Notaries need to be aware that not every “soft” or digital file should be shared with signing services or title agencies. Many times, I hear that Notaries are sending their actual files from Identrust (or other Digital Certificate Vendor) and their saved Image of their Electronic Stamp to these agencies as “proof” of RON Certification. I doubt that the hiring agency even understands that what they are asking for is not legally compliant for the Notary. By the notaries sending these digital documents they are essentially sending them their physical stamp (if we compare it to an in-person verification) as proof of their commission. Legally Notaries are to keep their stamp in their “sole control” and not share or lend it to anyone. By sending these digital files, Notaries are “sharing” their digital credentials with each one of these agencies. The digital certificate (commonly issued by Identrust) is a digital file which proves that that specific Notary signed a document. This file, when shared, can be used by a 3rd party person to commit fraud. They can upload this verification onto their own computers, gain access to the file by either cracking the password or simply telling the notary to share it with them, and now they can sign a document which will show that the Notary performed the act. They basically can sign any and all documents electronically and make it look like the Notary did it themselves! The digital image of the Notary’s physical stamp, referred to as their electronic seal, is also something that Notaries should not share! Just think of it this way, if you lost or had your physical stamp stolen it would require you to file a police report and notify the Secretary of States’ office. This electronic image is no different than that! By sharing this image, you are allowing anyone who obtains it the ability to stamp documents electronically and make it appear as though you performed the Notarization. It is imperative that if you are embarking on a path for Remote Online Notarization that you understand the risks to you when these files are sent to requesting agencies. When (If) you get a request for these digital files, explain to the requesting agency that they are the sole property of the Notary and cannot be shared due to your state law. Once they understand that these files are not part of your “proof of RON commission” files which they are actually in need of, it should clear up the confusion. There is only time which it is acceptable to upload these files to a requesting agency, and that is when you are onboarding with an Authorized Remote Online Notarization Software Platform. These software systems will need both of these files, and your encrypted password for the digital certificate in order for you to become an active user of their system.

Start Your New Year The Right Way By Developing RON Routines If you're like most notaries, the start of a new year is a time to reflect on the past and set resolutions for the future. But if you want to be a Remote Online Notary (RON) superstar, it's also a great time to develop routines that will help you be more productive and successful in your work. Here are some tips to get you started. Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals to help you stay on track Goal setting is an important skill for success in life. When it comes to staying on track with your business, creating daily, weekly and monthly goals can be a great help. For instance, you might. Set yourself a goal to send out a certain number of emails every day. Reach out to new business contacts twice per week. Make at least three new posts a week on social media. Attend a Business-Related social event once a month (They don't have to be industry related, just get out there and make new contacts). Set a goal to take one new class a week on Notary Stars. Read one new self-help book per quarter. You don't have to take all these steps listed above, but by consistently setting and implementing daily, weekly, and monthly goals that are appropriate to the task of growing your business, you will be able to stay organized and focused on achieving your long-term aspirations. Taking regular steps forward towards your goals can give you both motivation and reassurance that you are headed in the right direction. Find a method of organization that works for you and stick to it Trying to keep yourself organized? Good choice! Everyone leads a busy life and organizing your tasks, projects and goals can be the difference between success and stress. However, it's not easy, so don't let that put you off - it takes time to find a method of organization that works for you. If you are not already doing so, get yourself an online calendar that you can access from ANYWHERE. Put all of your appointments in there, whether big or small, personal or business. Consider a calendar scheduling app like Calendly (or any number of others) that seamlessly ties into your new online calendar. Share your scheduling link with your clients, in your email signature or on your website. If your invoicing and financing is "messy," consider a Notary Accounting Software that lets you keep track of your finances, invoices, expenses, etc. If remembering who you met, sent emails to or spoke with on the phone, maybe give a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool a go? If you focus on building relationships with customers or leads, then your business will grow in return. Whichever route you decide to go down, make sure once you do find something that works for you - stick with it! Schedule time for breaks so you don't burn yourself out One of the greatest joys of being an Online Notary is working from home! Working from home can be a productivity paradise, but it also carries the risk of working yourself into a burnout. To prevent this fate from befalling you, it's important to. Set specific days off and office hours for working. Take time to wake up in the morning. Jumping right out of bed and onto the computer doesn't give you time to collect your thoughts and assess the day ahead. Take time for breaks throughout the day. Yes, even taking a nap for 20 minutes a day is acceptable and can easily be calendared in your new online calendar you just started using. Feeling "lazy" taking naptime during the day? Try taking a five-minute breather for some tea or stretching, run some short errands that are nearby and give your eyes a rest from the computer, watch a YouTube recipe channel, have a puzzle setup in the office that you can go work on for a few minutes, just STOP working for a little while. Trust me – your body and mind will thank you for setting aside scheduled blocks of time for refreshment. Life is messy enough as is; scheduling breaks helps ensure that at least one part of your life isn't! Set aside time each week to review your progress and set new goals Setting aside time each week to review your own progress can make a world of difference in how effective and meaningful your work and accomplishments are. Whether it's setting new goals or celebrating little victories, engaging in frequent self-reflection helps to keep you motivated and inspired. Maybe you didn't make your social media posting quotient? That's ok, but you need to acknowledge that and take action. Maybe you tried a new advertising email campaign that had great success? Maybe you found that working with a certain customer/client base makes you feel anxious or edgy? You won't know what worked and what didn't, unless you take time to review your progress. Consider it a fun and playful way of exploring what worked well and what could be improved upon the next round. It may feel silly at first, but chances are you will soon find yourself doing this on a regular basis! Celebrate your accomplishments, big and small, and take time to thank your supporters Achieving success isn’t easy, and it’s not something we can do alone. Whether it’s landing a new client, a successful marketing campaign you've developed, or even something small like mastering a new RON Platform, it takes effort – and help – to get to the finish line. That’s why it’s important to celebrate our accomplishments and thank those who cheered us on along the way. So go ahead and let yourself feel accomplished; give yourself a pat on the back for all that you manage to accomplish. Don’t be shy about giving yourself credit for all the hard work you put in! And don’t forget to say “Thanks!” to your supporters – because without them we would all be lonesome achievers. Bring it on 2023! You've got this! By setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals, you can make sure you're staying on track to hit your big-picture targets. And once you find a system of organization that works for you, stick with it! It's also important to schedule time for breaks so you don't burn yourself out. Finally, set aside some time each day or week to review your progress and give yourself a pat on the back for all your accomplishments—big and small. Do you have any great tips for goal-setting routines? Share them with us in the comments below or come talk about your successes in a live class on Notary Stars so we can learn from each other! Above all, make it the best year possible by being the best "You" possible! Happy New Year!!

