. As a Notary Signing Agent (also called Certified Signing Agents) starts their business, the one main thing they will want to do is sign up with as many signing services as they are able, as well as reach out to as many title companies as possible. Some common signing services are SnapDocs, NotaryRotary, 123Notary and NotaryCafe (there could defiantly be more). If you take classes through Notary2Pro*, they provide a list of companies to sign up with and if an NSA is certified throu ..read more

I have been completing real estate closings for over 10 years now. In the past few years, especially during refinances when I am going to an individual’s home, I get the question “how easy it is for someone to steal my home?” While I am not certain how “easy” it is to steal the title to an individual’s home, as with any theft, the possibility is out there. There is a certain amount of complexity to the process, including the use of forgery, fraudulent identification, and an unethical notary (or one who has had their information compromised). To help protect yourself and your property, there ar ..read more

As more individuals become Notary Signing Agents (also called Certified Signing Agents), this is a question that I have seen and heard asked often. Due to federal law prohibiting such conversations, which is considered “price fixing”, a standard response I see is “Only you can determine what your fees will be. Figure out what your costs are and decide from there.” Unfortunately, because there are no set guidelines, determining your costs can be difficult. In my early days as a loan signing agent, I tracked everything I did, extensively. I would track the average size of a loan packet for speci ..read more

I recently met with an individual who was traveling out of the county with her mom, sister and minor daughter. The form they presented to me was very thorough and concise. I asked for a copy and she very kindly provided one. (travel form) As summer approaches many people will be traveling on vacation. This is a great form to utilize if you will be traveling with a minor child. Even if the parents are married to one another and there are no custodial issues, having this travel authorization completed and with the traveling parties will help prevent any issues that may arise. Do not forget to ma ..read more

In the State of Michigan a Notary is required to maintain a $10,000 surety bond. This is a bond that protects the public from a Notary’s misconduct or negligence. A Notary may choose to purchase an additional Errors & Omissions Insurance policy to cover themselves against claims or lawsuits resulting from unintentional notarial errors. In the event of notarial misconduct, whether intentional and unintentional, both the Notary and the surety company can be sued in civil court for damages. The surety company is only financially liable up to the amount of the policy, whereas the Notary can be ..read more

“An Apostille or Certificate of Authority certifies that documents intended for use in foreign countries as legally authenticated…Apostilles are used for countries that are party to the Apostille Treaty, while Certificates of Authority can be issued for non-party countries. Apostilles and Certificates of Authority are issued for public documents and are the equivalent of notarization with the United States.” – State of Michigan website In layman terms, an Apostille issued by the State of Michigan is used to authenticate the signature of an individual who executed a document in their official c ..read more

If you read the Michigan Notarial Law, pursuant to MCL 55.285 (8) “a notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act”. Because a notary is commissioned by the state to act as an unbiased individual attesting to the identity of a person signing a document, generally speaking, unless there is something specific about a document or situation, a Michigan Notary should not refuse to notarize a document. A notary should (but not required to) honor all lawful and reasonable requests to notarize a document if they provide current valid identification. A person’s race, age, gender, religion, nationa ..read more

In the State of Michigan the answer is yes, pursuant to MCL 55.293 (for a full copy of the statutory law, please go to our website at TKSMobileNotary.com) A Notary may sign any document on behalf of a signer who, due to physical a disability, cannot execute a document without assistance. The Notary must be directed by the individual to sign either orally or by electronic communication (if the signer is unable to speak). Once the Notary has signed the individual’s name in their presence, the Notary must inscribe under the signature “Signature affixed pursuant to Michigan Notary Public Act”. #TK ..read more

When you purchase a home there are many documents to be signed that are prepared by the lender, the title company and general real estate forms specific to Michigan. If the property that is purchased is going to be a primary residence, there are two forms that will need to be completed at the time of close: a Property Transfer Affidavit and a Principal Residence Exemption form. These two documents are filed with the local Assessor Office in whichever city, county, township or village the property is located. Usually, your real estate agent is familiar with which Assessor’s Office to use, howev ..read more

This is another question I hear often. They are also sometimes referred to as Certified Signing Agents, Remote Closers, Contract Closers, Closing Agent, etc. It is not the same as being a Notary, however, in order to be a Signing Agent you will also need to be a Notary. In the State of Michigan, you can be commissioned as a Notary, but you cannot be certified as a Signing Agent. The State of Michigan does recognize Signing Agents, but they do not offer classes to become one, nor will they provide a “commission” or a “license”. Signing Agents are individuals that are hired by title companies or ..read more