Can I notarize a document that is dated over one month ago? — J.D., Nebraska Yes, you can, provided the date is not the date of signing appearing near the signature made over a month ago and the notarial act being requested is not a jurat, verification on oath or affirmation that requires the signature to be made in front of you. https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2019/11/hotline-notarize-a-document-signed-several-weeks-ago?utm_campaign=bulletin20191118&utm_m

Updated 12-21-18. You should never simply toss an expired Notary seal in the trash and forget about it. An old Notary seal is like your checkbook — if you throw it away carelessly, a dishonest person could find it and use it for fraud. Most Notaries will need to replace an expired seal at some point — which means they will have to properly dispose of the old one. You also may need to destroy or dispose of a seal stamp if you get a new one before your commission expires. What

Updated 10-30-19. Making a mistake during a notarization can have serious financial and legal consequences for California Notaries — and deliberately breaking the law leads to even more severe penalties. This guide will help familiarize Notaries with the Golden State’s Notary laws and penalties for misconduct. Penalties For Notary Misconduct In California If a Notary commits misconduct, penalties under California law fall into four main categories: Disciplinary action by the

If a document is being notarized in Texas but will be filed in California, can the Texas Notary use a Texas acknowledgment form, or do they have to use the California acknowledgment form? — S.A., California The Texas Notary does not need to use a California acknowledgment. California Civil Code 1189(b) provides that any document acknowledged in another state will be accepted in the state of California if it is notarized according to the laws of the state in which the notariza

As a Notary, what would you do if a client showed up and wanted to use a signature stamp to sign the document? That is just what happened to an actual Notary who was surprised and unprepared to deal with the situation. The Notary simply allowed the notarization to proceed like any other notarization — except for one detail: The Notary ended up having to defend herself against a million-dollar lawsuit. While the case involved other Notary issues as well, it all started because

It’s an all-too-common occurrence: skipping a step in a notarization. Especially if it doesn’t seem to be important, and you’re dealing with your boss. But it is the kind of situation that should be avoided like the plague because it could land you in more trouble than you want — including possible criminal charges. The case in question involved a Notary who worked for the owner of a business and performed notarizations as part of her job. The owner decided to apply for an ap

Carelessness and dishonesty are dangerous for Notaries. Negligence can lead to a document being a rejected or a business transaction’s invalidation — or worse. Here are 4 examples of negligence and misconduct that can cost you your Notary commission — temporarily or even permanently. 1. Notarizing Without The Signer Personally Appearing Personal appearance by the signer is a crucial part of notarizing. All states require the signer to appear before the Notary at the time of t

Forging Notary seals is a serious crime that warrants an “enhanced” prison sentence, according to a federal appeals court ruling issued last week. In upholding the 10-year prison sentence of a Glendale man who pled guilty to helping orchestrate a $5.4 million mortgage fraud scheme, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Notary seal is an “authentication feature” used to determine if a “document is counterfeit, altered, or otherwise falsified.” As such, it qualif