Eric Clapton sang it best in 1970 After Midnight, We're gonna let it all hang out. After midnight, We're gonna chug-a-lug and shout We're gonna cause talk and suspicion Give an exhibition Find out what it is all about. You can be sure that I am not as talented or as well known as Eric Clapton, but this article sure might 'cause talk and suspicion' in the Notary community. We are going to delve into the issue of a loan signing appointment that spans the bewitching hour of 'Midnight' and what that means for your loan documents. We're going to try and 'find out what it is all about' in this article. I personally do not take loan signing appointments late at night but there are many NSA's who do. There just are times that a late appointment is the only time the signer is available and the lender/title company wants the documents signed on a particular date. Not tomorrow, not two days from now, but today! Dedicated to customer service, the perfect signing agent in you says, 'No problem. I can meet you at 11:30pm and we'll get your documents signed and notarized.' Sounds like a win-win situation until suddenly in the middle of the signing, you realize that the clock has struck midnight and your stamp is about to turn into a pumpkin. Now the date is the next day and you know that your hiring party will want a consistent dates on all the signature lines and notarizations must also be consistent throughout the package. But what can you do legally as a Notary to make all this come together seamlessly? We tapped a few resources to find the best way to handle this situation and still be within our regulatory statutes. Laura Biewer of CoachMeLaura.com advised to be prepared anytime you are in a late signing and think ahead to be prepared for any situation. She advises to plan on 'Doing all the notarized documents first so that they all bear the same date'. Good advice. And to be honest, we aren't concerned in this scenario what date the signer uses on their signature line except that we know the hiring party will likely reject a package that did not bear consistent dates throughout. So we probably should advise them to continue dating their signature with 'yesterday's' date. If you didn't forecast that the signing would go past the midnight hour and now you find yourself in a bit of a bind, Laura Biewer suggests that you continue the signing with the same date that you started the appointment with and just make a clear note in your journal. Now we are going to go down a rabbit hole...want to come along with Alice? What if it is a RON signing? Bill Bumphrey, NotaryStars.comRON instructor says, 'You could remedy that problem by pre-filling the dates so they were uniform throughout the entire document or use the "add text" feature (if available) to manually fill in the text during the session. The audit trail will show exactly when the documents were signed and notarized, so make sure to make that notation in your journal records.' And one last expert weighed in on this dilemma...Amy Seitz, Owner at CyberizeIt.com . Amy says that situation can occur even if you are not approaching the bewitching hour when you are notarizing for someone in another county. "The proper procedure is that the date reflects the time zone of the signers [Borrower & Notary]. So if my client were in tomorrow, their date/time stamp would be tomorrow (13th) but all of my date/time stamps would by for today (12th). The platform and audit report would reflect their exact location and time. The audit report would also reflect the difference in date/time and that would be the information that would stand up in court for compliance." In the end we learned to; - Be prepared for the possibility if the appointment is close to midnight and have a plan in place. - Best practice might be not to start a RON signing too close to the bewitching hour no matter where any of the participants are to keep those date/time stamps consistent. - Eric Clapton is still signing and Alice is still wandering down rabbit holes.

The Multiple Facts of Multi-Factor Authentication If you're a remote online notary, then you know that part of your job is to verify the identity of your signatories. But how exactly do you go about doing that? In this blog post, we'll explain the different methods of remote online notary verification. By the end, you'll have a better understanding of which method is best for each situation. So let's get started! If you are like most people, you use the words Kleenex to refer to facial tissues or you use the word Xerox to refer to a photocopy. Similarly, while everyone realizes there is ID verification as part of Remote Online Notarization (RON), most notaries generically refer to this as KBA or Knowledge Based Authentication, but there is a lot more to it than just KBA. KBA is just one part of the authentication process. There is actually quite a bit more to identifying your signer. Aside from KBA, there is typically Credential Analysis, but there can also be biometrics. All of which leads to multi-factor authentication. Let's break these down a bit more... Knowledge-Based-Authentication (KBA) KBA, in its simplest explanation, means that the person who wants to have documents notarized has to answer some questions about themselves. These are questions that only they should know, like their mortgage balance or an old address. They have to get a certain number of questions right to be able to sign. If they don't get enough questions right, they can try again, but if they don't pass the second time, they can't sign. Typically speaking, the questions on the KBA relate to information that is public but not common knowledge, and they should be such that a person other than the signer would be unlikely to know the answer. The signer must answer a certain number of questions correctly to be positively identified; for example, in many states, a signer requesting a RON must correctly answer a minimum of 4 out of 5 KBA questions (80%) in under 2 minutes. Each question must have at least 5 possible answers. If the signer fails the first test, the signer may retake the KBA, and each of the retakes must replace at least 2 of the 5 questions in the previous exam. If the signer fails the second retake, the Notary must not perform the RON. While there are slight variations to this, such as the number of retries and the hours in which there is a "cooling off period," this is generally the accepted definition of KBA. Credential Analysis Simply speaking, credential analysis is a way to check if an ID, like a driver's license, is real. A service provider doing credential analysis checks the security features, like the barcode or image placement. They also compare the data on the credential to other trusted sources. When conducting a credential analysis as part of a remote notarization, the software will use an automated process to verify the signer's ID. This process uses sophisticated algorithms to confirm that all security elements and information are present on the ID. The software will request that the signer allow the system to take a picture of the ID, which will then be analyzed. If all information and security elements are present, the ID will be considered valid. However, it is important to note that credential analysis requirements vary by state. Before selecting a RON platform, confirm that their system meets the requirements for your state. Doing so will help to ensure that the notarization is conducted in compliance with state law. Biometrics And finally, we have Biometrics. A biometric is a unique physical characteristic of an individual that can be used for identification or authentication. Some examples of biometrics include fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition. This process allows for the secure identification or authentication of an individual without the need for passwords or other identifying information. As it relates to RON, these characteristics are measured and compared against the presented identification card or passport to determine if the person in front of the Notary is the person who is signing the documents. ***BEWARE*** While the use of biometrics is a growing trend, this type of authentication is not available in all States. At the time (11 of the writing of this article, biometrics are only allowed in FL, LA, MN MT, NJ, VA, and WY. Please ensure yours is a biometrics-approved state before employing this measure of ID verification. Multi-factor Authentication So altogether, we end up with multi-factor authentication. Just as with some websites where you must enter your password and then a code that is generated from a third-party authentication system, sent via an SMS Message, or emailed to you, multi-factor authentication in RON signings is the best way to confirm someone's identity. It requires a person to use at least two different methods to prove who they are. This makes it much less likely that someone will commit fraud. Conclusion In summary, Multi-factor authentication is an important security measure to prevent fraud. By requiring a person to use at least two different methods to prove their identity, it makes it much less likely that someone will be able to commit fraud. Again, please remember, while biometrics are a growing trend, they are not available in all states yet. Make sure your state allows for biometric verification before employing this method. So the next time you say "They passed KBA," keep in mind there is a little more to it than just KBA. While the end-user does not necessarily need to know all the moving parts, by understanding the facets of the ID verification process and what they are, you are much better informed than most of your counterparts in the industry. It's kind of like making sausage... The end result should perfectly satisfy, but the consumer doesn't need to know every step of the process. If you are currently conducting, or interested in conducting, RON Closings and have not yet trained with Notary Stars consider joining us today. Not only do we over over 150+ hours of page-by-page training on every loan product under the Sun- we also offer excellent training for Remote Online Notarization & RON Safety. Here’s a list of our current playbacks from our RON Training Library you may want to access as a member:

