How to have a Successful First Signing

In a scam going back to 2017, the state of Pennsylvania has finally charged the notary at the center of the story, though more than one notary was alleged to be part of some of the transactions.

We have kept our eye on this story, following it with baited breath. The alleged actions of the notary are unconscionable and led to the loss of more than 20 loans in a scam that lasted almost a decade.

To catch up, please check out our previous stories about the Philly Fiasco. We already have three of them to get caught up on the situation. Here is our original reporting on the Philly Fiasco. Here is a follow up to the fiasco, including the state’s remedy to the issue moving forward. Finally, an aspect of the Philly Fiasco went worldwide.

The city came up with a solution called Fraud Guard. It’s website can be found here. It allows both homeowners and notaries to receive email follow ups to any change in status or signing. This allows a back up system for home owners and notaries to stay safe.

The only downside is you must sign up for this service (we understand why). How can they contact you if you don’t give your information? But, it still leaves some wiggle room for those not aware of, or signed up to Fraud Guard.

The biggest change since we last touched this subject is that the notary is not alleged to just being duped or mildly involved. They have now been identified as the ringleader, in a scam that lost owners more than twenty homes.

In 2018, staff at the city’s Department of Records noticed anomalies in deeds connected to [the notary]. In many instances, [the notary] had backdated notarized documents making it appear as though the homeowners had approved the transaction of their properties before they died, prosecutors said. Investigators also found patterns among [the notary’s] documents, such as using fraudulent stamps to indicate [they] had witnessed signatures, and some properties allegedly had been priced below market value to avoid higher tax bills.

Philly Voice

“A notary public is supposed to be someone whose very job is to act as a gatekeeper – to prevent fraud in these cases,” Assistant DA Kimberly Esack said.

This saga has gone on for years. It took a long time to put together charges the state thinks will stick. They even have a list, and map, of the specific properties the notary is being charged with. For brevity, and to stop you from taking a nap, we will not list them all. Additionally, prosecutors said they are not done, and additional deeds are under scrutiny.

The notary has been charged with a litany of charges, totaling 31. These include conspiracy, theft by deception, identity theft, among others. They are also still chasing co-conspirators, who have yet to be identified.

While some home owners have been able to recoup their homes, others are still pending in civil court. Can you imagine being ousted for your homes and then having to take years to get it back? We mean, how long does it take to figure this out, and to dole out justice. Most importantly, getting home owners back into their homes.

As always, we’ll keep you updated as this very slow process moves along.

April 2025

We talked about this Nebraska court case recently, after the district attorney’s office appealed dropped charges against a notary. This all goes back to alleged fraudulent signatures regarding getting legal medical marijuana.

When we last wrote about the topic, the court had dropped charges against the notary. The district attorney appealed.

Well, that appeal is done.

The charges against the notary are back on. All twenty-four of them.

The court ruled that the lower court erred in dropping the charges. This all goes back to a medical marijuana initiative, and the notary was charged in regards to ninety-eight ballots. They are alleged to have egregious errors, including incorrect birth date, among other details.

The charges accuse the notary of official misconduct.

The case is around the definition of official misconduct. Judge Corey. He found that under state law, a notary public is not a public official, and therefore cannot be charged with official misconduct.

But, judge Andrew Butler, the Hall County District Court Judge did not concur.

Butler wrote, “This language clearly shows that a notary public is public servant as an officer.”

He reinstated the charges and ordered that the prosecution proceed in Hall County Court.

Both medical marijuana initiatives — one legalizing medical cannabis and one regulating it — made it onto the ballot.

Nebraska Now – KLKN

Both initiatives still made the ballot and passed. A Nebraska judge found there was not enough fraud to stop the initiative, even with the alleged violations of the notary.

Again, we will keep you updated as new information comes forth. But, just because this appeal went quickly, the remaining process may take some time.

We thank you for reading Sunshine Signing for your most recent notary news.

April 2025 sees some new rules for notaries in the state of Ohio.

Much of it updates or rolls back rules enacted in 2023. The 2023 package updated the rules, but its details were sketchy. It opened up a whole lot of questions, and so turned into stop gap rules.

The rules introduced a lot of things about who could become a notary, how a notary verifies identification, as well as what a notary can charge.

Requirements to Become a Notary

The new rules specify only Ohio citizens may become notaries in Ohio. Non resident attorneys are also allowed. There was a question about reciprocity for notaries, but that was clarified. A notary from another state may not hold a license as an Ohio notary, again, unless they are an attorney.

Identification

Wow, looking at the rules the ways to verify someone’s identity was not well thought out. What type of identification is involved in someone proving who they are? No specific ones.

The new changes state that a notary has “satisfactory evidence” of the identity of the person appearing before them if the notary can identify the person by either a passport, driver’s license, government-issued nondriver identification card or other form of government-issued identification with the signature or photograph of the individual. Further, the changes state that the identification provided needs to be current or expired no more than three years before the notarial act.

Legal-Ease

Beyond this a witness may attest to the identity of a signer. But, the notary must know the witness. We think this opens up the path for furthered sketchy signings, but it is a step ahead from the 2023 rules. On the bright side, a notary can still refuse any sort of identification if they are not comfortable with it.

You Can Charge More

Go ahead and do your funky dance, but don’t get too excited.

A notary can now charge up to $30 for a remote signing. The notary may also add a $10 technology fee.

The neat thing about the technology fee, is it can be charged whether a signing is complete or not. Even in cases where where the notary refuses to sign because of identification.

The $10 fee may only be charged once per RON session.

What about if I go Mobile?

The new 2025 rules allow notaries to add an additional fee for traveling. It does not specify an amount for the traveling cost.

1 Strike and You are Out

The last main rule pertains to notaries who had had their licensed revoked. They may no longer be allowed to regain the privilege of being a notary at any point.