What is the job description of a notary public?

I mean, they are just there to notarize your signature and make sure you are who you say you are. However I think they are also supposed to make sure you’re filling out the forms you think you are, and that everything is filled out appropriately and things. It seems that your notary was trying to help you out, but didn’t understand what you were applying for himself.

Here is a description from the LA times. Obviously, this pertains specifically to California. While state regulations vary on what requires a notary and some particulars, in general it works.

“Job Description
A notary public is authorized by the state to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents, acknowledging that one has entered into an agreement knowingly and willingly.

Notary publics are used to make the document legally binding. They are not responsible for the accuracy or legality of documents they notarize. It is the signer that is responsible for the contents of the document.

The notary public verifies the person’s identity, usually done with a driver’s license, presses the notary seal on the document and signs it.

Fees
The fees set by a notary vary from state to state. For the State of California, the fee per signature ranges from $5 to $20, depending on type of notarized document. For example, when notarizing a deed or power of attorney, the fee is $10 per signature. For notarized services provided in connection with deposition testimony, the fee is $20.

Certification Requirements
State Certification requirements to become a notary public include clearing a background check and passing a multiple-choice examination. The application and certificate fee is $20. For further information, contact:

Secretary of State
Notary Public Section
1500 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 653–3595
Fax (916) 653–9580
www.ss.ca.gov
Exam Services
(916) 263–3520

The following are schools in the Los Angeles County area that offer the one-day notary public exam preparation course. They give you the option of taking the exam after completing the class:

Santa Monica College
Continuing and Community Education
1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 434–4000
www.smc.edu
Cost: $40.

West Los Angeles College
Westside Extension
9000 Overland Avenue
(310) 287–4475
www.wlac.edu
Cost: $49

Monrovia Adult School
920 S. Mountain Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
(626) 471–3035
Fax (626) 471–3036
www.monroviaschools.net
Cost: $35.

Burbank Adult School
3811 W. Allan Avenue
Burbank, CA
(818) 558–4611
Fax (818) 558–4620
www.burbank.k12.ca.us/schools/adultschool/
Cost: $40.

The following professional association also offers a one-day notary public exam course:

National Notary Association (NNA)
9350 De Soto Avenue
P.O. Box 2402
Chatsworth, CA 91313
(818) 739–4000
www.nationalnotary.org

This national association of notary professionals provides a one-day notary training seminar. The NNA seminar registration fee is $159. Participants will be able to take the examination at the end of the workshop. ”

Do the fees charged by the notary public get kept, or are they passed on (whole or in part) to the state? For some odd reason, I kind of want to be one and have wondered about them for years.

actually the notary ended up getting in an argument with my husband who said ‘it’s your job to notarise the signature and see that the identity is documented, the content is none of your business’ and ‘what if this were in german? would you be trying to read and interpret it then’ blah blah very embarassing but it ended up ok

@MissAnthrope The fees are kept by the notary. Many work for agencies (which pay for the sales and marketing costs) so all the notary does is get job offers which they can then take or not take. In that case, the agency takes a portion of the fee.

In Ohio as a Notary all you are doing is verifying the signature of the person named. Max fee that can be charged is $1.50.

As a Notary, I really don’t care what the document says, all I do is verify the name on the document, verify that the person who has it is that person by seeing ID and watching the person sign it. I then sign, date and emboss.

@Skippy You are leaving out one of the most lucrative aspects of the job: Mobile Notary Services. Here are the rates for Ohio:

MOBILE NOTARY SERVICES ARE BILLED AT THE FOLLOWING RATES, EXCLUDING MORTGAGE CLOSINGS:

0–30 MILES, 1 WAY, $50

31–60 MILES, 1 WAY $100

61–90 MILES, 1 WAY $175

ADD $25 BETWEEN 9PM & 9 AM

MORTGAGE CLOSINGS ARE BILLED AT THE FOLLOWING RATES:

0–30 MILES, 1 WAY, $125

31–60 MILES, 1 WAY, $175

61–90 MILES, 1 WAY, $225

IF E-DOCS ARE REQUIRED, ADD $25

IF FAX-BACKS ARE REQUIRED, ADD $10

Source

WOW @marina I never read that anywhere over the past 10 years that could be charged like that!

I should hang a shingle rake in the dollars!!!!

The job description of a notary public civil servant involves witnessing document signings, verifying the identity of the person and looking after deterring fraud.