Amrock, who uses Nexsys Clear Sign, to conduct RON Closings recently issued the following statement to all RON Notaries who partner with Amrock: Amrock has received feedback from our clients stating some RON Closings have taken place on the go, specifically within a car. We are sending out communication to remind all signing agents of the importance of creating a professional digital signing room to conduct your clisongs. Choosing a private, uninterrupted, quiet location is critical to creating the best closing experience for our clients. It is important for us Notary Signing Agents to address this head on because there are going to be those of us who are either completely RON Notaries who do have a professional stationary workspace and then there will also be those of us who are Hybrid Notary Signing Agents, whom this may cause problems for. One of my own personal immediate responses would be - “What about all of the clients who have asked me to meet in Starbucks in the past to sign their documents because they didn’t want anyone they don’t know in their home?” Shouldn’t what is good for them be good for me too? And, I fear that this will be the retaliation from many if we don’t head this off right here in the beginning. In fact, my marketing students actually chose to address this topic specifically during our classes here at the end of the year because they are all curious about how they will balance their mobile closings with their RON Closings. Right now, RON is still very new. Even if you are a RON only Notary Signing Agent you most likely either work for Amrock or for Notarize when doing actual Loan Signings as they are the current dominant platforms for RON throughout the country (as of November 2022). Keep in mind that we are talking specifically about closings with loan documents at the moment as most lenders will not yet ensure notes or deeds that have been electronically notarized. As of yet most of us haven’t gotten a feel for what other Title Agencies and lenders are going to expect from you as RON becomes more prevalent. Even with the “Bring Your Own Business” platforms coming at us left and right we generally only see single documents, general Notary work, or only Title Docs. Which means we should be using this early warning sign from Amrock (who is one of the largest Title Agencies for one of the largest Lenders) as a guideline of sorts to ensure that you are ready for the coming trends. By doing so- you will be putting yourself ahead of the curve when grooming your own direct clients for RON and setting the stage for more growth within your own business. Let’s consider the facts behind this statement in a logical way. Most of us sign our signers in their homes. Meetings for Loan Closings are generally only done at a public place much less frequently. And, when we do sign in public (at least our Notary Stars) are trained not to speak figures or personal information out loud as we would inside someone’s home to ensure private information stays private. When conducting a RON inside a public place like Starbucks you are subject to anyone hearing you go over the documents and seeing your screen. This could be rather alarming to many signers this day and age. And if you are performing from a vehicle it’s impossible to hide the fact that you are in your car- which just looks unprofessional all together. Most RON Platforms do not allow you to use a Green Screen at the moment and to be honest we would advise against this anyway at Notary Stars. Although Green Screens look great in most cases it leads to suspicion of what one might be hiding. And if you ever needed to rely on your own video you may not want to have used one. Remember, we always try to follow the path of least resistance as Notaries and Loan Signing Agents. Our Current Advice Treat RON Signings carefully! Always remember that everything you do is being recorded and there is no turning back once the session is complete. The larger companies have access to your recordings when you are done so there is no back peddling if you decide to defy expectations. For now we are advising all Notaries to conduct RON Signings in a secure location, like a home office or private office space, if you are running a hybrid Mobile Notary and RON Notary operation. Make sure you have a good Anti-Viral Program like Norton on your computer in addition to a good Mal-ware program such as MalwareBytes as well. You may also want to consider investing in additional insurance through your General Liability Providers for Cyber Crime Coverage. Although this is not a requirement at this time for RON Closings with the surge of Cyber Crime Notaries who conduct loans are sure to be a target of the future. If you are currently conducting, or interested in conducting, RON Closings and have not yet trained with Notary Stars consider joining us today. Not only do we over over 150+ hours of page-by-page training on every loan product under the Sun- we also offer excellent training for Remote Online Notarization & RON Safety. Here’s a list of our current playbacks from our RON Training Library you may want to access as a member:

The past few years have been one twist and turn after another for Notaries and Loan Signing Agents hasn’t it? It seems like one minute we were all trucking along on a steady course of business and the next we were having appointments thrown at us left and right to the point we were begging for a day off. And now, we are hearing all sorts of stories around the US. Some are saying that they are still very busy despite higher interest rates. Others are saying they’ve seen a huge decline in their Notary work. And, then of course there are going to be those who are saying that they have to get a part-time or full-time job again because it’s not working out for them. Before you check that last box, let us assure that we are ALL still safe and there is still plenty of work to go around. We have done our very best to keep up-to-date with the most important industry topics over the past year. And, through what may seem for some of you to be the biggest twist (higher interest rates slowing down signings), we have still worked hard to bring you some of the most uplifting Notary business guidance we can help you “weather the storms.” We appreciate how so many of you have written to us in thanking us for what we’ve been able to contribute this year. That is why we are taking the entire month of November to take a pause with any more information and remind you that it’s okay to Catch Up To Get Ahead (Hence, The Title). Next month marks a time for goal setting for all business owners for the first quarter of the year, not just for Notary Loan Signing Agents, and you will really want to take the next 30 days to ponder where you are in your Notary career and where you would like to go. If you feel like you are about to check that box for part-time or full-time work again then it’s time to take action. So, if you think you are anywhere close to being on the fence about staying in this industry. Take a deep breath, take a good look around, and know that you are not the only one who might be wanting more business and a little worried about our industry. And that’s okay. Here are some of the important videos and blogs we’ve done this year that are absolutely FREE to help you with your Notary Career and business: Notary Stars Unlimited Video Replays: Video Highlight 1- Who Are We As Signing Agents Video Highlight 2- Training Courses Unleashed Video Highlight 3- Direct Business for Notaries Video Highlight 4- Accounting For Notaries Want More? (Click Here for The Full Playlist) Notary Stars Blogs & Podcast: Blog & Podcast Highlight 1- Notary Listing Sites After The Pandemic Blog & Podcast Highlight 2- Five Ways To Save On Cost As A Notary Signing Agent Blog & Podcast Highlight 3- Five Tips To Increase Notary Work Want More? (Click Here To See All Of Our Blogs) Marketing: The Truth About Marketing Your Notary Business Video: Free Google My Business Listing Tutorial for Notaries We will be giving a wonderful recap on Notary Stars Unlimited on November 16th, 2022 at 5 pm PST/ 6 pm MST / and 8 EST. Register for this free event at https://www.notarystars.com/unlimited Get caught up on anything you’ve missed and starting in December join us for the final installment of Notary Stars Unlimited as we will be embarking on a new journey in 2023 titled “Notary Stars Unlimited - We’re Stronger Together,” which will be hyper-focused on teamwork at the local, state, and national levels. Also mark your calendar for December 5th, 2022 for a special appearance from Matt Miller from the California Independent League of Notaries (CLIN) where we begin our journey at Notary Stars by adding concerned and caring organizations from around the country like CLIN to aid you with your successes. If you thought we were done after creating over 150+ hours of in-depth Loan Signing Agent training on every loan product under the Sun, one of the most robust marketing courses available, and one of the most up-to-date Notary Resources online- just wait to see what is in store for you in 2023!

There is a New Military ID Card in the Neighborhood Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card The Department of Defense is moving from its current Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card to a more secure card. The new card will be moving away from the paper and lamination process and will be printed on plastic. This will also enable the new card to incorporate some much-needed security features. As Notaries, some states allow the use of Military ID cards as a primary form of identification if it carries all the required information compliant with that states’ regulations. We all can use it in loan signing assignments as a secondary form of ID. But remember, we can never photocopy, or accept a photocopy of a military ID. The Next Generation USID card’s initial issuance began on July 31, 2020 and completed it’s phased-in implementation in December 2020. All DOD ID card facilities now issue the new card to retired and reserve members, dependent family members and other eligible persons who have access to Department of Defense bases or who need access to benefits or privileges. Currently-issued USID cards remain valid through their expiration date. Cards will not be reissued solely for the purpose of obtaining the Next Generation USID card. So we may still see some of the older versions of this ID card. Here is a peak at the new card being issued; These samples are for Retired, Reserve, Spouse. Please note the card with the color coding (Blue stripe) indicates they are a Foreign Affiliate. Next Generation USID Card TypeRecipients Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card-Members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard -Non-CAC-eligible civilian noncombatant personnel deployed in conjunction with military operations overseas U.S. Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Sponsor Identification and Privilege Card -Retired members entitled to retired pay -Members of the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) -Members of the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) -Retired members of the Reserves and National Guard -Medal of Honor recipients -100% Disabled Veterans -Former members in receipt of retired pay -Transitional Health Care Member (TAMP) -Full-time paid United Service Organizations (USO) personnel when serving OCONUS -United Seaman’s Service (USS) Personnel OCONUS -Officers and Crews of MSC vessels deployed to foreign countries -Select Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) personnel -Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy U.S. Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Dependent Identification and Privilege Card Dependents of: -Active duty Service members of the regular components -Reserve component Service members on active duty for more than 30 days -Retirees -Medal of Honor recipients -Former members in receipt of retired pay -Transitional Health Care Members (TAMP) -100% Disabled Veterans -Ship’s Officers and Crewmembers of NOAA Vessels -Reserve members not on active duty or in receipt of retired pay -Former members not in receipt of retired pay -Reserve Service members who die after receipt of NOE Surviving Dependents of: -Active duty and retired Service members -Medal of Honor recipients -Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy Next Gen USID Card Color Coding Next Generation USID cards are color coded as white or blue. White cards are for current/former uniformed service members, dependents, and “all remaining personnel”. Blue Next Gen USID cards are for non-U.S. citizen sponsors and their dependents. Color Coding Blue Bar: Non-U.S. Citizen Sponsors and their Dependents White: Current/Former Uniformed Service Members, their Dependents, and All Remaining Personnel Vertically issued cards are for those who are civilians working on military bases or in military positions or what is known as a Common Access Card. You may continue to see the current military ID cards for some time as they will not be re-issuing old cards without an expiration date. Here’s all the different types that we have seen up to this point… Current USID Card TypeRecipients DD Form 2 (Reserve) Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card-Members of the Individual Ready Reserves and Inactive National Guard DD Form 2 (Retired) United States Uniformed Services Identification Card-Retired members entitled to retired pay -Members of the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) -Members of the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) DD Form 2 (Reserve Retired) United States Uniformed Services Identification Card-Retired members of the Reserves and National Guard under the age of 60 DD Form 1173 United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card-Dependents of: active-duty Service members of the regular components; Reserve component Service members on active duty for more than 30 days; retirees; Medal of Honor recipients; former members in receipt of retired pay; Transitional Health Care Members (TAMP); 100% Disabled American Veterans (DAV); and Ship's Officers and Crewmembers of NOAA Vessels -Surviving dependents of: active-duty and retired military members; Medal of Honor recipients; and 100% Disabled American Veterans (DAV) -Accompanying family members of authorized civilian personnel overseas -Eligible dependents of foreign military -Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy DD Form 1173-1 United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (Guard and Reserve family member)-Dependents of: Reserve members not on Active Duty or in receipt of retired pay; former members not in receipt of retired pay; Reserve Service members who die after receipt of Notice of Eligibility -Other benefits-eligible categories as described in DoD policy Article by Beth Hathoot for Notary Stars 11/2022 Reference; Department of Defense https://www.cac.mil/Next-Generation-Uniformed-Services-ID-Card https://www.army.mil/article/243328/press_release_next_generation_uniformed_services_id_card_is_now_available_at_redstone https://veteran.com/usid/

