A fan suggested that I share how I help people as a mobile notary on my blog. Thank you for the suggestion Betty Kaufman of Wine Shop at Home.
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* Are you short on time with documents that require notarization with accuracy and efficiency?

* Do you know someone in the hospital with an advanced healthcare directive or power of attorney they need notarized with patience and accuracy?

* Is your child traveling out of the country with a travel consent form that requires notarization?

* Are you unable to travel to the title company to sign off on your mortgage loan documents which require a thorough and knowledgeable notary?

* Are you adopting an international child with documents at your physician’s office that have to be notarized promptly and meticulously?

* Are you a solo attorney practicing estate planning who prefers an on-call professional mobile notary to service your clients?

* Are you a financial advisor with clients who do not have time to drive to your office to notarize their power of attorney and trust certification documents?

If you answered “yes”, I would be glad to be of service. I bring notary public services to you and your clients on the Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley, Monday-Saturday. As a full time mobile notary, I am flexible in working with your and your clients busy schedules.

To find out more how I can specifically help you, call me or email me.

Cathy Wong
Mobile Notary Public & Certified Loan Signing Agent
Champion Mobile Notary
Phone (650) 290-3550 or (408) 355-3700
Cathy at ChampionMobileNotary dot com
http://www.ChampionMobileNotary.com
http://www.facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary
http://www.youtube.com/user/ChampionMobileNotary

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

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During a recent signing in Palo Alto, the signer was annoyed that I was writing the documents information in my notary journal. He said, “My usual notary has me sign once, no matter how many documents I have.” I replied, “Notary laws changed recently. Notaries are required to use one journal entry per notarized document.” He was very impatient, although he was doing his work while I completed the journal entries. It protects him. If the documents are challenged in the future, do you think he would prefer the notary who used one journal entry per notarized document or the notary who used one journal entry for all of the notarized documents? Usually, more details are more helpful.

Copies of my notary journal entries have been requested by attorneys. In one instance, in San Jose a mother had terminal cancer and was concerned about the guardianship of her two children. She was advised to have a letter notarized stating her wishes. After she passed away, her family challenged her children’s guardianship. She was of sound mind and understood what she signed. The details in my notary journal included:

1. The date and time of the notarization
2. The title of the document
3. The number of pages of the notarized document
4. A loose notary acknowledgment was attached
5. Credible witnesses driver’s license information (they were used to identify her)
6. Credible witnesses signatures
7. Her name and address
8. Her signature
9. Her right thumb print
10. The fee for the notarization
11. I also included notes on where the notarization occurred

Another instance, in Los Altos an elderly woman signed a revised trust and a certification of trust. She was of sound mind and understood what she signed. After she passed away, some of her family contested the documents because they were not included as beneficiaries. Her attorney’s contacted me for my journal entries. My journal entries were helpful, as they showed the time of the notarizations, her identification information, her signature and thumbprints. They used the time of the notarizations to show that I was there for about 30 minutes for the signing (from the start of the notary appointment). It was not a “quick, sign here good-bye notarization.”

A couple of years ago, the California Secretary of State started requiring notary publics use one journal entry per notarized document, so more details of each document could be entered. The purpose is to help deter fraud and protect the parties involved in the notarizations. Previously, notaries could use one journal entry for multiple notarized documents. This was hard to include more details about each document.

According to the FBI…”A written or electronic record of the transaction in a journal of notarial acts. By recording critical facts about each notarization at the time of the act is performed, the Notary creates an official public record that safeguards citizens’ valuable property and due process rights.” (The Role of Notaries in Deterring and Detecting Fraud and Identity Crimes 2004)

What is important to you about the notary journal?

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This is a common question I receive when talking with people.

Common documents that I notarize for business clients are patent applications, patient assignments, leases, power of attorneys and documents for out of country offices.

Popular documents for wealth management clients are trust certifications and power of attorneys.

Frequent documents for individual clients are for international child adoptions, life certificates, DMV paperless title transfer and estate planning documents.

Common documents notarized for the real estate industry clients are for purchases, sales or refinances of properties.

Recently these are documents for which I completed notarizations:

• Life certificate. These are for European countries used for “social security” benefits to European’s.
• Patent assignments. Inventors assigning patents to their companies.
• Refinance in state and out of state properties
• Purchase of out of state properties
• Mortgage modification
• Statement of Consent Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age of 16.
o This allows one parent to apply for their child’s passport, instead of both parents being present.
• Trustee Certification of Investment Powers for financial advisor
• Power of Attorneys for financial advisor and for individuals
• Marriage Settlement Agreements for in state and out of state divorces
• Trust Amendments
• DIN-1 Form. For board of directors of companies India.
• Company Registration Form for Germany
• Copy Certification by Document Custodian for California Driver’s License and USA Passport
• Physician’s Medical Care Letter for Patient for parents of international child adoptions
• Agreement for Private Loan
• Grant Deed for transferring property to their trust
• Trust Agreements Estate planning.
• Certificate of Trusts
• Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress.
o Used in the construction industry for payment at phase completion.
• Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment.
o Used in the construction industry for final payment of vendor work.
• Special Power of Attorney for real estate transaction
• Declaration of Irrevocable Trust
• Letter to Foreign Bank for change of address
• Police Clearance Letter for people adopting international children and people working or studying in a foreign country

