#1: Rushing Through the Signing Process

Make sure you take your time on signings. The number one mistake that professional loan signing agents make is rushing through the signing process, leading to inaccurate or missing information on documents. Try to review every document before a signing and note anything unfamiliar or that could potentially be ignored or overlooked during a loan signing. Always double-check your work before leaving to confirm you haven’t missed anything. Through consistent, diligent, and detail-oriented work, the most successful notaries and professional signing agents deliver error-free signings.

#2: Not Following Directions and Obeying Laws

As a loan signing agent, you can generally expect to follow the client’s directions. Never assume that you know what a client wants from you as a professional signing agent. Always ask questions and follow directions because no two clients will expect or want the same product. Enter every signing with a lender, title company, or signing company with a blank slate. Don’t even assume the color of ink that they want!

Loan signing agents serve as impartial public officials used to positively identify a person in a transaction and notarize borrowers’ signatures on documents during a loan signing. You are responsible for knowing and following your state’s notary laws and procedures regardless of what the client asks. Clients sometimes ask professional signing agents and notaries to perform illegal or unethical tasks, but knowing and understanding state laws and ethical practices can protect you.

#3 Forgetting Notary 101

Some of the most common mistakes that notaries and Professional Signing Agents make are the most routine parts of the job. Take your time, follow directions, and remember Notary 101. Notary 101 is the initial lessons you learned as a notary. They are the notarial tasks that you should know and never forget as a professional signing agent.

One of the most common Notary 101 rules includes affixing the seal incorrectly on a document. Do not place the seal over signatures or any printed matter on the document. An illegible or improperly placed seal may result in the document’s rejection for recordation and extra expenses for all parties involved.

Another common Notary 101 mistake is failing to use an official name or signature. A notary and professional signing agent’s signature must match what is on the official stamp. The notary cannot alter the signature, including first, middle, last names, and initials.

Believe it or not, the third most common Notary 101 mistake is failing to perform the verbal ceremony for an acknowledgment and jurat. Acknowledgments and jurats are the most common notarizations performed and requested from notaries and professional signing agents. The purpose of an acknowledgment is to affirm that the person signed or is signing the document willingly. The purpose of a jurat (also known as an oath or affirmation) is to swear to the truthfulness of the contents of a document to a notary or professional signing agent. However, the notary or professional signing agent must administer a spoken oath or an affirmation, and the signer must respond aloud. Silent answers such as a nod, thumbs up, or smile are not acceptable.

Examples:

Acknowledgment Ceremony Wording:
“Are you signing these documents willingly?”

Jurat (Oath & Affirmation) Wording:
“Do you solemnly affirm under penalties of perjury and upon personal knowledge that the information contained in these documents is accurate to the best of your knowledge?”

Check your state laws for appropriate wording, as they differ depending on state regulations.

At Notary2Pro, we want all our graduates to be highly successful and confident in their roles as professional signing agents. We recognize that no one is perfect, but graduates of Notary2Pro continually have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to complete error-free signings for their clients because of our company’s comprehensive and detailed training. Our graduates have excellent reputations and relationships with title companies, borrowers, other employers and a thorough understanding of the professional signing agent industry. Notary2Pro graduates consistently take their time and are present during signings with a client. They can answer questions from clients and understand the documents at hand. The most successful professional signing agents and notaries are also up to speed on state laws and regulations and can legally and ethically follow client directions. Lastly, they regularly review and incorporate Notary 101 in their notary practices. They are diligent, detail-oriented, and very organized.