The National Notary Association (NNA) just published this article written by Professor Michael Closen, a high-profile Notary Law Expert, from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, titled A Notary Mistake Can Be Criminal. After reading the article we highly recommend you purchase his book Professor Closen’s Notary Best Practices: Expert's Guide to Notarization of Documents. One of the very first statements made in the article is one of our own sentiments that we stress here at Notary Stars daily- time savers and cutting corners can lead to Big Trouble! One of the biggest examples given in the article is Notaries cutting corners by not having the signers present for the entire Notarial Act to be performed. And, we hear about this all too often at Notary Stars where Notaries pre-fill out Acknowledgements and Jurats for Loan Signings to save time at the actual signing. At Unlimited Ink Notary (our Parent Company) we often see Notaries who take the risk of editing documents within a PDF using Adobe so their Acknowledgements and Jurats look cleaner and neater when returned. Often in these instances, we have to have the Notary re-complete the document as an error because it proves they didn’t do these entire Notarizations in front of the signers. It also shows that they used a program that often connects to the Internet which could compromise the signer's signatures. We’ve been warned by Attorneys from more than one Title Agency who have helped us get the word about this, but somehow we still see some Notaries taking risks. Another very important sentiment of the article was the age-old question: Do I need to administer an Oath or Affirmation for every Jurat within my Loan Signing? Even just asking this question does not fulfill your duties completely and could land you in hot water. Just read the real-life example in the original article linked above. And please forget what you hear in "Facebook University" about how Mr. & Mrs. Jones conduct their signings. There really are no good ways to perform a sensitive task such as notarizing a document except by performing it in accordance with your state regulation. The National Notary Association did not let up this month after Professor Closen’s article. They continued on with more information for Notaries which leads us to believe October might be Notary Public and Loan Signing Agent Lawsuit Awareness Month. The next article they pushed out via email to all Notaries was 5 Sound Practices That Steer You Clear Of Lawsuits And Costly Errors which included these 5 Key Points: Always Require Personal Appearance Master Identification Requirements Avoid Pressures to Rush Scan And Complete Certificates Properly Know How To Handle Emotional Signers It's funny writing this article as a Signing Agency Owner. Some of you may roll your eyes and think that these are simple things that every Notary should know. But I can assure you they are not- or they are not always adhered to. Unlimited Ink Notary, our sister company, sees more transactions in one month than most Notaries will see in 5 years of signings and we see each one of these items being dealt with daily. In fact, many Signing Agents either fail at one of these items or use them as an excuse. That is not to speak ill of our Notary brothers and sisters at all. Our jobs as Notaries and Loan Signing Agents is tough at times and we are often rushed and have to deal with emotional signers. It’s just that they are not valid excuses to do something wrong in our jobs. We still HAVE to do our job right. At Notary Stars we put together an annual Mistakes to Avoid at the beginning of each year and update it with more information. That list doesn’t increase too much annually but the National Notary Association is still just scratching the surface of the problems we can face in the previously mentioned article. This is exactly why we believe in continuing education. Not just because we need to know how to properly present, to describe, and execute every loan document, but because it can help us avoid a lawsuit. Please check out the two articles mentioned in this post and comment below if you have any thoughts to add. All comments are welcomed, especially if they can benefit another Notary Loan Signing Agent. If you are a newer Signing Agent please check out our video about Mistakes To Avoid as a Loan Signing Agent to help you and consider training with us at www.notarystars.com/membership_information to help protect your Notary Business. The more you know, the more you grow! References Closen on April 5, M. (2022, October 11). A notary mistake can be criminal. National Notary Association. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2018/04/notary-mistake-can-be-criminal#.Y1SSZXqAT1g.gmail NNA Staff on April 27, 2016. (2022, October 19). 5 sound practices that steer you clear of lawsuits and costly errors. National Notary Association. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2016/04/5-sound-practices-steer-clear-lawsuits?utm_campaign=20221024nnabulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nnabulletin&utm_content=BodyCTA5PracticesLawsuitProtect&content_type=2&position=1&NNAID=158066250

There's an almost 100% chance the US economy will tip into a recession within 12 months, a recent statistical analysis by Bloomberg Economics has found. This means that if you're a business owner, it's important to take steps to recession-proof your Remote Online Notary Business. In this article, we'll outline six top tips for doing just that. Follow these tips and you'll be able to weather any storm! Don't Have a backup plan in case of a recession In today's economy, it is more important than ever to have a backup plan in case of a recession. Whether you are an entrepreneur or work for a company, having a backup plan can help you keep your head above water during challenging times. One way to do this is by diversifying the services you offer that may be complimentary to your Remote Online Notary Business. For example, if you notarize documents related to overseas matters, you could also offer services related to Apostille. This way, if there is a recession in one aspect of the notary industry, you will still have a steady stream of clients from other industries and needs. Keep your costs low One of the best ways to recession-proof your business is to keep your costs low. This means finding ways to cut back on expenses without sacrificing quality or customer service. There are a number of ways to do this, such as outsourcing work, using low-cost software and tools, and negotiating better rates with vendors. 1. Outsourcing work: There are a number of great outsourcing options available these days that can help you keep your costs low. While taking on more responsibility for the day-to-day operations of your business may be more sensible, many mundane activities do not create a good ROI for your time. Luckily, there are websites like Fiverr that offer a variety of services starting at just $5. This can be a great way to get quality work done without breaking the bank. 2. Using low-cost software and tools: Shop around! There are quite a few great, RON platforms available that can help you save money on your business operations. Get to know what each platform offers and only sign up with the ones that truly support your business, especially if there is a high startup cost or monthly expenses. 3. Negotiating better rates with vendors: One of the best ways to save money on your business expenses is to negotiate better rates with your vendors. Many vendors are willing to negotiate, so it never hurts to ask! Offer promotions during tough times Businesses should always be prepared for a recession by introducing promotions during tough times. By doing this, businesses can weather the storm and retain customers. Promotions show that you care about your customer base and want to help them save money. 1. Discounts: Offering discounts is a great way to show your customers that you care about them and want to help them save money. Maybe you can approach a large group that needs documents notarized, like a school or HR department, and offer them a bulk discount? You ensure business and establish goodwill. 2. Bundling: Another great way to offer promotions during tough times is by bundling your services. This allows customers to save money by buying multiple services at once. But how can you bundle RON Services? You might offer electronic recording of documents for notarized documents (if you are able). You might be able to team up with a doc prep company to offer combined services. As we discussed earlier if you are in a state that allows you to have a RON apostilled, you might combine these. 3. Freebies: Who doesn't love a freebie? Offering freebies is a great way to show your customers that you appreciate their business. Do work for the local Veterans, Knights of Columbus, or a community outreach service. Your generosity will often be repaid. Stay positive and optimistic Staying positive and optimistic is essential to succeed in life and business. Whether you are facing a difficult challenge like less work or embarking on a new endeavor like starting your RON business, it is important to keep your spirits high and maintain a sense of hope and optimism. This will help you maintain focus and drive as you work toward your goals, overcome obstacles, and achieve success. By cultivating an attitude of positivity, you can become more resilient, motivated, and confident – all key components of motivation and achievement. So if you want to be your best self and reach your full potential, make the commitment today to stay positive and optimistic at all times. With the right mindset, you can accomplish anything! Network with other professionals One great way to stay positive and motivated during tough times is to network with other professionals. By sharing ideas, strategies, and support, you can help each other stay focused and motivated. Networking also allows you to build relationships with potential clients or referral sources, which can be beneficial in the long run. So get out there and start networking! You never know who you might meet. Below are seven ideas to help you get started networking with other professionals: 1. Join and maintain professional organizations like NotaryStars. There are many professional organizations available, and membership can offer many benefits, such as networking opportunities, educational resources, and discounts on products and services. 