Notary News

The demand for mobile notaries has increased drastically in recent years, and for good reason. Mobile notaries play an essential role in the signing of legal documents, offering convenient services by traveling to a signer’s location, providing the required notary services without the struggle of traveling to a notary or title office. 

Credentials are Important

However, with an increase in demand comes the need for diligent background checks and credentials to ensure your mobile notary is properly vetted. This article will address the importance of background checks and other necessary credentials a mobile notary should have in order to conduct your signing.

We all can see the significance that a mobile notary plays in our legal system today. They are not only responsible for verifying the signer’s identity but confirming the signer is entering the transaction willingly and knowingly, while ensuring all signatures, initials and notarizations are completed accurately. Wills, powers of attorney, real estate documents, could not progress without the knowledge and expertise provided by a notary.

However, while a mobile notary is significant and convenient for your signer, there are risks to hiring just any mobile notary. Random hires lead to under qualified notaries who lack the basic training and credentials, let alone the experience, to perform their jobs efficiently and accurately. This puts not only your client, but your company at risk for receiving fraudulent services or having errors on legal documents. 

How Sunshine Protects Your Interests

The first thing we review here at Sunshine Signing is the notaries background check, which is easily the most critical credential a notary can provide. While most companies do a soft check on their notaries, we find that these can be lacking in critical areas and require annual background checks in order to stay up to date on our notaries and their eligibility to serve your clients.

A background check will reveal any criminal history, including motor vehicle and any listed offenders. You are already sending a stranger to your client’s home, the least we can do is ensure that notary is a standup citizen on paper. Any notary convicted or under suspicion of fraud, forgery, or identity theft should not be hired as they pose a significant risk to the client and the reputation of your company. By following industry standards for all notaries, regardless of states, we maintain a consistent level of expectations and service requirements for all notaries. 

Are They Insured?

Errors and Omissions Insurance. This is a staple credential in the mobile notary industry as it offers not only the notary financial protection against any errors but your company as well. Knowing that your notary is insured in case of any costly errors, while we always strive for none, offers a peace of mind and added layer of caution. We are all human and make mistakes, and in the legal world those mistakes can be layered in fees that stack up quickly. 

Among other creds such as bond and commission, Sunshine takes the time to personally vet and interview each mobile notary. This gives us an opportunity to gauge their professional experience, reputation through business references, and verify any additional training they may have had that will benefit the quality of the signing. 

Credentials are crucial aspect of hiring a mobile notary. Notaries with proper credentials have undergone the training and meet the state’s requirements to become a notary public. Verified credentials provide clients and signers with the assurance that their mobile notary is knowledgeable and above all else, safe. 

Our goal here at Sunshine is to provide a trustworthy, qualified and experience mobile notary each and every time. 

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Why Choose Sunshine?

We provide you with a mobile notary anytime or anywhere, even rural areas, within four hours. Our notaries are the most professional in the industry, are courteous and prompt, as well as dependable. Sunshine stands behind our work and helps you through the process every step of the way.

Don’t let your client’s time or location be an issue as to why you close. Time is money, so getting the job done right, on schedule, is key to customer happiness, as well as keeping things in order and simplified on your end. Oh, yeah, did we mention time is money and Sunshine Signing can save you a significant amount of time.

Sunshine can save you money. No more searching for a notary. No more scheduling. No more hassle. Our mobile notaries are scheduled by us, overseen by use and guaranteed by us.

It may be a routine closing for you, but for your buyer, it may be the most important day of their life. Sunshine’s notaries treat every signing like it is.

If you are in our area, our notaries can sign your document in our beautiful office located in Hudson, FL at 13939 Lakeshore Blvd. Hudson, FL 34667.

Don’t forget you are always mobile and always online with Sunshine.

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It might sound a little weird, but here are just a couple of reasons neighbors might use a notary. Notaries aren’t just for business, they are for individuals as well. And there are some pretty good reasons two neighbors might need a notary, or a mobile notary to protect themselves.

Hold Harmless Agreements

They sound harmless, but they keep everyone protected in a case of liability regarding a neighbor’s activities.

A hold harmless agreement is a legal agreement between parties that states that one party will not hold the other liable for risk. Hold harmless agreements typically apply to physical damage or risk.

ContractsCounsel

Okay, a couple of quick examples.

Hold Harmless for Potential Work on Areas That Cover Both Properties.

I want to do some work on some trees that just happen to be on my property line. I don’t plan to go on my neighbor’s property, but it is possible I will. Or maybe I know I will go onto their property.

Should my neighbor’s, and their home insurance company, have to take the risk that I will get hurt on their property?

No.

When working on anything on the property line it is best to get a hold harmless agreement, notarized by a notary like one from Sunshine. This way we can protect ourselves not just against injury, but also our personal property. There will be no disputes during or after this job.

