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Notary News

New North Carolina Take Effect in July

North Carolina passed two bills addressing notaries that started on July 1st, 2024. A large part of them address the temporary rules passed during COVID, making them permanent. Or making small changes that will now be permanent.

Several of the pieces of the law actually kicked in a few months ago, but we will not address that.

*We would like to remind you we are not attorneys. If you need to understand the minutiae, please talk to a lawyer. *

Modifications to the Notary Public Act

The first bill is Senate Bill 552, called the “Modifications to the Notary Public Act”. This bill introduced a slew of minor changes, as well as a couple of new ones.

The biggest one addresses electronic notaries who are not lawyers and who are not located in North Carolina. They are now prohibited from rendering services are advice that can be construed as “the practice of law”.

Many things have been passed to the Secretary of State to implement processes and procedures. For example, the legislature wants on online portal for notaries, which does not exist at this moment.

A vendor may no longer sell notary stamps to anyone who can not provide a notary commission, as well as personal identification. As for online orders, the Secretary of State is tasked with crafting and instituting new rules.

The law addresses notary change of address, name and resignation. This will most likely be addressed by a website when one is built, but makes some minor changes in the processes to do so.

The bill sets forth maximum amounts allowed by law for a notary to stamp certain documents.

Besides that, among other things, are small changes to definitions and wording of the previous bill.

Adoption Law/ Notary Changes/ Guardianship Rights

As the name implies, this bill is not just about notaries.

The biggest change here is that electronic notaries must use an electronic journal.

Most of the bill addresses adoption and guardianship, so the bulk of the changes are there. There is only a small part that addresses notaries.

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Outdated Practices Face Michigan Notaries

One third on deed rejections in Michigan are notary related. This is not the notaries’ fault, but the fault of the laws governing notaries in the state.

Provenance

Did you know there are ten David Smith’s who are notaries in Michigan? And on official documents, it can be hard to tell which David Smith notarized the document. The truth is, it opens up the possibility of fraud in the state.

The state’s legal problem are so bad they have an effect on all Michiganders. The notary stamp is not required by state law. By that we mean wet signatures. They don’t even require notaries’ to keep a journal or use an embosser.

There is not numbered identification symbols for notaries. This can make figuring out which David Smith notarized a document a chore.

Notaries

There are 113,000 notaries in the state of Michigan. Confusion surrounds them. The lack of identifying numbers is a big problem. Michigan courts invalidate too many notarizatons because of it.

Notaries don’t have commission numbers.

If your documents are ever called into question, it can end up in chaos. It would be another layer of fraud protection that is not there. And they can come back to bite you years later.

Training

Nowhere in Michigan law does it require notaries are trained.

No requirement to be trained.

It leads to too many poorly notarized documents that experienced notaries tend not to make. (We know a lot of you are pretty much error free, but everyone misses something on occasion.)

Conclusion

It is home selling season and there is no reason to be completely sure your document may have the right provenance.

It is time to change Michigan notary law.

How does the public have faith in a system like this?

Should You Notarize Documents at the UPS or Through a Mobile Notary?

When it comes to legitimizing a wide array of documents — from mortgages and prenuptial agreements to statements and sworn affidavits — the absence of a notarized signature can strip them of any legal validity. Although a trip to a UPS notary might appear to be the simplest route, numerous advantages tilt the balance in favor of employing a mobile notary.

In the quest to find a notary online, location and legitimacy undoubtedly top your list of considerations. Identifying a notary’s whereabouts is just the initial step; managing to reach them and carve out time for the appointment poses another set of challenges.

At a glance, the UPS notary service seems straightforward and user-friendly. Your task is merely to locate a UPS store offering notary services, bring along your documents, present an ID for verification, and undergo the notarization process.

However, beneath this simplicity lies potential inconvenience, particularly for those who regularly require notary services. This inconvenience stems from the need to align your schedule with store hours, possibly taking time off work, and the physical effort to travel to a UPS store — challenges that can escalate quickly if you’re pressed for time or if a UPS location is not conveniently situated near you.

The Mobile Notary Advantage

In contrast, mobile notary services offer a level of convenience and flexibility that traditional notary services can’t match.

Here are some compelling reasons why choosing a mobile notary might be the better option for your notarization needs:

Unmatched Convenience

Mobile notaries come to you, wherever you are. Whether you’re at home, the office, or any other location, mobile notary services eliminate the need for travel, saving you time and hassle.

Flexible Scheduling

Unlike brick-and-mortar notary services that operate within fixed hours, mobile notaries often offer more flexible scheduling options. This means you can have documents notarized outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, fitting seamlessly into your busy schedule.

Efficiency for Frequent Needs

For individuals or businesses that require notary services on a regular basis, mobile notaries provide a streamlined solution. The ability to have a notary come to you on-demand simplifies the process, making it faster and more efficient.

Privacy and Comfort

Notarizing sensitive documents in the comfort of your own space provides a level of privacy and security that public locations cannot. Mobile notary services allow for a discreet and comfortable experience, especially for documents of a personal or confidential nature.

Choosing What’s Best For You

When deciding whether to use UPS notary services or a mobile notary, consider the factors of convenience, time, and the frequency with which you require notary services. While both options are legally valid, your specific needs and circumstances will dictate the most suitable choice.

In the digital age, where efficiency and convenience are prized, opting for a mobile notary service can significantly ease the notarization process. By choosing Sunshine Signing for your mobile notary needs, you’re not just getting your documents notarized; you’re choosing a service that values your time and convenience.

