What is a Certified Notary Signing Agent?
Simply stated, a Certified Notary Signing Agent is a Notary Public that is trained and certified to conduct loan signings.
Once you become a Notary Public, depending on the state you live in, your earnings may be limited. For example, in Pennsylvania the standard fee for a regular, straightforward notarization is $5. Each state sets their own fees that Notary Public’s may charge for services. Granted, if you are a traveling notary, you can charge travel fees, but besides that, you don’t make much unless there is a high demand for the service.
Certified Notary Signing Agents typically make anywhere from $80-$150 per signing. There isn’t a standard fee. The fee is usually negotiated based upon your travel distance, the type of loan, and how bad the company needs your services. Rush fees may also be charged for work that needs to be completed on short notice. Best of all, the fees for this service is not regulated by the state because it is a business different from the regular notarizations you do.
The general idea of the service is that you contract with a mortgage, title or loan company to conduct a signing. They will send you the paperwork via mail, e-mail, or private courier. You go to the clients home, have them sign all of the appropriate paper work and notarize what needs to be notarized. You return all of the paperwork to the mortgage or loan company and you are paid at an agreed upon time.
You don’t have to be certified to do the job, although it does help. It’s just like going for any job. Education and certifications may not be necessary, but they do look good and set you apart from the crowd.
Before you can become a Certified Notary Signing Agent, you must become a Notary Public. Each state sets their own requirements for becoming a Notary Public. In Pennsylvania, you must complete an application, receive the recommendation and signatures of two references, receive the endorsement of your senator, complete a mandatory training class, then submit all materials to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If approved, you’ll receive your commission in about 4 weeks.
Companies like the National Notary Association (www.nationalnotary.org) will train and certify you to become a Certified Notary Signing Agent. You pay the fee for the course and training materials, take an 8 hour class, then take a test. The first two parts of the test have to do with what you learn in the course and the third part of the test deals with your states’ notary laws.
For more information on becoming a Certified Notary Singing Agent, you can do a Google search for “Certified Notary Signing Agent” or visit www.nationalnotary.org.
*** Be aware that the following states have restrictions on Notary Signing Agents: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. More information can be found at http://www.nationalnotary.org/NSAcertification/index.cfm?text=glbaRestrictions.