Both sides have come to agreement and know what is expected.

Hold Yourself Harmless Because of Kids Toys

Or let’s posit another hypothetical scenario. You just built the most awesome skate ramp for your children, and of course every other kid in the neighborhood wants in on the action. Who wouldn’t.

But, injuries happen, from cuts and scrapes all the way to full on broken bones. And forbid one sneaks on without proper safety equipment, like a helmet.

Your kids won’t think it is cool, but it only protects you. Instead of a looming disaster it becomes ride at your own risk. Your neighbor takes on the liability.

The Party of End All Parties

This is all me.

Maybe your neighbor throws a huge party, maybe for a real big football game. And you give him access to use your street, maybe a little grass before the sidewalk.

Then someone runs over your flowers, another hits a decorative fence, while a third razes some of your grass to bare ground.

Brutal.

A Hold Harmless is for both parties. You can give someone right to park, without giving up the right to protect your personal property. If people fall outside this agreement, your rights are protected, just like your neighbors are by letting them park there in the beginning.

I know some of these seem insignificant, but anything becomes significant when it involves legal ramifications.

Don’t leave things to chance.

Please remember we are not lawyers. None of this is meant as legal advice. We recommend you speak to an Attorney in your are to determine laws in your area.

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It’s a subject we don’t want to think about, but eventually we have to, Living Wills. Hopefully we all have our affairs in order, but sometimes we don’t. We are hesitant to sound crass, but Sunshine Signing is there for you whenever you need to get your affairs in order.

What is a Living Will?

If you’re either unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate, a living will tells others what treatments you’d like—or want to avoid. Typically, a living will comes into play when you’re no longer able to participate in decision-making and hope to prevent the prolonging of an inevitable death through artificial means.

The Balance

Living wills are one of the most serious documents you need. They are often accompanied by a Durable Power of Attorney. You designate someone to make decisions for you through a Power of Attorney and specify the type of decisions they are allowed to make.

A living will does not take effect if you have a temporary injury. For example you took a shot to the head an received a serious concussion. Maybe from something like a car accident or falling off a bicycle. You make decisions about potential end-of-life services, considering the extremely limited options available.

Are There Any Rules for Living Wills?

As a precaution, there may be some rules in your state regarding a living will. But most states will recognize them if you are across state borders. There are places online where you can download templates for a living will. Still, we would be careful to make sure that it comes from an attorney, and not just some random person.

You need to address all potential circumstances in your living will for it to be effective when needed. It would probably be wise to consult a lawyer. At the very least we recommend you check several websites. At least one or two that are relevant to your state. You need to make sure everything you are required to have is there.

When Should I Get a Living Will?

We would recommend as soon as possible, unless you are under the age of eighteen, or do not have a legal guardian. Make sure your family and loved ones know of your intent. Arguments among members is the last thing in the world you want in your time of need. And, unfortunately, they are known to get ugly.

Being pro-active is the best way to go. Unfortunately, none of us can predict the future. None of us can truly know or predict what life has to throw at us. We all wish for the best, Sunshine wishes the best for you, but we all must be prepared for any situation.

Why do I need a Mobile Notary?

The signer must sign a living will document(s) in person. An online notary is not able to perform those duties. A notary must be present, and in many cases the best choice is to have a mobile notary who can come to you.

In the worst situations, time is of the essence. Sunshine Signing can have a notary to you in four hours or less, even if you live in a rural location. You can rest assured our mobile notaries are the most professional in the business. And they work hard to ensure every signing is the most important signing they’ve ever done. Because they understand how important it is to you.

Everyone is Important to Sunshine

Sunshine is there for you in the best of times and the worst of times. You need someone who you can trust in any situation. Our mobile notaries can meet you just about anywhere, from your home, or god forbid, the hospital.

If you don’t have a living will, and probably a durable power of attorney to accompany it, now is the time to take action. And when you need it notarized, just remember, Sunshine is there for you.

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As the world appears to be heading more to remote notarizations, you may ask why you need both Online Notaries and Mobile Notaries? Don’t you wish you could just choose one and run with it?

In a quickly changing landscape it is understandable.

But, there are quite a few reasons that is not going to happen. And you need to understand the how’s and why’s that will affect your business. Or, why it does not have to be a big deal, because you have a partner at your side who will take that off of your plate. And let you focus on your core business.

Because, at the end of the day, we all want to focus on our core business, the part that drives the most revenue. And have a partner who can still give you a positive return on investment.

Not All Signings Will Be Remote

The laws are quickly changing, but some things will remain the same. At the end of the day, even once remote signings become more prevalent, some signings will still need to be done in person. You have attorney states, as well as certain types of signings, like living wills and wills, that will have to be done in person.

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