Yesterday evening, I was called to a borrower’s home to notarize a couple of affidavits. These are quite common in the private sector and can take all shapes and sizes. A typical loan package will almost always include a few as well.
PRO TIP: If you’re not sure this is the type of notarization you require, a dead giveaway is the title Affidavit at the top, or, in this case, “Affidavit One And The Same Person“.
It’s always a good idea to double check the spelling of your name and any other information like your address, phone number or email address. While these last few may not seem very important, the phrase “I the undersigned swear or affirm…” should indicate to you that what came before is important.
Here are some things that should help your signing go smoothly.
Don’t sign a blank form
This should go without saying, but take your signature seriously. Make sure that you are signing a complete form, especially if it has to do with your name or the transference of ownership.
Have your ID ready and waiting
In order to notarize a document, your notary is going to need to see a valid form of identification. This may vary according to your state, but most likely will include your driver license, ID only or passport. Remember, having a photo ID ready is important. The notary uses the photo to verify you are who you say you are.
Don’t be afraid to ask a question
Your knowledge of what you are signing is important. Remember, you are in charge of what you sign and a good notary will always be impartial and educated. They can either point to the answer to your question, give you a general description of what you are referring to or get the right person on the line to explain it to you.
Know who to contact
As a general rule, the notary knows who to contact, if you have a more in depth question that cannot be answered easily. But if you’ve been communicating with your lender, attorney, broker or realtor and have a direct phone number or cell phone number, be sure to make a note of it and keep it handy. It makes for a smoother signing in many cases.
Be mindful of time
Remember, your time is important and so is the notary’s. A good notary will never rush you, but will stay in touch with how lengthy the signing is. They often have several visits to complete in a single night.
Know how much it will cost
Every state is different, but a typical notarization is priced by stamp. For example, a notarization in TN is typically $10/stamp. In the example above, there were two affidavits and two stamps. This meant it should run about $20 plus traveling expenses.
Hopefully, you found this helpful. Please drop us an email, if you have any questions and if we can improve anything.
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