Maybe *I* should become a notary public.

So I need a document notarized for some retirement-related stuff going on, and I decide that I’ll just find a local place that isn’t my bank (they usually have a line) and make an appointment. I find a place on Main Street in my hometown, they have online booking, I sign up. At the appropriate time I get over there, go in, and the very nice lady running the counter asks if she could help me. I tell her I have an appointment for a notary. Her reply: “Oh, no. Not again.”

That was the moment when I realized that nothing would be notarized this day.

The mix-up was structural, and not all that relevant to my real point. Which is to say, I’m now asking myself: just how hard is it to be a notary public, anyway? Are there fees? Licenses? Special training? Because there seems to be more need than services out there. Certainly I seem to be having trouble along those lines.

Moe Lane

PS: Although I guess you can’t self-notarize (I wonder if that’s a dirty joke in that community)…

5 thoughts on “Maybe *I* should become a notary public.”

  1. I’m a notary in VA. Yes there there are licenses, fees, and training, but it’s not terribly hard. It’s also useful for a side gig notarizing real estate paperwork (pays ~$100-200 per sitting), aka a “Signing Agent.” (training for that is more involved and requires more fees and and insurance bond)

    And no, you cannot notarize yourself or family.

  2. I’m a notary in Illinois. There’s a small fee, and a couple of national groups you can get membership to if you want information about how to do it in your state. But it’s not difficult at all, the only thing is the wait time for the state/county government to do their stuff with it so you can get your stamp. And no, you cannot notarize yourself. If you want to get actually paid for it, I’d recommend getting additional training and becoming a signing agent. I know someone who is one who has a business as a mobile notary so she goes where ever the need is and that gets convenient for house mortgage stuff for people.

  3. At least here in PA, most every state and local rep/senator has a staff member at at least one of their offices a few days a week who is a notary and does it without charge as part of their constituent service.

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