Since the onset of the pandemic, getting appointed has been confusing if not inconvenient for many notaries. In order to avoid further confusion, let’s revisit the appointment process in these COVID-19 times. [Read more…] about The Appointment Process Revisited
General
Accepting an Out-of-State, Expired Driver’s License
Pennsylvania notaries may accept an expired out-of-state driver’s license or other government card (those permitted by RULONA) to identify a customer. There is a catch, however.
It all depends on whether there is evidence that the other state has extended the expiration dates on its driver’s licenses and other government identification (such as photo ID cards). Notaries need to know that there is confirmation that the identification is still good to use.
If so, complete the notarization and when recording the expiration date in your notary journal, use the actual expiration date on the driver’s license or photo ID card, with an additional notation – “extended by executive order.” Include the out-of-state’s notary appointing authority or other state agency’s website, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, for example.
Notary Reappointment Checklist
Four years can seem like a long time between applying for your notary commission. Work, family obligations, and of course, a pandemic can make us forget everything that’s involved in getting reappointed. [Read more…] about Notary Reappointment Checklist
Beware Remote Notarization of Wills, POAs
Remote online notarization (RON) may not be feasible for estate documents such as wills and powers of attorney. Writing for his law firm’s website, attorney Justin Brown said, “… practitioners should exercise caution as further clarification may be necessary to avoid the ambiguity created in permitting the RON of estate planning documents.”
Read the article at https://www.pepperlaw.com/publications/pa-order-permitting-remote-online-notarization-of-estate-planning-documents-creates-confusion-2020-04-07/
[Read more…] about Beware Remote Notarization of Wills, POAs
Electronic Journals – What’s Permitted by the Notary Public Law
Notaries in Pennsylvania have the option of recording their notary entries in paper (tangible) or electronic journals.
[Read more…] about Electronic Journals – What’s Permitted by the Notary Public Law
Notary News From Around the U.S.
Notaries are making news around the country.
Illinois
Television home remodeler Alison Victoria Gramenos has dropped a civil fraud lawsuit against an Oak Park notary she accused of forging her name on financial documents.
As part of the agreement, the notary, Adriana Rodriguez will not sign Gramenos’ name to any document or notarize any document with Gramenos’ purported signature for five years. Gramenos said she was engaged in a cooperative enterprise with the notary’s employer, who was not named.
According to attorneys involved in the lawsuit, the parties came to an amicable resolution and no liability was found.
Gramenos is the host of Windy City Rehab on HGTV.
Missouri
A Cole County judge rejected a motion that would have made mail-in voting easier for Missourians. A lawsuit wanted to let Missouri voters cast absentee ballots by mail without having a notary sign ballots before sending to the county clerk’s office.
The judge said mail-in ballots must be signed by a notary.
Pennsylvania
Some of the largest newspapers in the Commonwealth ran articles about the problems facing notaries and motor vehicle agents with getting license plates from PennDOT.
PennDOT was closed for a month and is now working to fill backorders for license plates.
Numerous notaries were quoted in the article, including three PAN members – Kim Stingle, John T. Yurconic, and Joy Graham.
North Carolina
Notaries in Burke County who wish to take their oath of office via video conferencing can schedule an appointment with the Register of Deeds office.
The video conferencing appointments will run through March 1, 2021. First time and reappointing notaries can choose between Zoom or Cisco WebEx. Proper identification will be required.
The state modified the statute to allow the Register of Deeds to administer the required oath to a notary appointee using video conference technology in April due to COVID-19.