Small Actions With Great Consequences

Over the course of my 17 years as a Texas Notary, I have been fortunate enough to be a part of helping people, friends, and family.  This work places me in situations that are sometimes critical and consequential, such as visitations to hospitals and rehabilitation centers.  Sometimes visits are requested at a person’s private residence, with issues ranging from mobility disabilities to final directives.  As a Notary, we meet people who are preparing for their final days on earth, and some who are celebrating their adoptions.  We encounter a variety of individuals from all walks of life.

Working as a Notary is not filled with glamour and fame, nor does it come with the promise of making millions of dollars.  We are often seen as just a checkmark on a document, usually a brief signature formality that seems mostly insignificant.  Indeed, we are often seen as the lowest form of public service officials with limited authority and jurisdiction.  While this may be true, the reality is that our services have extremely lasting consequences that involve financial and oftentimes life-changing impacts.  Conducting a notarization the wrong way could land us in legal trouble, and could alter the lives of the public which we serve.

In the real estate industry, we are the final mark on documents for homebuyers.  Our notarial seals literally seal the deal.  Funding for a home purchase often depends on our final seals and signatures, and impact not just when a buyer gets the keys to their home, but also when the bank releases the funds for payments.  Some contracts are time sensitive, and must be processed within a time frame in order to keep a special interest rate.  

In the legal industry, our signature and notary seal are also the final step in the progress of a legal transaction.  Whether it’s an affidavit statement, or a power of attorney, our seal ensures that the true intent of a legal document is fulfilled.  I have met inmates in jail that need legal docs signed that are related to civil matters, and usually impact their loved ones outside their confinement.  A notary ensures that an individual is who they say they are, and that their mark on a legal document is intentional and without duress.

If your document holds significant legal consequences, it absolutely matters that you choose a Notary with the knowledge and insight of the task at hand.  In the past, I have halted the signature of a notarial certificate if I suspected that the signer is not capable of understanding what they are signing.  In one case, an older man was suffering from dementia, and a relative was attempting to obtain a power of attorney that sought to control the man’s estate.  I have been threatened a time or two if I decide that the notarization cannot proceed, with one client who was heavily sedated and therefore could not comprehend the document in front of them.  
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So while we may be considered insignificant by some professions, our actions do result in very real consequences.  We ensure that those who are the most vulnerable are protected from bad actors seeking to take advantage of their situation.  Our signature and seal finalizes those mortgage documents so that homeowners get the keys to that new home.  We are ultimately a way to deter fraud, protect the vulnerable, and ensure our communities are protected.