What should I know as a notary?
Asked by: Prof. Sherwood Senger DDS | Last update: June 10, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (43 votes)
Notaries are expected to know and honor what their state laws allow them to do. Go to "Notary Information by State" on this website, select your state, and review “Authorized Duties.” Documents typically requiring an acknowledgment are contracts, deeds, agreements, powers of attorney, etc.
What is the most common mistake made by a notary?
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
What are the cons of being a notary?
- Steady income can be difficult.
- You could be sued for a lot of money.
- Upstart and upkeep costs can add up.
What type of notary makes the most money?
#1: Loan Signing Agent
One of the most lucrative ways to make money as a notary public is by becoming a loan signing agent.
Is it hard to work as a notary?
As a self-employed notary, enjoying a steady source of income may be difficult. This is because the flow of jobs may be unpredictable and estimating how often your clients will need your services may be difficult.
5 Things a New Notary Should Know
Is notary a good side hustle?
A Notary commission can open the door to more than a dozen additional money-making opportunities. Being a Notary shows that you have integrity and it establishes a level of trust that gives you a leg up on your competition — even if you're not directly using your commission for every freelance job that comes your way.
What is the day in the life of a notary?
Notaries frequently meet clients at various locations, including offices, homes, and even public places like coffee shops. Each meeting typically involves verifying the identity of the signer, ensuring that all documents are complete and accurate, and witnessing the signing process.
How to market yourself as a notary?
- Create profiles on as many Notary listing websites as possible.
- Create a social media presence.
- Create a Google ad for your business.
- Form a Notary network.
- Reach out directly to potential clients.
Is being a notary a good side hustle on Reddit?
In person general notary work is exceptionally difficult to make any money in. Most of the services you would provide are already provided for free as a courtesy at many banks, libraries, and businesses.
What can Notaries not charge for?
Some states prohibit their notaries from charging or collecting a fee for notarizing a signature on any absentee ballot or absentee voter registration.
Is it stressful to be a notary?
Working as a Notary is flexible, rewarding and provides a valuable service to the public — but no one ever said it's a cakewalk. Notaries face many sources of stress on the job, including angry customers, illegal requests, irregular work hours and more.
What is a fun fact about notary?
All roads lead to Rome. Notaries public first developed in the Roman Empire. The word notary comes from the Latin word nota. Nota was a system of short-hand Cicero's clerk, Tullius Tiro, used to transcribe his speeches.
How to list notary on resume with no experience?
Under certificates or licenses
The most common place to list your notary status is in your certificates and licenses section. List your status as noted above, including location and expiration date, and include any additional certificates, such as certified notary signing agent or eNotary.
How does a notary swear someone in?
The revised official notary act is simply called an oath. The wording of the oath may omit the word God or use the term affirm instead of swear. During the act, you may ask the oath-taker or affirmant to raise their right hand in a pledging gesture.
What happens if you do a notary wrong?
What happens if a notary makes a mistake? The National Notary Association suggests that even the smallest mistake could have dire consequences. The notarized document could get rejected. A mistake that results in a rejection can result in late fees and penalties on the part of the client.
Is it profitable to be a notary?
Notaries generate income by charging fees for their notarial services, following state-specific laws. Initially, fees may seem limiting, ranging from $0.50 to $15 for a signature. However, with additional training, you can become a notary signing agent, capable of charging over $100 for a single loan signing.
What makes a good notary?
One of the primary qualities to look for in a notary is proper training and certification. Trained notaries are well-versed in the various notarization processes, which is essential for ensuring the accuracy and legality of your documents.
What is your greatest strength in notary public?
What are the most important Notary Public job skills to have on my resume? The most common important skills required by employers are Legal Deed, Detail Oriented, Affidavit, Multi Tasking, Legal Documents, Communication Skills and Collaboration.
Where are notaries needed the most?
Banks, Mortgage Lenders, and Other Financial Institutions
As we pointed out, loan and mortgage documents require signature verification. The same goes for other financial agreements as well. That means financial institutions will need notary services on a regular basis.
Can I be a notary part time?
It is simple, the start-up cost is fairly low and you can work either part-time or full-time. Mobile Notaries travel to signers' locations to notarize documents. They earn money by charging a fee for the notarization up to the limit allowed by their state's law.
What state pays notaries most?
- Notary in District of Columbia: $52,767.
- Notary in California: $52,293.
- Notary in New Jersey: $51,961.
- Notary in Alaska: $51,629.
- Notary in Massachusetts: $51,582.
How does a notary get paid?
The two most common ways notaries make money are: Part of an established salary (working for a bank, local post office or another business) As an independent, freelance notary.
How long does a notary signing last?
In summary, notarized documents do not expire and remain valid indefinitely unless there are specific laws or regulations that require them to be updated or renewed. It is important to understand your local laws in order to ensure that all documents remain up-to-date and legally binding.
What type of jobs can a notary do?
- Job Opportunities for Notaries. Real estate agencies, law offices, banks or credit unions and lending institutions are common places that hire commissioned notaries. ...
- Notary Signing Agent. ...
- Escrow Assistant. ...
- Legal Assistant. ...
- Field Inspector. ...
- Bookkeeper. ...
- Remote Online Notary.