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

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I asked my Facebook fans what they would like me to share. A business owner and client (Lee Lonitz, http://www.designforsite.com/) asked me to share how I help business owners. Thank you for asking Lee! I help business owners get the most out of their time by delivering accurate, efficient notary service to them and their employees. Below are ways I more specifically help them with my mobile notary service:

1. Easy to schedule appointments: E-mail, online, text or phone.

2. Flexible schedule: As a full-time notary, I can work with their busy schedules. I can meet them at their office, at their off-site meeting location or at their home.

3. Prompt notary service: Reliable to help them stay on track with their busy schedules.

4. Professional notary service: Knowledgeable, accurate, efficient notary service allows their documents to be executed correctly, so they don’t have to repeat the process which could be costly with missed deadlines. I work with them to keep their workflow running smoothly. They are with me to show their current government issued identification, sign and date their documents, confirm they understand the documents (if required, take oaths) and sign my notary journal and give thumb prints. I complete the notary certificates and journal, for which they don’t have to be present.

5. Convenient payment options: Cash, check, debit card, credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa), PayPal or invoice.

6. Privacy: Their document and identification information are kept confidential. My notary journal is in my briefcase with me. If I leave my briefcase in my car, it is locked. In addition, it is secured with a cable and lock to the car. The completed journals are kept in a locked filing cabinet (My boss, the Secretary of State requires completed journals be kept for 7 years).

If you have any questions about how I can help you with your mobile notary needs, please feel free to ask me.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

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Wouldn’t that be simple, having a notary just stamp your document that requires notarization? Some calls I receive people say, “I just need a notary to stamp my document.” A couple of days ago, I received a crisis call for grant deeds that were notarized incorrectly. Several properties were involved in the transaction. The buyer flew out from the Midwest to meet with the seller here on the San Francisco Peninsula to complete the transaction. The seller was a client of a well known national bank, so they decided to have one of the national bank’s notaries notarize the grant deeds. The buyer flew back home thinking the transaction was complete.

The County Recorder office returned the grant deeds to the seller, since they were notarized incorrectly. Both parties were unhappy. The seller said, “My whole trip out there was a waste. The reason I flew out there was to notarize the grant deeds and they were done incorrectly….”

The seller was leaving the country for over two months, so the buyer needed the notarizations of the grant deeds completed ASAP.

You may be wondering how were the grant deed notarizations executed incorrectly? (“You mean it’s not just a notary stamp on them?”)

1) The notary added the buyer’s name as a signer and notarized him on each grant deed. With grant deeds, only the seller (grantor) signs it and is notarized.
2) The grant deed had an outdated notary acknowledgement. The notary law for this matter changed a couple of years ago.
3) Write in changes were made on the grant deed and were not initialed by the seller. This deters fraud. Otherwise, someone can make changes after the seller signs without the seller’s knowledge.
4) The notary didn’t log the grant deeds in the Notary Journal. This is important for both the buyer and seller, as it is proof the notarizations occurred. If they ever needed a copy of the journal line item, they would not have it. The notary law changed a couple of years ago, requiring each notarization have its own journal entry.

I met with the seller to notarize all of the grant deeds. After we finished, he left for the airport for his trip. Both the seller and buyer were relieved to have the grant deeds notarized correctly before the seller left.

Just stamping your document with their notary stamp is far from what a professional notary public provides to you. When you are in need of a notary public, be sure to choose a professional notary public. They are up-to-date on the notary laws, provide knowledge, experience and deter fraud to make your notary transaction smooth.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Fan Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.”

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I received a phone call asking about mobile notary service to a local Silicon Valley hospital. During our phone conversation the caller mentioned the signer only speaks Portuguese. I informed her that unfortunately, I do not speak Portuguese. She would need to find a notary who speaks Portuguese to communicate with the signer. She found this frustrating and wanted me to still notarize the documents using an interpreter, their niece. I shared that notaries must be able to communicate directly with the signer. It is important as the notary must determine if the signer understands what they are signing and is signing of their own free will (no duress). Our state law requires notaries communicate directly with a signer. Otherwise, notaries may face penalties.

“The completion of a certificate of acknowledgment that contains statements that the notary public knows to be false not only may cause the notary public to be liable for civil penalties and administrative action, but is also a criminal offense. The notary public who willfully states as true any material fact known to be false is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000.”
California Secretary of State Handbook 2010

I encouraged her to find a notary who speaks Portuguese to complete the notarizations.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

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Champion Mobile Notary sponsored the women’s Pro/1/2/3 SJBC Memorial Day Criterium bicycle race with cash and schwag. Thank you to San Jose Bicycle Club for managing well organized Memorial Day Crit races!

I shot a few videos and several photos of the race and related to the race.