2. Attend industry events. Industry events offer a great opportunity to network with other professionals, learn about the latest trends, and gain valuable insights from experts in your field. 3. Connect with other professionals online. There are many online networking platforms available, such as LinkedIn, that allow you to connect with other professionals in your industry. 4. Participate in online discussions. Many online forums and discussion groups allow you to participate in online discussions with other professionals. This is a great way to gain insights and share ideas. 5. Subscribe to industry publications. Industry publications offer valuable insights and news about the latest trends in your industry. Subscribing to a few publications can help you stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments." 6. Go to local meetups. Find other notaries in your community to network with. Notaries in similar locations may have similar problems. Brainstorm, share contacts, offer a network of "coverage" in case you are not available. 7. Get involved in your community. Being in business isn't always about "pushing" your business. Work charity events, be seen by the community, get to know your neighbors and business counterparts. Some of the strongest relationships are those that are created outside work hours. Get creative! When it comes to succeeding in business, the key is being creative. Whether you're trying to come up with a new marketing campaign or developing an innovative product, the ability to think outside the box and devise new solutions is essential for success. In fact, creativity may even be more important than experience or expertise when it comes to launching a successful venture. By looking at problems from new angles and harnessing your imagination, you can set yourself apart from your competitors and establish yourself as a true innovator in your field. So if you want to get ahead in business, embrace your creative side and let your imagination run wild! You never know what exciting ideas and opportunities might be just around the corner. Conclusion No matter what the economy is doing, following these tips can help you stay positive, motivated, and successful. By networking with other professionals, getting involved in your community, and being creative, you can weather any storm! So don't panic if a recession is on the horizon - with the right attitude and approach, you can thrive no matter what!" Check Out These Related Articles On Notary Stars Do you think Notary Work is slowing down in your market? (notarystars.com) Five Ways to Save on Notary Business Costs (notarystars.com) Five Free Tips To Increase Your Notary Work (notarystars.com)

What is an Ombudsman and why Notaries Public need to know about them? An Ombudsman is essentially a patient advocate and can be referred to as a Social worker, patient representative, patient liaison, patient relations counselor, crisis resolution specialists, and other names or titles. An actual Ombudsman must go through a certification program and are heavily regulated by the government. The Ombudsman Program grew out of efforts by both state and federal governments to respond to widely reported concerns that vulnerable peoples living in long-term care facilities were subject to abuse, neglect and substandard care. The program is made up of many volunteers and some employee staff. Their job it is to identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult foster care or long-term care homes, skilled nursing centers and even Hospitals. They are trained to resolve problems and are a liaison between the patient and the facility. This service is generally free to the patient. Under the federal Older Americans Act, every state is required to have an Ombudsman Program. Most state programs are run by the state’s Counsel on Aging. So what does that have to do with Notaries? Often times, as a Notary who does ‘General Notary Work’ and not just loan signings, we will be called to notarize Powers of Attorney. Doing that all by it’s self does not ring any bells except for three particular situations; 1- the POA is part of a Living Will or Health Directive and/or 2- the signer is in one of the types of facilities listed above and/or 3- you and the signer are in the state of California, Delaware, District of Columbia, or South Carolina. These states have specific requirements that involve an Ombudsman or Patient Advocate. For instance; California – If you are in a skilled nursing facility, the ‘Advanced Directive for Healthcare’ document must be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman. Delaware – If you are a resident of a sanitarium, rest home, nursing home, boarding home or related institution, the ‘Advance Healthcare Directive’ document will require one of the witnesses to be a patient advocate or ombudsman designated by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities or the Public Guardian. District of Columbia – If you are a patient in a skilled care facility, one witness must be a patient advocate or ombudsman when signing the ‘Declaration’. South Carolina - If you are a patient in a hospital or skilled care facility, one witness must be a patient advocate or ombudsman when signing the ‘Declaration’. In addition to these states, there is Vermont that has an additional special requirement; If you are a patient in a hospital, nursing home or residential care facility, a designated person must sign the "Advanced Directive’ after explaining it to you. Ask a patient representative or advocate for help with this requirement". Each of our 50-states have their own requirements for who can be the witness on these documents, how many witnesses are needed, if you need it notarized and witnessed or just notarized or just witnessed. The rules are exhausting. I have attached a spreadsheet for all 50 states for your reference. This applies only to the documents we would typically see in a Living Will. Living Wills are the persons statement of how they want their care orchestrated when they are no longer able to voice that for themselves. Living Wills can go by different names in different states. That would include terms like; Health care Directive Medical Directive Advanced Directive for Health care Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Declaration to Physician Declaration of Living Will Declaration Advanced Directive Health Care Proxy Medical Power of Attorney These regulations are not something you would normally find in your state notary handbook. Rather, they are a set of regulations set forth by your state governor. In addition to that, you can find your state specific Living Will (or whatever the term is for your state) document sets on your states .gov website. Article written by Beth Hathoot for Notary Stars 10/22 References; https://ltcombudsman.org/omb_support/nors https://acl.gov/ https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2019/10/03/patient-advocates Health Care DirectiveStateDocument Name(s) & Signing RequirementsAlabamaAdvance Directive for Health Care Two witnesses are required. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 19 your health care proxy the person who signed your advance directive for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself related to you by blood, marriage or adoption entitled to any portion of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or directly financially responsible for your medical care. If you grant your proxy the power to direct your burial or cremation, your advance directive must also be notarized.AlaskaAdvance Health Care Directive If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be notarized. If you do not grant this power, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: your health care agent your health care provider an employee of your health care provider, or an employee of the health care institution or health care facility where you are receiving health care. In addition, at least one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption—and must not be entitled to any part of your estate under a will or codicil (amendment to a will).ArizonaLiving Will & Health Care Power of Attorney Both documents must be signed by at least one witness or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, you may choose to have one or two witnesses. If you choose to have one witness, your witness may not be: any person involved in providing your health care related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, or entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. If you have two witnesses, your witnesses do not need to meet the last two requirements on the list above. If you choose to have your document notarized, the notary may not be: your health care agent, or any person involved in providing your health care. ArkansasLiving Will Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have your document witnessed, your witnesses must be at least 18 years old. In addition, one of your witnesses may not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, or entitled to any part of your estate under your will or by operation of law. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed by two witnesses. If you do not grant this power, you may choose to have the document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have your document witnessed, your witnesses must be at least 18 years old. In addition, one of your witnesses may not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption, or entitled to any part of your estate under your will or by operation of law.CaliforniaAdvance Directive for Health Care Must either be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: your health care agent your health care provider an employee of your health care provider the operator of a community care facility an employee of a community care facility the operator of a residential care facility for the elderly, or an employee of a residential care facility for the elderly. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption—and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. Finally, if you are in a skilled nursing facility, the document must also be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman. (This requirement applies whether the document is witnessed or notarized.)ColoradoDeclaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment Medical Durable Power of Attorney Both documents must be signed by two witnesses and may also be notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: a physician an employee of your attending physician an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient a person with a claim against your estate, or a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. In addition, if you are a patient or resident of a health care facility, the witnesses cannot be patients of that facility.ConnecticutHealth Care Instructions and Appointment of Health Care Agent and Attorney-in-Fact for Health Care Decisions Must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and the person named to serve as your health care agent and your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions not act as a witness. You and your witnesses may also sign in front of a notary public, but you are not required to do so. Document Concerning Withholding or Withdrawal of Life Support Systems Must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and the person named to serve as your health care agent and your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions not act as a witness. Appointment of Health Care Agent and Attorney-in-Fact for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and the person named to serve as your health care agent and your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions not act as a witness.DelawareAdvance Health Care Directive The document must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage or adoption an owner, operator or employee of a residential long-term health care institution in which you are a resident a person directly financially responsible for your medical care a person with a claim against any portion of your estate, or a person entitled to any portion of your estate by operation of law or under your will. If you are a resident of a sanitarium, rest home, nursing home, boarding home or related institution, one of the witnesses must be, at the time you sign the Advance Health Care Directive, a patient advocate or ombudsman designated by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities or the Public Guardian.District of ColumbiaDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage or domestic partnership your attending physician an employee of your attending physician an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or a person directly financially responsible for your medical care. If you are a patient in a skilled care facility, one witness must be a patient advocate or ombudsman. