A notary public attests to the proper execution of important documents. Mobile notaries provide services to clients who cannot or prefer not to go to an office. They have various duties and charges, but cannot offer legal advice. It is important to know the authorized notary in a specific jurisdiction.
A notary public is an individual hired by a government entity to attest to the proper execution of important documents, including depositions, loan closings, and many others. The purpose of having a notary public witness and attest to document signatures is to have an impartial party verify that the person named signed the document, was in good conscience, and did not appear to be coerced into doing so. Most public notary services are provided from an office. Banks, law firms and other businesses often have a notary public on hand. A mobile notary public provides the same type of services but travels to clients who cannot or prefer not to go to them.
Mobile notary public service providers often work with real estate agents, banks, lawyers and doctors to provide testimony and attestation to a range of documents. During times when competition for refinancing a home is high, many homeowners choose to use an online or non-local lender for this. In such cases, a mobile notary public is the most convenient and cost-effective way for both parties to close the deal. The mobile notary travels to the borrower’s preferred location and all documents can be reviewed and signed within the comfort of the borrower’s home or office. This way, the borrower’s day is only minimally disrupted, and the lender saves hourly wages and travel expenses that would be required for a lender employee to go out and administer the closing.
As with any career, job descriptions vary widely for the same job title or title across cultures around the world. The various duties of a mobile notary extend beyond the more common duties in some nations. Writing protests of events to ships, crews and cargo; present or protest bills of exchange; authenticating personal documents submitted with applications for marriage, divorce, or obtaining immigration or travel documents are some of the more exclusive duties that a mobile notary may be responsible for in some nations.
Most mobile notaries public do not require additional special supplies beyond the stamp and logbook, but an expense journal can be useful when asked to travel long distances. Some travel notaries charge by the mile and others charge a flat rate for traveling within a certain radius of your location or a higher rate for locations outside that radius. Additional extra charges are considered for notarized documents after business hours or on weekends. They have to travel and usually have to be ready at short notice, so mobile notaries are often significantly more expensive than regular notaries.
Note that in a common law government, the notary public is not licensed to practice law or offer legal advice. A mobile notary public is not allowed to explain what a document means, explain the implications of signing or not signing it, or answering any questions. In most jurisdictions, this would be practicing law without a license, which is a crime punishable by law. In civil systems, notaries have different duties and authorities; therefore, it is essential to know what type of notary is authorized in a specific jurisdiction. Legal problems often arise when well-meaning Spanish-speaking foreigners in common law countries such as the United States assume that a notary public has the same function as a notary public in a civil law country.
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