What Does a Notary Public Do?

What Does a Notary Public Do?

Have you ever found yourself wondering what does a Notary Public do? At one point or another in your life, you have probably had to sign some legal document that required a Notary Public’s stamp of approval; but what’s the point? What does this elusive Notary Public actually do? Maybe I can answer some of your questions for you…
First let’s talk about who a Notary Public actually is—A Notary Public is an official who is sworn in and bonded (usually) by the Secretary of State in the U.S. State where he or she officially resides. The position of a Notary Public is one of integrity; they are publicly commissioned as “ministerial” officials and they are expected to impartially follow the rules exactly as they are written. A Notary works independently and is expected to use their best judgment in order to follow the state law.

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The main duty of a Notary Public is to witness the signing of important documents. A Notary must verify the identity of the person signing the document—they do this by checking the person’s government issued photo ID. A Notary must also confirm that the person signing the document understands everything that they are signing and that they are not doing so under duress. If a Notary Public suspects that the person signing the document is being coerced into signing, it is the Notary’s duty to refuse to notarize the document. To summarize, an overview of what a notary public does includes the following services:

  • Legal document signing
  • Apostille services
  • Authentication and legalization document signing
  • Loan and real estate document signing

There you have it, the duties of a Notary Public in a nutshell. The above description really only scratches the surface of what I do as a mobile Notary, but it’s enough to give you an idea of just how important this position is. I love what I do and on top of taking my job very seriously, I also aim to make signing those important documents as easy as possible for you. So if you’re looking for a responsible and reliable Los Angeles Mobile Notary, look no further than My Mobile Notary LA.

Mobile Notary-Let Me Make A Tedious Task Easy

Mobile Notary-Let Me Make A Tedious Task Easy

As a mobile Los Angeles notary it’s my job to make life just a little bit easier for you. I take great pride in what I do and always feel so happy with a job well done. I received the following email from a client last week with a note asking me to share it with all of you. Thank you for your kind words, Laura…

At the beginning of this year my mom and I decided to invest in a condo together. We agreed that we would be co-owners on the condo; she would provide the down payment and I would live there and make the mortgage payments. Then a few years down the line we would sell it and she would get most of the money as a return on her investment and I would get a good chunk for a down payment on a new home all my own. Great idea, right?

So I got straight to work looking for the perfect condo in our price range. It took months of searching and getting out-bid, but we finally found the perfect place and our offer was accepted. We were so excited! But if you’ve ever bought a home before, you are familiar with all the paperwork involved in the process. Escrow is 30 days and it seems like 30 days worth of paperwork before you officially get to call your new place home; and all that paperwork needs to be notarized.

Well all that is fine and dandy, but my mother and I live in complete opposite ends of Los Angeles. I (and the new condo) live in Sherman Oaks and my mother lives in Palos Verdes. If you live in LA, then you know how the

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unpredictable traffic patterns can make these two locations seem worlds apart. So suffice it to say, we were sure it was going to be a real inconvenient process. But we were wrong!

Photo credit: Chris Schmitt

Jeanette Atlas of My Mobile Notary LA was a godsend. She braved the traffic for us. She drove back and forth with all the paperwork and made sure all the i’s were dotted and the t’s were crossed. And with every round of paperwork she did it right on schedule and with a smile on her face. If you are looking for the best traveling notary that Los Angeles has to offer, look no further than Jeanette Atlas!

National Notary Public Day

National Notary Public Day

Did you know that November 7 is National Notary Public Day? Yup that’s right; we Notary Publics have our very own day. So in honor of the upcoming special day—which was chosen as National Notary Public Day in recognition of the day that America’s first notary, Thomas Fugill, was appointed—I’ve decided to take you guys on a little journey back into the history of the Notary Public…
As with most things in the modern world, the origins of notaries can be traced back to Ancient Egypt; but the true ancestors of notaries came from the Roman Empire. The early notaries from the Roman Empire were actually a lot like modern day stenographers. A clerk of Cicero developed a form of shorthand which was called “nota” so the clerks that used this short hand were known as “notarius” and these were the first documented notaries. The distinction between notaries and stenographers became clearer as the Roman Empire grew and notaries began serving to prepare contracts, wills and other important documents.
The position of the notary public continued to grow and thrive throughout the Dark Ages and the Renaissance in European countries that based their legal systems in Civil Law. Notaries were not introduced in England, however, until the late 13th and 14th centuries. In the early days of English notaries many of them were members of the clergy. But as time went on members of the clergy stopped involving themselves in secular business, and everyday townspeople began taking on the duties of a notary. The laymen notaries of England were the first to shape the job of a notary as we know it today.

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The notaries of Colonial America are said to have contributed heavily to the success of American business. In Colonial America, only those with a high moral character were appointed as public notaries; similar to modern notaries, they were charged with certifying and keeping documents safe. Notaries were, and still are, considered to be honest third parties who were/are invaluable players in the authentication and recording of important official documents.
Throughout many eras, and within many countries, notaries have continued to play an important role in society. I am proud to be a mobile notary public and I will certainly be celebrating National Notary Public Day this Saturday. If you have a traveling notary in your life, be sure to wish them a happy day. And don’t forget, if you’re looking for a great notary public in Los Angeles be sure to give My Mobile Notary LA a call for fast, friendly service with a smile.