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care attorney-in-fact your health care provider, or an employee of your health care provider. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.FloridaLiving Will Must be signed by two witnesses, one of whom must not be your spouse or related to you by blood. Designation of Health Care Surrogate Must be signed by two witnesses, both of whom must be at least 18 years old. Neither witness may be your health care surrogate. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be your spouse or a blood relative.GeorgiaAdvance Directive for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent a person who is directly involved in your health care, or a person who will knowingly inherit anything from you or knowingly gain a financial benefit from your death. In addition, only one of your witnesses may be an employee, agent or medical staff member of the hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice or other health care facility in which you are receiving health care. (This witness is still prohibited from being directly involved in your health care.)HawaiiAdvance Health Care Directive If you grant power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be notarized. If you do not grant this power, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: your health care agent a health care provider, or an employee of a health care provider facility. In addition, at least one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption—and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.IdahoLiving Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Idaho law does not require that your documents be witnessed or notarized. However, witnesses are recommended to avoid concerns that the document was forged, that you were forced to sign it or that it does not represent your wishes. If you choose to have your documents witnessed, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and that your health care agent not act as a witness.IllinoisDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or a person directly financially responsible for your medical care. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by one witness. Your witness may not be: under the age of 18 your attending physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, dentist, podiatric physician, optometrist, or psychologist a relative of any of the health care professionals listed just above an owner, operator or relative of an owner or operator of a health care facility in which you are a patient or resident (this includes directors or executive officers of an operator that is a corporate entity, but not other employees of the operator, such as non- owner chaplains, social workers or nurses) a parent, sibling, or descendant, or the spouse of a parent, sibling, or descendant, of either you, your agent, or your alternate agent, regardless of whether the relationship is by blood, marriage, or adoption, or your agent or alternate agent for health care. IndianaLiving Will Declaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your parent, spouse, or child a person entitled to any part of your estate a person directly financially responsible for your medical care, or the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Appointment of Health Care Representative Must be notarized.IowaDeclaration & Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Both documents must follow the same requirements: Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent your health care provider, or an employee of your health care provider. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption within the third degree of consanguinity (parents, children, siblings, grandchildren, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and great-grandchildren).KansasDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself related to you by blood or marriage entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or directly financially responsible for your health care. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your agent for health care decisions related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or directly financially responsible for your health care. KentuckyAdvance Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. Neither of your witnesses nor the notary may be: related to you by blood your beneficiary by operation of Kentucky law your attending physician an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient, unless the employee serves as a notary public, or directly financially responsible for your health Louisiana(Nolo does not provide legal information about estate planning in Louisiana.)MaineAdvance Health Care Directive The document must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and that your health care agent not act as a witness.MarylandAdvance Directive The document must be signed by two witnesses. The person you name as your health care agent cannot serve as a witness. In addition, at least one of your witnesses must be a person who is not entitled to any portion of your estate, and who is not entitled to any financial benefit by reason of your death.MassachusettsDocument Directing Health Care & Health Care Proxy Both documents must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18, or your health care agent. MichiganDocument Directing Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and that your patient advocate not act as a witness. Patient Advocate Designation Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling your patient advocate your physician an employee of your life or health insurance provider an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient an employee of a home for the aged where you live, or entitled to any portion of your estate by operation of law or under your will. MinnesotaHealth Care Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. Neither of your witnesses nor the notary may be your health care agent. If you choose to have the document witnessed, at least one of the witnesses may not be a health care provider or an employee of a provider directly attending to you. If you choose to have the document notarized, the notary may not be your health care agent.MississippiAdvance Health Care Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent a health care provider, or an employee of a health care provider or facility. In addition, one witness must not be related to you by blood, marriage or adoption and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.MissouriDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18, or the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed in front of two witnesses and notarized. If you do not grant this power, only the notary is necessary.MontanaDeclaration & Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Both documents must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and that your health care agent not act as a witness.NebraskaDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18, or an employee of your life or health insurance provider. In addition, one witness may not be a director or employee of your treating health care provider. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be notarized. If you do not grant your agent the power to direct your burial or cremation, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions your attending physician your spouse, parent, child, grandchild or sibling your presumptive heir or known devisee, or an employee of your life or health insurance provider. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be an administrator or employee of your health care provider.NevadaDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Although the law does not restrict who can serve as a witness, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old and that your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions not act as a witness. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be notarized. If you do not grant this power, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your attorney-in-fact for health care decisions a health care provider an employee of a health care provider the operator of a health care facility, or an employee of the operator of a health care facility. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.New HampshireAdvance Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent your attending physician or advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or a person acting under the direction or control of the attending physician or ARNP your spouse, or entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. In addition, no more than one witness may be a health or residential care provider or such provider's employee.New JerseyCombined Advance Directive for Health Care & Instruction Directive or Proxy Directive Any document must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18, or your health care representative. New MexicoAdvance Health Care Directive The law does not require that your advance directive be witnessed. However, witnesses are recommended to avoid concerns that the document might be forged, that you were forced to sign it, or that it does not genuinely represent your wishes. If you choose to have your document witnessed, we suggest that your witnesses be at least 18 years old.New YorkDocument Directing Health Care & Health Care Proxy Both must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent, or the person who signed the declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it for yourself If you reside in a mental health facility, your witnesses must meet additional requirements. Ask your mental health care provider for more information.North CarolinaAdvance Directive Must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician or mental health treatment provider a licensed health care provider who is (1) an employee of your attending physician or mental health treatment provider, (2) an employee of the health facility in which you are a patient, or (3) an employee of a nursing home or any adult care home where you reside a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or a person with a claim against you or your estate. Health Care Power of Attorney Must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician or mental health treatment provider a licensed health care provider who is (1) an employee of your attending physician or mental health treatment provider, (2) an employee of the health facility in which you are a patient, or (3) an employee of a nursing home or any adult care home where you reside a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or a person with a claim against you or your estate. North DakotaMust be signed by two witnesses or notarized. Neither the witnesses nor the notary may be: under the age of 18 your spouse or another person related to you by blood, marriage or adoption your health care agent a person entitled to any part of your estate upon your death, or a person with a claim against your estate. In addition, at least one witness must not be a health care or long-term care provider providing you with direct care or an employee of the health care or long-term care provider providing you with direct care. (This restriction does not apply to the notary.)OhioDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption your attending physician an administrator of a nursing home where you receive care, or the person who signed your declaration, if you were unable to sign it yourself. