California Jurats Require An Oath

Often when I'm out visiting clients to perform notarizations, people always tell me this: "Nobody has ever done that before". I ask them: what? They say that a Notary Public has never asked them to raise their hands and swear that the contents of a document are true. I am always amazed when they tell me that. Why? Well, because there are 2 kinds of notarizations: Acknowledgements and Jurats. Both types are quite common, and both types are frequently found in loan document packages. I am quite sure that in the case of Jurats, many notaries do not perform the oath, which is required by California law (and other state laws, as well).



Once I trying to do business with a company that signed up people to mortgage loans. This company had the ability to lend through many institutions- WAMU, Countrywide, and more. This financial company received commissions when they sold mortgage loans with these lenders. They proposed to me that I might start notarizing their loan documents, but told me that they would turn all the pages, the signers would sign the documents, and I would simply stamp everything and not say a word. "What about giving the clients the oath on Jurats?", I asked. "What are you talking about?", they wanted to know. I told them that by California law, the Notary must see the signers sign the documents, and the Notary must give an oath to the clients". "David, you had better never give any client an oath. You'll scare them. [The President of the Company] would have a heart attack if you did that", I was told. "Well, I don't know what your Notary has been doing, but if they haven't been giving oaths to your clients, they are not doing their JOB!" I said. I wound up not doing any notarizations for that company, mainly for this reason. (I was also lied to initially and told that I would be paid $200 per notarization- then I found out that they would only pay me $100, and their company would keep the other $100).



Another time, I was called into a Mortgage Company, which couldn't reach its regular Notary. When I performed a Jurat for the clients and gave an oath, the loan officer asked me why I was doing that. "It is required by law for a Jurat", I said. I was told that their Notary never did that. Again, I told them that the Notary wasn't doing their job. It seems to me that because Notaries compel people to tell the truth when giving Jurats, many companies, who often lie themselves and don't care about the law or the truth, will frequently use Notaries who don't challenge them. Listen up, Notaries: failure to perform the oath on a Jurat can come back to seriously bite you. If it ever comes out in a court or administative hearing from the Secretary of State that you failed to administer a required oath for a Jurat, you will be subject to a huge fine- something like $7,500 (I have to check the Secretary of State's website for the exact amount, but it is substatial.)



In closing, Notaries should respect themselves and their job, and do everything that is required by law. In doing your job well, you will feel pride in your work and know that you are doing the right thing. The mortgage companies look out for themselves. Your signers rely on you to do your job correctly.

Is Your Identity Protected? Protect Yourself!

Your personal information is out there in a lot of places. Did you know that you have more than one source of your identity? There's your driver's license identity; your medical identity; your social security identity; and your financial identity. Any of these can be compromised, and used to establish credit and run up bills in your name. If you have ever applied for a loan, applied for a job, had some documents notarized, applied for a credit card, attended a university, or obtained medical insurance, you should know that your information is out there. Just over a year ago, UCLA sent me a letter notifying me that someone had compromised their student records, and that someone had obtained my personal information, including my full name, address, and social security number. They suggested that I contact the credit bureaus.

I also received a letter about a year ago from TJ Maxx, notifying me that someone had compromised their database, and that it was possible that some of my personal financial information may have been compromised. My Mom got the same letter, but she shopped there a lot; I had only shopped there once in a year.

The bottom line is that although UCLA and TJ Maxx noticed that someone had accessed their records and stolen their information on thousands of records and accounts, they were unusual because not all cases of lost or stolen personal information is even noticed by companies, let alone reported by them. These companies suggest that you get credit monitoring; however, they don't often offer to help you pay for that. To quote Barack Obama (who was talking about something else), "you're on your own".

If you have ever considered purchasing Identity Theft protection, I have discovered a company that offers what I consider to be the best Identity Theft prevention and protection available. They really go the extra mile! Click on the banner below to find out more information about a fantastic Identity Theft product that will impress you!

Hands-Free Device For Mobile Notaries in California

If you are a Mobile Notary in California like I am, you already know that on July 1st, 2008, a law went into effect that made it illegal to hold a phone handset up to your ear while driving your car. You will get a ticket if you get caught by the authorities. Before this law went into effect, I bought this amazing device called the MOTOROKR. It cost me less that $100 (cheaper than at Circuit City, where it was $129.95). This thing works really good. Click on the link here and see it at amazon.com, where they have a great price on it!

Need a Notary on the Weekend in Los Angeles? Call Hollywood Notary.Net!

If you are looking for a Mobile Notary Public on the weekend, please consider using Hollywood Notary.Net, a professional Mobile Notary Public service serving Los Angeles. We specialize in Hollywood areas of 90028, 90038, 90046 and 90068, and we're close to zip codes of 90036, 90004, 90019 and 90018. We offer great rates to residential customers. Also available to travel to hospitals and jails. Also available to travel to Burbank, North Hollywood and Studio City.



For fast Mobile Notary service on Saturday or Sunday, or any day during the week, call David at (323)393-5822

Hollywood Notary.Net takes Hip Hop Dance Classes? Check out Leslie Scott

This is Leslie Scott, who is my friend and former dance instructor. I met her a few years back when she used to teach at Gold's Gym in Hollywood. I took her class because it looked fun and challenging, and because she was really a nice, cool and sweet person who could dance better than everybody I knew. I initally took class in an effort to lose some weight; in the end I wound up taking classes not only at Gold's Gym from Leslie, but other studios like Millenium in North Hollywood. Anyway, this is Leslie Scott's demo reel, which introduces her to people who don't know her. I'm proud to be her friend, and if anyone ever needs to learn to dance hip hop, Leslie's one of the masters.

