Common Notary Mistakes

It’s not just newly commissioned notaries who make mistakes. Certainly, even an experienced notary can do so. There are common notary mistakes that seem to pop up again and again. Perhaps by discussing them, we can enlighten the newly appointed notary, and re-focus the seasoned notary veteran.

Common Mistakes by a Notary

• Failure to demand a Personal Appearance – Chiefly, the signer must be present at the notarization process. However, an exception is when a Subscribing Witness represents the signer. We discuss a subscribing witness in another blog article.
• Affixing the Seal incorrectly – It’s imperative to make sure that the notary seal is totally in the blank space provided by the document. It must not cover, or conceal, any of the text.
• Failure to keep a Journal – Even the simplest form of notarial service should be recorded in your journal. This provides a record of the notary service that could be needed in the future.
• Conflict of Interest – A notary cannot benefit, in any way, from the document. This seems pretty straightforward. But things can be muddled if you notarize for a family member. That is because you could indirectly benefit. Perhaps the family member gains something from the document, and you are named in their will. The best solution is NOT to notarize for a family member.
• Failure to identify the signer – Hence, we need to establish the identity of the signer by examining their identification. Generally, this includes a driver’s license, passport, or any government-issued I.D.
• Failure to properly sign the document – If your commission shows your name as Robert C. Flatfoot, then you must sign the certificate as such. Bob Flatfoot is not acceptable.
• Remember, the notary license must be renewed every four years.

Avoid Mistakes

These are just a few of the common mistakes notaries can make. If you fully understand and abide by, the law of your state that governs notaries, you should never make these mistakes. Those who wish to become a notary in New York may find this article helpful. You can visit New York State to learn more about what a notary public needs to know.

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