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption your attorney-in-fact your attending physician, or an administrator of a nursing home where you receive care. OklahomaAdvance Directive for Health Care If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed in front of two witnesses and notarized. If you do not grant this power, only the witnesses are necessary. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, or a person who might inherit from you. OregonAdvance Directive Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: your health care representative, or your attending physician One witness may not be: related to you by blood, marriage or adoption an owner, operator or employee of a health care facility where you are a resident, or a person entitled to any part of your estate upon your death. PennsylvaniaDeclaration & Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Both documents must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18, or the person who signed your declaration for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself. Rhode IslandDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses. Your witnesses may not be related to you by blood or marriage. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be notarized. If you do not grant this power, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses or notarized. If your document will be notarized, the notary may not be: related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption, or entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. If you choose to have the document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent a health care provider an employee of a health care provider the operator of a community care facility, or an employee of an operator of a community care provider. In addition, one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.South CarolinaDeclaration Must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption your attending physician an employee of your attending physician a person directly financially responsible for your medical care a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, or a person who has a claim against your estate. No more than one of your witnesses may be an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient. If you are in a hospital or nursing care facility when you sign your declaration, at least one of your witnesses must be an ombudsman designated by the state. Health Care Power of Attorney Must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: your health care agent your attending physician an employee of your attending physician related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption directly financially responsible for your medical care the beneficiary of an insurance policy on your life a person with a claim against your estate at the time you sign your document, or a person entitled to any portion of your estate by operation of law or under your will. In addition, only one witness may be an employee of a health care facility in which you are a patient.South DakotaLiving Will Declaration Must be signed by two witnesses, both of whom are at least 18 years old, and may also be notarized, although notarization is optional. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses, both of whom are at least 18 years old.TennesseeAdvance Health Care Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or a notary. If you choose to have your document witnessed, both witnesses must be competent adults and neither may be your health care agent. In addition, at least one of your witnesses must not be related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption—and must not be entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will.TexasDirective to Physicians and Family or Surrogates Must be signed by two witnesses. Your witnesses must be at least 18 years old. In addition, at least one of your witnesses may not be: your health care agent related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician an employee of your attending physician an employee of a health care facility in which you are a patient if the employee is providing direct care to you or is an officer, director, partner, or business office employee of the health care facility or of any parent organization of the health care facility, or an employee of a health care facility in which you are a patient if the employee is providing direct care to you or is an officer, director, partner, or business office employee of the health care facility or of any parent organization of the health care facility, or a person who is entitled to or has a claim against any part of your estate after your death. Medical Power of Attorney If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Your witnesses must be at least 18 years old. In addition, at least one of your witnesses may not be: your health care agent related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician an employee of your attending physician an employee of a health care facility in which you are a patient if the employee is providing direct care to you or is an officer, director, partner, or business office employee of the health care facility or of any parent organization of the health care facility, or a person who is entitled to or has a claim against any part of your estate after your death. If you do not grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, you may choose to have your document signed by two witnesses (subject to the requirements, above) or notarized.UtahAdvance Health Care Directive Must be signed by one witness. Your witness may not be: under the age of 18 your health care agent related to you by blood or marriage a health care provider who is providing care to you an administrator at a health care facility where you are receiving care a person directly financially responsible for your medical care a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, trust, qualified plan, pay-on-death account, or transfer-on-death deed that is held, owned, made, or established by you or on your behalf entitled to benefit financially upon your death entitled to a right to, or interest in, any of your real or personal property upon your death, or the person who signed your document for you, if you were unable to sign it yourself. If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed in front of two witnesses.VermontAdvance Directive Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither witness may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent, or your spouse, parent, adult sibling, adult child, or adult grandchild In addition, if you are a patient in a hospital, nursing home or residential care facility, a designated person must sign the document after explaining it to you. Ask a patient representative for help with this requirement.VirginiaAdvance Medical Directive If you grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, your document must be signed in front of two witnesses and notarized—and your health care agent must sign the part of the document that grants the power. If you do not grant your agent power to direct your burial or cremation, only the witnesses are necessary. Your witnesses must be over the age of 18. In addition, we suggest that your health care agent not act as a witness.WashingtonHealth Care Directive Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician an employee of your attending physician an employee of a health care facility where you are a patient a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will, or a person with a claim against your estate. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have your document witnessed, neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 related to you by blood, marriage, or state-registered domestic partnership, or a care provider for you at your home, at an adult family home, or at a long-term care facility if you live there. West VirginiaLiving Will & Medical Power of Attorney Both documents must meet the same requirements: Must be signed by two witnesses and notarized. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care representative or successor representative the person who signed your document, if you were unable to sign it yourself related to you by blood or marriage your attending physician a person directly financially responsible for your medical care, or a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. WisconsinDeclaration to Physicians Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption your domestic partner your health care provider an employee of your health care provider, other than a chaplain or a social worker an employee of an inpatient health care facility where you are a patient, other than a chaplain or a social worker a person directly financially responsible for your medical care a person who has a claim against your estate, or a person entitled to any part of your estate by operation of law or under your will. Power of Attorney for Health Care Must be signed by two witnesses. Neither of your witnesses may be: under the age of 18 your health care agent related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption your domestic partner your health care provider an employee of your health care provider, other than a chaplain or a social worker an employee of an inpatient health care facility where you are a patient, other than a chaplain or a social worker a person directly financially responsible for your medical care, or a person with a claim against your estate. WyomingAdvance Health Care Directive Must be signed by two witnesses or notarized. If you choose to have the document witnessed, both witnesses must be competent adults who know you personally. In addition, neither of your witnesses may be: your health care agent a treating health care provider an employee of a treating health care provider the operator of a community care facility an employee of an operator of a community care facility the operator of a residential care facility, or an employee of an operator of a residential care facility. Nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/finalization-requirements-health-care-directives.html