Agnes, The Traveling Notary of All Hallow’s Eve

Agnes, The Traveling Notary of All Hallow’s Eve

Halloween is right around the corner, which means it’s time for ghouls, goblins and all things spooky. So in honor of this creepy time of year I’m going to tell you the tale of Agnes, The Traveling Notary of All Hallow’s Eve"Traveling Notary "

There are so many stories that can be told about Agnes. Legend tells it like this: When you have something that needs to be notarized between the hours of 11:59 pm on October 30 and 12:01 am on November 1, Agnes will appear, embossing seal in hand. Agnes has been seen in many places over many years, but nobody can ever tell you where she came from. As soon as the clock strikes 12:02am on November 1 she disappears into the night. Some say, as long as there has been a need for mobile notaries, there have been Agnes sightings. Today I am going to focus in on my favorite tale that comes straight out of Los Angeles.

Ten years ago John and Gina Walters found themselves in a bit of a predicament. Gina’s father had passed away earlier in the year and he left everything, including his Hollywood Hills mansion, to his only daughter. Anyone who has ever dealt with trusts, wills and/or estates knows there is a lot of paperwork to worry about. Well on October 31, 2005, the Walters thought their paperwork nightmares were over and they could finally move into Gina’s father’s estate with the help of Stouffville movers.

On their way to the mansion, they got a call from one of their lawyers. Some documents had slipped through the cracks and they could not take possession of the home until everything was signed and notarized. Months of dealing with lawyers and confusing documents, not to mention the overwhelming grief of losing a loved one, had left John and Gina exhausted so they decided to get a hotel room for the night. Due to the last minute cancellation, they were able to book a room at their favorite Hollywood hotel—The Roosevelt with the help of our site.

As John and Gina lay in their plush hotel bed they discussed what they would do next. They did not want to bother anybody on Halloween so they decided they would wait until the next day to start discussing paperwork again, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

John opened the door to see a beautiful brunette with bright green eyes staring at him, paperwork in hand. As John tells it, he was convinced that she was surrounded by a glowing aura but he couldn’t be sure his tired eyes weren’t playing tricks on him.

“Hello,” she said. “My name is Agnes. Your lawyer sent me over with some paperwork for you to sign. We want to make sure you can move on from this ordeal and move into your father’s home as quickly as possible. That’s what he wants. He wants you to be close to him again.”

John and Gina never even considered the fact that they had not yet told their lawyer what they had decided or where they were staying. They describe the whole situation as peaceful and comforting. Before they knew it everything was done and the home was theirs again. Agnes left as quickly as she had appeared.

When they spoke to their lawyer the next day, she said she had no idea who Agnes was but somehow all the paperwork they had signed ended up on her desk and they could now officially take possession of Gina’s father’s home…

Whether or not Agnes truly exists might always be up for debate, but one thing is for sure—if you’re looking for a reliable mobile Los Angeles notary, My Mobile Notary LA is here for you. Whether it’s October 31 or November 2, we’ll show up wherever you need us, whenever you need us!

A Day in the Life of a Mobile Notary in LA

A Day in the Life of a Mobile Notary in LA

Contracts and escrow documents and living trusts, oh my! So goes the life of a notary public in Los Angeles. When you’re a traveling notary constantly on the go, the OH MY part is definitely emphasized. Lucky for you, Jeanette R Atlas of My Mobile Notary LA isn’t fazed by the hustle and bustle; she’ll get where you need her to be on time and ready to notarize all your important documents. Here’s a

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little glimpse into the life of a mobile Los Angeles notary:

It’s 5 AM and the alarm goes off. The mobile notary jumps out of bed, turns on the coffee pot and hops in the shower. The first appointment of the day is at 7:30 AM; there’s a living trust that needs to be notarized in Beverly Hills. That’s followed by some contracts that need notarizing at 9 AM in Studio City—first two jobs are not too far away from each other, great! Then it’s off to Long Beach for a little lunch time notarizing on another living trust. The next few stops are West Hollywood, Redondo Beach, Pacific Palisades and then back to Studio City for two appointments only blocks away from one another—Score! Finally, it’s time to go home and relax…That is until 9 PM hits and someone in Los Feliz calls in a panic because they need some very important documents notarized before midnight! The work of a traveling notary public is never done…

Whatever your notary needs, whatever time of day, wherever you need us to go, give us a call here at My Mobile Notary LA and we’ll be there when you need us.

Finding a Public Notary in LA – My Mobile Notary braves the traffic for you

Finding a Public Notary in LA – My Mobile Notary braves the traffic for you

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Area is huge; in fact, it is the second largest metropolitan area in the United States. If you’re a Los Angeles resident then you know just how sprawling the area truly is. Each neighborhood has it’s own unique identity and the inhabitants of each neighborhood usually build lives centered around their immediate area. A Manhattan Beach resident for example is not jumping with excitement at the thought of having to frequent the Valley and vice versa.

The epic sprawl of the Greater Los Angeles area comes with it’s pros and cons. If you ever find yourself feeling a sudden itch for adventure, there are plenty of exciting options right within the city. On the other hand, if you’ve been happily living in Santa Monica for the last 10 years and you are suddenly offered a great job in Pasadena, it can be hard to figure out what to do. There are some situations that you have no control over; but lucky for you, finding a public notary in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be a difficult choice thanks to My Mobile Notary LA .

In a massive city that pretty much runs on contracts and other legally binding documents, knowing the best mobile Los Angeles notary to call is a must. You never know when and where you’ll need to get a document notarized, so why add the worry of locating a notary public to your already lengthy list of stresses?

Jeanette R Atlas, owner and operator of My Mobile Notary LA, has been a professional notary public for over 10 years. She has the gift of infinite patience, which means she doesn’t mind fighting the infamous LA traffic so you don’t have to. She is always on time and her wealth of knowledge and experience means that she’ll be able to answer any questions you might have. So if you find yourself in need of a notary in Los Angeles, just sit back, relax and give My Mobile Notary LA a call.