Is anyone here a notary? D is thinking of becoming one and I was wondering if anyone had any info to share or maybe some pros and cons. I know the rules vary by state, but any info you may have would be helpful.
Is there a reason she wants to become one? Think it will be useful at her job? Help her get a better job? Making some additional income apart from the day-to-day job? Help out friends and family?
She thinks it will be a handy thing to have on her resume. And they have one person at her job who IS a notary, but they only work part time and they’re pretty flaky.
Everyone in my office is one except me. I didn’t want to do it because then they’d make me go out and get easements and right of way. I think you just a short class, pass an easy test and pay a licensing fee. Some of the people in my office who passed the test never went to college and one got his GED in his 40s, so it’s not hard.
In my state there isn’t a test. There is a class, but it doesn’t seem to be required. Just a $30 fee each year.
That’s what I’ve heard. That’s great that its not too hard. She’s busy with her full time job and volunteering…
1 Like
I’m a Virginia notary. I completed my application through the Secretary of the Commonwealth - very basic questions- are you 18, do you live/work in the state, can you speak and read English, are you a felon? There are classes you can take but you’re not required to; you simply acknowledge that you are familiar with the requirements to notarize various types of documents. It’s useful for me as I work in a law office.
2 Likes
I can’t think of a reason NOT to…
But, for a college graduate, I can’t imagine it being a notable/deciding feature on a resume. If an employer feels that simplifies matters at their office, anyone there can likely become a notary once hired.
1 Like
So true! We have a family friend who owns a two car dealerships and they sometimes need a notary for car titles and stuff like that. For a long time they only had one notary and it was an employee who would work between both of their locations, which sometimes caused problems if she wasn’t at the location where they needed a notary. When they needed a new title clerk they hired someone who had experience and was a notary, so I could see it helping
Many states allow online notarization now. Its not a bad certification to have. Can often come in handy/be helpful. Just watch out for friends/relatives looking to scam free notaries once they find out she is one. LOL
Yeah, I don’t see it being a big benefit, and if her employer wants her to be one, they may take care of any costs (mine does).
My company paid for our office manager to become a notary because so many of the bids that we send in have to be notarized. The great thing for us employees is the boss lets us use the office manager to notarize anything we personally need at no charge.
I was a notary for years because my boss wanted it. He paid for the registration and the stamps. We had a couple at the office.
Only down side is if people to ask you to notary things that have been previously signed. Employers can (and do) do this. Other employees do. Friends do. It’s hard to explain that it is YOUR reputation on the line. I was kind of happy when mine expired and I could just say “sorry, no longer a notary.”
They changed the rules during the time I was a notary and you have to keep up with those rules. You have to keep a record of all real estate transactions in my state. You aren’t supposed to notarize anything for family members now.
3 Likes