It's all about integrity!
Notaries are agents of the state in which they work. Notaries are people of proven integrity, commissioned by the Secretary of State, and are a credible witness to an event that occurs at a specific point in time. A notary's role is to verify identification, confirm the signer understands the implications of the document, and witness the signing of the document.
In these days of ID theft and rampant fraud, a notary stands guard, providing the individual, county or state, loan company, broker, title company or signing service with assurance that indeed the person who signed the document is the person named in the document.
Please consider our role as the face your customer sees of you! We are to be helpful and patient but cannot provide advice. We are to be extra cautious and detail-oriented, concerned with correct dating while paying close attention to special instructions. We cannot explain any document, only verify that the person signing it, after first proving his/her identity, understands the implications of the document. We cannot encourage a person to sign. We cannot recommend a particular document to solve a legal situation.
Therefore, as a neutral third party whose role it is to verify ID and witness the signing of a document, please consider that reducing compensation because a client refused to sign is unethical, a direct contradiction to the service being provided. A notary who performed as requested, regardless of whether the client chose to participate or not, should be paid in full for services rendered. Notaries do not work on commission!
A KTVA Production, LLC
POB 22911, Portland, OR 97269
503.659.4417; (fax) 503.659.4438
mail@ktvavideo.com
