Who needs a notary the most?

Asked by: Kayla Maggio  |  Last update: September 14, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (6 votes)

What types of businesses benefit the most from having a Notary on staff?
  • Insurance companies.
  • Mortgage companies.
  • Title companies.
  • Corporations — of any type.
  • Real-estate companies.
  • Construction companies.
  • Schools — public or private of all levels.
  • Any other company that requires notarization on a regular basis.

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.

What type of notaries make the most money?

Specialize in real estate closings

Make money as a notary public by becoming a loan signing agent and specializing in notarizing real estate documents. Loan signings are often more complex and command higher fees.

Who needs to notarize?

Not every document that needs to be signed needs to be notarized — only certain types of paperwork require a notary's seal. While laws vary from state to state, they typically include real estate transactions, certain legal documents, many financial documents, and some forms related to healthcare.

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.

Who needs a notary the most?

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What are the downsides of being a notary?

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 is a notary liable for?

A notary public is liable for all damages caused by his or her errors, omissions, improper notarizations, or negligence in the performance of a notarial act even if such actions were made inadvertently.

Who am I not allowed to notarize for?

Notary disqualifications

These may include: You are a signer of the document. You are named as a party to the underlying transaction or have a financial or beneficial interest in the transaction. The signer is your spouse, parent or child.

Does each signature need to be notarized?

In real life, there's no such rule of “only one named signer per document.” Many documents require the signatures of multiple persons, and any number of those signatures may require notarization. Often, only one of the multiple signers named in a document is present for notarization of their signature.

Can I notarize for my boyfriend?

Let's look at a few cases from both sides. In California, public notaries are NOT prohibited from notarizing for relatives unless it provides a direct financial or beneficial interest.

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.

Is notary a stressful job?

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 the hardest state to become a notary?

New York. New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission.

Is there a market for notaries?

The global mobile notary public market is expected to reach a market valuation of USD 347.2 million by the year 2023, accelerating with a moderate CAGR of 18.4% from 2023 to 2033. Mobile notary public market size is anticipated to be valued at about USD 1,885.3 million by 2033.

What businesses hire notaries?

Lending Institutions - Some lending institutions hire notaries to notarize loan paperwork. Law Offices - In legal offices that prepare wills and deeds, a notary is often required.

What happens if you notarize your own signature?

Notaries cannot notarize their own documents because notaries are required by law to serve as independent and impartial witnesses to a signing. If the notary has any connection to the document they are signing, it is impossible for them to remain an objective third party witnessing the signing.

How much does the UPS store charge for notary?

For example, here in California, our UPS store charges $15 per notary signature. Where as other states are lower, sometimes even under $10. However if the notary has to come you or travel for any reason to do the job, the notary can charge whatever traveling fee they would like to on top of the charge per signature.

What makes a notarized document invalid?

Missing or Incorrect Notary Seal

States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal. Without a proper seal, legal and financial institutions may reject the document.

Can I notarize for my dad?

In California, notaries are NOT prohibited from notarizing documents for their family members, including spouses, parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives.

Can a notary say no?

Always make sure that you have good cause. You cannot turn down a request simply because of a gut feeling, a nagging suspicion or because you simply “don't like the look” of the signer. Some reasons for refusing are clear cut: Say, for example, the signer asks you to notarize his absent wife's signature.

Does everyone have to be present for a notary?

A signer must meet face-to-face with a Notary in order to have their signature notarized. Be sure that any person whose signature needs notarization is available and can attend your appointment with the Notary Public. A Notary cannot notarize a person's signature over the phone or video chat.

What happens if a notary makes a mistake?

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.

What is a notary prohibited from?

Notaries cannot authenticate or validate objects. Notaries cannot give advice or opinions that should be given by an attorney—this is unlicensed practice of law.