Ron posted a provactive blog about clients appearing before us and necessity of keeping detailed and accurate records in our journals.

Accurate knowledge and accurate records protects both the public and us.

I think Ron's last paragraph was most important.  He is right: it is urgent that we notaries know our state's regulations and practices thoroughly.

In WA, there are 3 types of services a notary may perform out of presence of the client:

*Copy certification (comparing an original document to a copy and attaching a notarized statement that the copy matches the original). Seal is used.  The person providing the original and copies does not need to be the owner of the original.  The documents can even be sent to me via mail or FedEx.

*Acting as a government official on some forms. Example: signing a form in the capacity of Notary Public that the ID number on a vehicle matches number listed on form.  The person who owns the car doesn't need to appear before the notary.  The ID# verification request could come from anyone.  The notary seal not always required. Seal IS required when proper notarial wording is presented.

*Acting as a witness, such as making a written statement that a specific person won the baking contest at the county fair.

I am posting this blog for two reasons:

1. We notaries have to know our regulations cold PLUS be aware of things not clearly stated or not even mentioned in the regulations.

Of the three examples above, only the first situation is clearly discussed in my state's notary regulations.

My state's fee schedule mentions a witness fee but doesn't give instructions or even mention examples.  We can all think of being a witness to someone signing her will when we are not the notary.  But there are many other cases where I have acted as witness in my capacity of notary.  Some of the situations required that I call my SoS to ascertain that I am handling the work properly.

2.  Witness work is a largely untapped area of non-loan notary work.  While the mortgage crisis continues, we notaries who love our work and don't want to change careers must be ever vigilant to find new opportunities to increase our service offerings.

Copy certification and witness work has come to represent around a third of my monthly notary income.  It pays much better than loan work.  Clients drive to me or mail/FedEx the work to me.  (I love this - I don't have time and overhead wasted on driving to the client.)  It is important to realize that I don't just get notary income, I get income from the administrative work involved.  Scanning, driving to post office or FedEx (both are very close to me), phone conversations with clients and others, etc.  I charge $30 to $50 an hour for my time.

I hope you research how witness work should be handled in your state and investigage the possibilities of how to get more witness work.

LauraV    www.ProfessionalNotary.com/7.html