Hollywood Notary.Net Provides Mobile Notary Service to Hancock Park and Larchmont Village

If you live in Hancock Park or near Larchmont Village, please consider using Hollywood Notary.Net, a professional Mobile Notary Public service. I offer great rates to residential customers in Hancock Park and Larchmont Village (zip codes 90004 and 90036), as well as to residential customers in flat areas of Hollywood. If you live in Fremont Place, I hope that you will also call on me to provide you with excellent Notary service.



To schedule an appointment for Notary Service, please call David at (323)393-5822.

Hollywood Notary.Net - Mobile Notary in Hollywood zip codes 90028, 90038, 90068 and 90046

If you are in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles and need a Notary Public or Mobile Notary Public (Traveling Notary), I hope that you will consider using Hollywood Notary.Net, a professional Mobile Notary Public serving the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, along with other areas of Los Angeles. I offer competitive rates to businesses in Hollywood, and a great rate for residential areas of Hollywood in zip codes 90028, 90046, 90038 and 90068. I also offer service to Universal City (zip code 91608) and any area of Los Angeles. I have a "secret spot" that you can meet me in Hollywood (near Sunset and Vine) and pay a travel fee of only $7. I provide a 24-hour Mobile Notary Service. See the website for more information about me and about my rates.

For fast Mobile Notary service in Hollywood, call David at (323)393-5822. Thank you for choosing Hollywood Notary.Net.

Hollywood Notary.Net - Walk-In Appointments on Adams near Crenshaw

If you are in the West Adams district near Crenshaw Blvd. and you need a Notary Public, or if you are on the 10 freeway and will be passing the Crenshaw exit on your way home from work, you should call Hollywood Notary.Net and make an appointment! Notarized signatures are $10 each when you schedule a walk-in appointment at my place. Just call David at (323)393-5822 to make an appointment, and I will give you the exact address! I accept walk-in appointments up til 10 PM with no additional charges.

Notarized Certificates of Authenticity

Recently (2 weeks ago) I was at the National Fantasy Fan Club's Disneyana Convention in Garden Grove, California, near Disneyland. I love Disney collectibles, whether they be watches, sculptures, toys, drawings, paintings, prints, or whatever. It dawned on me when I was attending the culmination of the convention, the Show and Sale, that I got this great new idea.

I was wondering how I could connect 2 of the biggest things that I do: Collectibles and Notarizing, into a job. Then I got it: Certificates of Authenticity! Many collectibles come with Certificates of Authenticity. I put "Certificate of Authenticity Notarized" into a Google search, and a few things came up. It seems that some places already have been offering obvious stuff- like autographs of celebrities- having notarized Certificates of Authenticity, and I've also seen it with some private Artists.



What if an artist made something by hand himself, that is, sculpted some pieces with his own had and assembled the pieces by himself, for example. Like an artist's proof. Would a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the artist, make the piece more valuable to the average collector? As a collector myself, I think so. If that Certificate of Authenticity were notarized by a Notary Public, would that make the piece even more valuable? I would venture to guess that it would, for a couple of reasons.

First, if the Artist signs a notarized Certificate of Authenticity, then the Artist also must sign the Notary Public's journal (for states that require Notaries to maintain a journal- California certainly does). In California, a Notary Public's journal is a matter of public record, and any entry in it can be researched by parties who know about the transaction.

Second, if a Certificate is notarized by the Artist, that means that the Artist is identified by the Notary Public (using acceptable identification according to state law). In the case of a Jurat certificate, the Notary must see the Artist sign the Certificate, and the Artist must take an oath stating that the contents of the Certificate are true. In the case of an Acknowledgement certificate, the Artist merely tells the Notary Public that he (or she) signed the Certificate of Authenticity, and it is not necessary for the Notary Public to see them sign the Certificate of Authenticity. (Which would you prefer for your Certificate of Authenticity for an art piece that you purchase, based on the foregoing- a Jurat or an Acknowledgement? )


If you are an artist or company in the Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale or Hollywood area, who would like to create your own Certificates of Authenticity and have them notarized to create value for your collectors, I would be happy to discuss doing business with you in that regard. I can be contacted at (323)393-5822.

Fun in New Orleans, at the NNA's Conference - A Walk To Deanie's Seafood

I went to New Orleans in May for the National Notary Association's Annual Convention. The Convention was held at the Hilton, right next to the Mississippi River. New Orleans was the perfect place to hold the Convention. The city has lots of beauty. I loved the French Quarter, and frankly, I would love to go back there for a few days. Pictured first is Deanie's Seafood Restaurant in the French Quarter, which was only about 2 blocks away from the hotel that I stayed at (which was a timeshare, the Maison Pierre LaFitte, which I highly recommend to anyone who has access to an RCI vacation!) Deanie's has really good gumbo- in fact, Deanie's had the best gumbo out of all the other places that I ate during the whole trip! You could see and taste the crab, shrip, and okra in their gumbo. The other pictures you see are were taken while I walked to Deanies, including a shot back from the French Quarter out to Canal St. Enjoy, and more pictures to come later.