Interested in simplifying your notarization process with the utmost convenience and reliability? Reach out to Sunshine Signing today and experience notarization tailored to your lifestyle.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

GET STARTED

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

Illinois Passes Remote Online Notarization

Illinois became the 47th state to legalize Remote Online Notarization last week.

They unveiled their new e-notary system, which allows residents to notarize documents remotely.

You could still previously use RON to sign documents, but there were too many pitfalls. Everyone had to be within the state, and it still required a wet signature from the notary. The new rules require the notary to be in Illinois, but the signers can be anywhere.

“In keeping with our ongoing effort to modernize the Secretary of State’s office, E-Notary serves as a game-changer for Illinoisians by now providing a convenient way to notarize documents without leaving their home or office,” Alexi Giannoulias said. “Enabling commissioned notaries to work virtually makes the process faster and more secure for individuals and businesses alike.”

Illinois Flag

As of now, there are just about 250 notaries approved to be e-notaries in the state, though that number is probably going to explode as we move forward.

The E-Notary system facilitates electronic signatures from both the customer and notary, along with electronically attaching the notarial certificate and seal to the document.

Following the Illinois General Assembly’s 2021 legislation authorizing electronic notarization, Secretary of State Giannoulias prioritized its implementation.

This involved securing state approval for administrative rules, developing an E-Notary application, vetting technology providers, and training staff for processing applications.

WREX

Notaries may charge up to $25 for an e-notarization.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

GET STARTED

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

Mister Goblin – “The Notary”

Another day, another win for notaries in pop culture. You may remember Notary Publix, the shorts from 2015 were the last time we told you about notaries in pop culture. That time a streaming series of shorts featuring former Saturday Night Live actress Kate McKinnon.

Well, welcome to the music world. In April, Mister Goblin has a new album coming out called Frog Poems. And part of that is a track called “The Notary”, which was released on Youtube a few days ago.

The song talks about how the singer wants to become a notary so the singer can have some practical use in life.

“The idea for this one came up during pandemic lockdown when I was brainstorming excuses I could make to get out and see people without violating the social contract,” Sam Goblin said of ‘The Notary’ in a statement. “One of the ideas being that I could become a notary and stamp shit for my friends. Never did get around to it, but I did write this song. Joe (the other guitarist on the record) had to sell me a little bit on the shoegaze-y whammy bar part he wrote, but I’m so glad he did because now I think it really makes the song.”

ourculture

Check it out below.

“The Notary” by Mister Goblin

What is a Notary Signing Service?

What is a notary signing service and how does it differ from a normal notary?

The Notary Signing Service

A notary signing service performs many notary signings. It is not just a one off, a company like Sunshine Signing can perform from one to thousands of notarizations for our clients. We do it by leveraging a roster of tens of thousands of notaries spread across all fifty states.

While a single notary may be available for more than one signing, there are times they may not be available. In these instances a signing service can plug the gap by providing another professional notary in a limited time frame.

This allows the signer, be it an individual or a firm like a title company, to ease the worry of having to fill any gaps for notarizations. For institutions this is extremely important, as time is of the essence.

Time and Money

Notary Signing Service

For business, a signing service can save them both time and money, while increasing productivity. When faced with dozens or thousands of signings, a signing service only makes sense.

With nationwide access and the ability to perform both mobile and online signings from anywhere, a notary signing service ensures every notarization goes smoothly. These signings can happen in the office, at your local coffee shop, on a job site, or any other place that is convenient.

Any business owner knows time is money. And the freedom a notary signing service provides saves a company time.

The Notary Signing Service Saves an Employee

Too many companies have an employee dedicated to finding notaries. They open an online rolodex, making call after call, trying to arrange all of their signings. This not just wastes effort, but costs the business too much effort.

A signing service like Sunshine Signing handles all of that for you, in an efficient manner. This again saves a business both time and money. Yes, we do keep coming back to that, time and money.

Sunshine Signing is more efficient than your own dedicated employee. Why? Because facilitating notarizations is all we do. It is our business, our sole dedicated purpose. Why waste effort when you have someone who can do it all for you in a blink of an eye.

Use Sunshine’s Signing Service

Sunshine Signing Logo

When looking for a signing service, you need one that has nationwide access and tens of thousands of notaries at their fingertips. One that guarantees the process and supervises it from the moment the order is taken until the final document is filed.

That company is Sunshine Signing.

We guarantee a notary to your selected location in four hours or less, even in rural areas. That is because we truly have a nationwide reach. We don’t just say we do, we can back it up in real time.

Our notaries are available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and three hundred sixty five days of the year. We, and they will be here when you need us.

To find out more, feel free to give us a call at (727) 817-0000 or click on the form below. We thank you for your thought and consideration and promise to give you the best service in the industry.

Sunshine Signing Service

Your Nationwide Notary Signing Service

Increase your efficiency and bottom line with Sunshine’s Mobile Notary Services and Online Notary Services. Sunshine is always there when you need us.

GET STARTED

Or Call us at (727) 817-0000

2024 Update to Florida Witness Requirements

Attention Notary Professionals

Witness requirements in Florida for real estate documents are changing in January 2024. It is important to take care in fulfilling these new obligations so your documents are done correctly.

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Notary Public Near Me

So, how do you find a notary public near you?

A simple google maps search will bring up a partial list. But, it will leave out a lot of corner stores that offer the service.

The real question you should ask. Should I use just any old notary public near me? What are the ramifications? And do they have the knowledge to make sure everything is compliant with state and local regulations.

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