Getting imp documents notarized?

[Deleted]

I was just curious if anyone else had problems getting "important" stuff notarized. In our case, it was a medical power of attorney, but there are lots of other examples.

We had to have two non-related witnesses and a notary. The bank said they don't do these. The neighbor that used to live across the street is a real estate agent, and she did the notarizing and her son and daughter-in-law served as our witnesses.

We are incredibly grateful, but I wonder how hard this procedure would be for you guys. I could have probably pulled it off easier during a school year. The school has a notary, and I do have a few friends who would admit to "knowing" me.

But it was a major pain right now. And if you didn't have the right resources, how would you handle it? Pay a lawyer?

[busymom]

Most of the banks & credit unions around here have a notary on staff. I'm actually surprised your bank said no, and didn't at least suggest somewhere else.

[msventoux]

Around here most banks offer notary services. And most UPS stores or other similar stores where mailboxes are rented/faxes can be sent/copies made, etc. have notary services also. Or if you have an accountant they sometimes have one on staff as a convenience to their clients.

[2kids10horses]

Most CPAs would have one on staff. And any attorney's office would have one.

[wvugurl26]

When I worked in public accounting the office manager was a notary. I had to get my Maryland CPA application notarized. My work building has a credit union with a notary. I paid $3 since I wasn't a member.

The hardest one I've found is when my grandpa died and some of the stock transfers required a medallion stamp or something like that. We had to go to branch of our bank with the investment department for that. My aunt's worked for a couple brokers and she said that stamp is ridiculous. It must have its own safe and on and on with the regulations.

[TheOtherMe]

My credit union has one that I can use for free.

When I worked for the IRS, we used the one closest to our office for things like that and put the fee on our travel voucher. We didn't need things notarized often (I'm thinking sometimes for summons or subpoenas). It's been too long and I don't remember which one.

[msventoux]

If I remember correctly, when I set up my account with Vanguard I had to get a signature guarantee from my bank with the medallion stamp. I had to go to the main branch of the bank and it was a bigger deal.

I think with a notary someone might have recourse against the individual notarizing the document if they don't adequately check the ID of the signer, and they're supposed to verify to the extent that they can that your ID matched who you said you were. With the signature guarantee the financial institution is more or less guaranteeing you are who you claim to be and if it turns out that the medallion was affixed to a document that was fraudulently signed, the injured party has recourse against the institution, not just an individual. So there's usually more hoops to jump through to get the signature guarantee.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jul 8, 2012 23:32:55 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

The hardest one I've found is when my grandpa died and some of the stock transfers required a medallion stamp or something like that. We had to go to branch of our bank with the investment department for that. My aunt's worked for a couple brokers and she said that stamp is ridiculous. It must have its own safe and on and on with the regulations.

Ughh.. I hate the medallion thing. I had to get one for my Vanguard account because the my checking account had my middle name included on the account ("Audrey Alyce Smith") while the Vanguard account was just first and last ("Audrey Smith").

It was so stupid. Especially since I had the accounts linked for over a year and had deposited money into the Vanguard account from the checking account for that year. When I wanted to withdraw the $$, was when they wanted the medallion stamp. I was using a bank for my checking account that only had one location in the country. Luckily, I was in that location for a few days. I don't know what I would have done without being there...

[marvholly]

One of my banks does it FREE. This is the main reason I am still there.

Also, had to have one for my Sr Citizens home owner's property tax freeze application. Local assessor did it himself right in the office, FREE, only needed to see my driver's license.

[Deleted]

Do you know anyone who works at a construction company? I notarized things all day long and I have notarized things for employee family members.

[Miss Tequila]

I never thought about it...I worked at a CPA firm for 17 years and we had several notaries there. Anytime i needed something notarized they did it for me.

When I was in college I worked at a title company and I was required to be a notary so I used to notarize for friends/family.

[2kids10horses]

I don't think you can notarize for family. At least not immediate family.

[Deleted]

Question for all of you saying your bank would do it? Have you ever had them notarize a power of attorney or a will? Regions said they can't do it because of the liability. They've notarized everything else for me like a bill of sale, transfer of funds between retirement accounts (the medallion thing), etc. But they won't do a will or power of attorney.