What You Need to Know... As a Notary and Independent Business Owner, you need to be aware of what is happening in the world around you. In particular, you should be keeping an eye on inflation and the potential for an economic recession. These factors can have a significant impact on your Remote Online Notary Business. In this blog post, we will discuss the implications of rising inflation and an economic recession, and how you can prepare for them. What is inflation and how can it impact your Remote Online Notary Business? Inflation is a term used to describe the upward trend in prices over time. It can have significant impacts on your Remote Online Notary business, as it can impact your costs and customer behavior. For example, if inflation is high, you may need to increase your rates in order to stay competitive, however, this can sometimes be tricky, as many Secretaries of State have already set a fixed rate delineating the maximum amounts you are allowed to charge. This may mean as a Notary you must; Work with other notaries to address lower fees set by your States Check out our latest video on formulating Local Notary Groups in Notary Stars | Loan Signing Agent Training 101 | Important Concepts (Membership Required). Seek out additional benefits to offer Seek out alternative and complementary streams of income. Additionally, customers may be less likely to spend more money than they need to on services like notarizing or document signing if overall prices are rising. They may begin "window shopping" to see who can give them the best rates. However, there are strategies that you can employ to mitigate the effects of inflation on your business and continue providing excellent service despite rising costs. Be proactive about managing expenses (See Our Previous Blog) Monitor market conditions Negotiate better rates with your signing services and platform providers (yes, this is possible if you can show a track record of continuous business) By taking some of these steps you can help ensure that your Remote Online Notary business remains profitable and successful. What is an economic recession and how can it impact your Remote Online Notary Business? An economic recession is a period during which the economy contracts, usually accompanied by high unemployment, low overall productivity, and lower levels of business activity. During times of recession, it can be difficult for businesses to succeed, especially if they are heavily reliant on consumer spending. If you run a Remote Online Notary business, then this can be especially challenging. As a Remote Online Notary professional, your success depends largely on the ability of your clients to pay for your services. If consumers are experiencing financial hardship due to an economic recession, then they might be less inclined to obtain notarization services from you and go shopping for a "cheaper" alternative. The informed Notary will need to learn how to sell themselves and the value they bring to the transaction because in the end, we are all offering the exact same product for sale. Sell your experience and knowledge. Let people know this is a career you take seriously and that you are a highly trained professional that is the best for the job. You should make sure you let everyone know just how much training you have taken. For instance, make sure you have added your NNA, Notary2Pro, Notary Stars, Sign and Thrive, Coach Me Laura State Training, and Loan Signing System certifications to your profiles. Be proactive in your business. While it is not your place to point out errors in documents, if you catch a mistake that might help avoid further complications, don’t be afraid to say something. Be a professional. Be on time, return your calls and emails promptly, dress the part (you only have to do so from the waist up as a RON) and always follow through on your promises. Furthermore, if businesses are also struggling during this time and laying off employees or shutting down entirely, it may mean less work for you as a notary. However, with careful planning and preparation, it is possible to weather economic recessions successfully and continue providing excellent service to your clients. For example, you can diversify your client base to include both individuals and businesses, focus on providing specialized services that other notaries may be unwilling or unable to offer, or utilize different marketing strategies that reach consumers when they need your services most. If you are in a State that can offer some services others cannot then sell that service. You might be in a Biometrics State, a State that allows for Notarizing a Will, a State that still allows for RIN or any other things that let you stand out. Get to know your State’s laws and use them to your advantage. Use prior relationships and work experiences to tap into a market that others would have a difficult time tapping into just because you are “in the know” and they are not. Network with other Notaries in other states and locally. You can often pass referrals back and forth. Don’t be afraid to ask for business. Tell your Friends, Family, and Facebook what you do. Don’t assume anyone knows your business. Tell them about it and then ask if they or anyone they know may need your services. With careful management and adaptability in tough economic conditions, you can maintain success and keep your Remote Online Notary business thriving no matter what the economy throws your way. How can you prepare for rising inflation and an economic recession? There are several strategies that you can implement to prepare for rising inflation and an economic recession. One of the most important steps is to make sure that your business is living below or within your means so that you have enough savings to cushion yourself if your income dries up. This might be looking for a cheaper internet provider or finding a Remote Online Notary platform that is more reasonably priced. You will want to cut corners where possible, but do not make adjustments that will be detrimental to the services you are able to provide. Additionally, you should maintain a well-diversified portfolio of clientele, so that you do not have all your notarial "eggs" in one basket. Being too heavily concentrated in any single industry or sector could cause pain to your wallet. Other things to consider include being mindful about where you spend your money and cutting back unnecessary expenses wherever possible. But remember, training and education is not one of those areas that should be pared down if you want to weather the storm! And finally, it's always a good idea to stay informed about current economic trends, as well as forecasts for the future, so that you can plan accordingly. Recessions and rising inflation do not last forever. The well-informed Notary is forward-thinking and will be planning not only for the lean times ahead but also will be prepared for the economic rebound. By taking these proactive steps, you can help ensure that you're prepared for whatever comes your way. Final thoughts Inflation and recession are two important economic concepts to understand as a business owner. Both can impact your Remote Online Notary Business in different ways, so it is important to be prepared. By understanding what inflation and recession are and how they may affect your business, you can take steps now to help protect your company during these times. We hope this article has helped explain these concepts and give you some ideas on how to prepare for rising inflation and an economic recession.

You may have heard murmurs about the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 floating around and we are here to set the record straight. This act, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits consideration by the Senate, has massive implications for the notary industry, both good and bad, which means it is time for us to all get involved as much as we can. In this blog post, we'll break down exactly what the SECURE Notarization Act is and what it means for you. What is the SECURE Notarization Act? The SECURE Notarization Act is a bill that was recently passed by The House with the intention of modernizing and streamlining the notarization process. The act contains provisions that could change the way that notaries operate on a day-to-day basis, as well as provisions that will impact the entire Notary industry. Under the SECURE Notarization Act, all notarial acts will now be eligible to be performed using audio-visual technology (or as those of us in the know call it, Remote Online Notarization ( or "RON" for short), which means that in-person meetings will no longer be necessary. For some notaries, this will be a major inconvenience, as it will require them to invest in new audio-visual equipment and learn how to use it, and for the well-informed Notary, it will be heaven-sent. On the upside, Notaries will now be able to serve a wider geographic area than ever before since they won't be restricted by their location. But there is always a downside... Notaries will now no longer be competing with their cohorts in their own backyard, but potentially now against every other Notary in the country. Another provision of the SECURE Notarization Act requires all notarial acts to be recorded and stored electronically. This provision is intended to prevent fraud and increase transparency, but it could also prove to be a hassle for Notaries who are used to working with paper documents. In addition, under the new law, all electronic records must be maintained for at least 10 years - which means that Notaries will need to find a way to securely store their data for an extended period of time. What Does the SECURE Notarization Act Mean for You? If you're a traditional "pen and paper" notary, the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 will likely have a major impact on your work. Perhaps the most significant change for the traditional paper Notary is that you'll now be required to use audio-visual equipment whenever you perform a remote notarial act - which likely means investing in new technology and learning how to use it. You'll need to find a way to electronically store your records for at least 10 years - which could entail upgrading your current storage system or finding a new one entirely. On the bright side, most Remote Notary Platforms will do a lot of this work for you. But Is There a Catch....? Many employers and notary signing services are also going to feel the impact of the SECURE Notarization Act. Since any signing could soon be opted to be performed as a RON signing, many signing services and companies will need to invest in new workflows, change "tried and true" methods for running their businesses and train their employees on how this new form of signing could impact their business. Additionally, signing services and employers will need to ensure that their employees are properly trained on how to spot fraudulent documents, in some instances how to properly tag documents and how to quickly and efficiently review documents - all of which could lead to an increase in costs associated with training and employee development. And with these new costs comes the potential for a reduction in pay to the Notary which we have already seen with certain platforms. Not to mention the farming out our local work to low-paying call centers out of State. Look for new partnerships at Notary Stars on the horizon to help keep you educated as we have major reinforcements coming in soon. Who will bear the brunt of these increased costs? Could it be the client paying higher fees? Could it be the signing services and employers willing to take a “haircut?” Or could it be the Notary who suffers from the trickle-down effect? Suffice it to say, while we are still very early in the game, you owe it to yourself to be the leader of the pack and not the follower. Don't allow yourself to be fully reliant on others to create your business and stream of revenue! There is no better time than the present to start building your client list. The Bottom Line The passage of the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 is a major event for the Notary industry - one that will have far-reaching implications for both notaries and signing services alike. While there are some negatives associated with the new law, there are many more positives, such as the fact that notaries will now be able to serve a wider geographic area than ever before thanks to audio-visual technology. Only time will tell how exactly the SECURE Notarization Act of 2022 will impact the Notary industry as a whole - but one thing is certain: it's going to be interesting to watch! So are you going to sit on the sidelines and watch? Or are you going to get involved in the game and help shape the outcome?