1. To view all race videos visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChampionMobileNotary

2. Womens Pro/1/2/3 finish

3. Post race interview with Shelley Evans (3rd place, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12), Alison Starnes (2nd place, Team TIBCO II) and Katharine Carroll (1st place, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12).Carroll.

4. Women Pro/1/2/3 collecting their prizes and having some fun, a great way to finish up the race day.

5. The women Pro/1/2/3 at the podium, which I wasn’t going to post it. I decided to go ahead as it shows great sportswomanship and camaraderie with competitors.

Some fun photos from the Womens Pro1/2/3 SJBC Memorial Day Crit sponsored by Champion Mobile Notary.

How is Cathy Wong of Champion Mobile Notary connected with competitive road bicycle racing? I competed in it a few years and retired to focus on growing Champion Mobile Notary. I am a retired United States Cycling Federation Coach. I managed and coached a women’s competitive cycling team. I trained at the fun, well organized SJBC Tuesday Twilight training races. The discipline, training, quick-thinking and problem-solving are what I transferred from bicycle racing to my business. Now, I am able to continue supporting women’s competitive cycling as a business owner.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

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Champion Mobile Notary sponsored the women’s Pro/1/2/3 SJBC Memorial Day Criterium bicycle race with cold cash and schwag. Here is a podium shot of the top five finishers and me. Thank you to Richard Hanke Photography for the photo and to San Jose Bicycle Club for well organized Memorial Day Crit races! Click on the photo for a larger view.

Photo left to right: Megan Guarnier (Team TIBCO/To the Top), Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO II), Katharine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12), Shelley Evans (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12), Cathy Wong (race sponsor Champion Mobile Notary), and Ruth Winder (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12).

The top ten finishers:
1. Katharine Carroll, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12
2. Alison Starnes, Team TIBCO II
3. Shelley Evans, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12
4. Megan Guarnier, Team TIBCO/To the Top
5. Ruth Winder, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12
6. Jasmin Hurikino, Third Pillar
7. Starla Teddergreen, Vanderkitten Racing
8. Vanessa Drigo, Touchstone Climbing
9. Carol Irving, Touchstone Climbing
10. Mary Elizabeth Maroon, Touchstone Climbing

Congratulations to Katharine Carroll and her teammates of Peanut Butter & Company TWENTY12 Pro Women’s Cycling Team for winning the race! It’s a team sport. Great job to Team TIBCO Women’s Pro Cycling & Peanut Butter & Company TWENTY12 for controlling the race. Katharine Carroll of Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12 and Alison Starnes of Team TIBCO were off the front most of the race.

How is Cathy Wong of Champion Mobile Notary connected with competitive road bicycle racing? I competed in road bicycle racing for a few years and retired in 2007 to focus on my Champion Mobile Notary business. I am a retired USCF Coach. I co-coached cycling clinics. I trained at the fun, well organized SJBC Tuesday Twilight training races. The discipline, training, quick-thinking and problem-solving are what I transferred from bicycle racing to my business.

Join my Facebook Page, www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary to learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public & loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay.

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I just renewed my notary public commission. Well, according to the Secretary of State, “You are appointed for another term. There are no renewals of commissions.” The final step in this process is filing and taking an oath of office and filing official bond with the County Clerk’s office where my principal place of business is located. For me this is the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office. After submitting my various paperwork and paying my dues, the County Clerk Recorder asked me to sign the Notary Public Oath and Certification of Filing Forms. Then, she asked me to raise my right hand. I stated my name and she stated from memory the following oath:

“do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

I responded, “Yes, I do”.

Wow, I wondered if I signed up for the military, CIA or FBI. This is the oath for California Notary Public’s. I wonder what the oaths are for the military, CIA or FBI.

I thought you might find the Notary Public of California oath interesting. Starting June 5, 2010, I officially start my new notary public appointment term.

Is there an oath you have for your profession?

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Recently, I communicated extensively with a family who is trying to have a Police Clearance letter notarized for their son who is teaching English in a foreign country. Some police departments have policies that do not allow their employees to show their driver’s licenses for identification. They only allow their employees to use their employer issued identification cards. The California Secretary of State, the governing body for notary public’s in California, has specific policies too for identifying a person who is notarized. In other words, the Secretary of State is the boss for notary publics. The penalty fee for improperly identifying a person is $10,000 (Civil Code 1189(a)(2)). This penalty was passed in 2008 due to mortgage fraud that occurred in the years previously.

An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city or county in California can be used as identification ONLY if it includes the following items:

1. Photo
2. Physical description
3. Identification number
4. Issue date and/or expiration date
5. Signature of the person (not anyone else)

These are specific requirements issued by the Secretary of State of California. They are non-negotiable. If you give $10,000 to the notary public, maybe the notary public will be willing to notarize your document. That will cover their penalty (Civil Code 1189(a)(2)). It won’t cover the negative mark from it on their record for the violation.

If you would like to learn more about these matters, you can review the 2010 Notary Public Handbook.

Join my Facebook Fan Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary to learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public & loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.