[TheOtherMe]

I have had my banks notarize wills and POAs in the past and was told they would notarize my new one.

[saveinla]

AAA does this - I remember 7$ per signature.

[Miss Tequila]

Jul 9, 2012 7:49:25 GMT -5 2kids10horses said:

I don't think you can notarize for family. At least not immediate family.

I haven't been a notary in 20 years...and quite frankly, I was a 19/20 year old kid who was forced to be one. I probably notarized things I shouldn't have because I didnt' actually read the book on what I could and couldn't do!lol

[singlemomky]

I, as well as every secretary and every paralegal in my office is a notary so we notarize documents all the time. In Kentucky we are of the belief that as you do not have the same last name it is ok to notarize for a family member, but again I have such access to notaries that I haven't really thought about it that much.

[reader79]

One of the executive assistants in my old department is a notary. I was complaining about having to find one a few years back after my car accident, when the office manager sent me in her direction. If she wasn't there, then the local auto school/tax place has a poster in the window advertising notary services.

[nittanycheme]

It's a pain getting stuff notarized! I refinanced my mortgage two years ago with my current lender and they did an "easy" refinance, where they just sent me a giant packet a documents to sign and get notarized, and send back. Of course, part of the pain in the butt was that they wanted my DH to sign stuff even though he wasn't on the mortgage or title so I had to drag him to all the notary appts (and he works 3rd shift, so this wasn't easy since they all seem to be open 9 am to 4 pm M -F ).

I went to AAA first, but they only notarize stuff to do with cars (auto title transfers, etc) and wouldn't do the mortgage thing. My DH's bank wouldn't do it, and our credit union office is about 2 hours away. We ended up having to go a title transfer/notary office, and bring along 2 forms of ID each so that they would notarize it. It was about $50, and then we had to do it again since the girl who sent me all the documents didn't realize that my name had changed since I got married after I bought the house and she had to redo the whole packet of papers, so we had to re-sign everything. So much for "quick and easy" refinance.

[Chocolate Lover]

There are several notaries all over our county courthouse. I think it depends on the document itself if you need witnesses or not. I've seen them notarize stuff with just a driver's license from the signer.

[Deleted]

BoA refused to notarize something for me to confirm identity. I've only had my account at this branch for 23 years . . .
The guy at the mailboxes place was more than happy to notarize the documents for me at $20 a pop . . . and he had no idea what he was notarizing.

[Deleted]

Hmmmm. Perhaps I should become a notary. I'm thinking of becoming an advocate for the elderly and just regular folks for health insurance problems at a certain hourly rate after I retire. I think that becoming a notary would be good, too.

That's a great idea if you could come to them. Our school district changed a policy so that they paid for private school experience. They had a form that the former principal had to fill out and have notarized.

I decided to handle this in person on one of the days we were out of school, but the private school wasn't. It was no problem getting the form signed, but getting it notarized was a problem because there wasn't one there. The principal was kind enough to accompany me to a local bank, but he certainly didn't have to. It was my problem, not his.

I would have paid you to show up at the school since the form got me a $6000 a year raise effective immediately.

[saveinla]

We have tons of places here - that have ads for notary public and I also see the mobile notary along with ads on the cars.

[Chocolate Lover]

Jul 9, 2012 20:42:48 GMT -5 @rockit said:

BoA refused to notarize something for me to confirm identity. I've only had my account at this branch for 23 years . . .
The guy at the mailboxes place was more than happy to notarize the documents for me at $20 a pop . . . and he had no idea what he was notarizing.

Why would he need to know what he was notarizing? Isn't his job to verify your identity, not understand everything written in the document?

[Deleted]

Just had this problem two months ago

Banks are not "allowed" to notarize wills anymore

They will notarize other documents, but you have to provide your own witnesses

We ended up at a UPS store, and did all four doc's

Will, power of atty, living will, and i forget the fourth

Used to be easy to get this done anywhere....now with litigation rampant, business'es are very wary of providing this service