• Waldorf, Maryland | Fully COVID-19 Vaccinated
  • (301) 751-0899
  • 7.00 AM-9.00PM EST

Notary FAQ’s

FAQ

Learn more about Notary Publics and our notary services

Here you will get your questions answered about Notary Publics and the notary services that Shunta’s Mobile Notary provides.

No. Though I am fully vaccinated and will be wearing a mask for all in-person visits, customers may wear a mask at their own discretion.
A Notary Public is a public official whose powers and duties are defined by statute. A Notary acts as an official impartial witness to help prevent fraud, an unbiased witness to the identity and signature of the person who comes before the Notary for a specific purpose. The person may be taking an oath, giving oral or written testimony, acknowledging his or her signature on a legal document. In each case, the Notary attests that the person appearing before the Notary is who that person claims to be.

According to the National Notary Association (NNA), a Notary Public is a government officer and public servant who serves as an impartial witness in taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, and performs other acts authorized by state law.
The General Notarial Acts are:

1. Taking an acknowledgment;
2. Administering an oath or affirmation;
3. Taking a verification on oath or affirmation;
4. Witnessing or attesting a signature;
5. Certifying or attesting a copy; and
6. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument.
A mobile Notary is Notary Public who provides on-site Notary services. As a mobile Notary, I provide notarization of personal, corporate, real estate and legal documents.
As a General Notary, I notarize the following documents:

- Acknowledgments
- Affidavits
- Insurance Claims
- Legal Documents
- Living Wills
- Medical Documents
- Mortgage Documents
- Power of Attorney
- School Permission Statements
No. Although notarizing a document is the same as swearing under oath, notarizing a document does not make the it legal.
In order to have your documents notarized, you will need identification documents issued by the State or Federal Government and they must contain a photograph, a physical description and the owner's signature.

Acceptable Forms of Identification for Notary Services:

- State-issued driver's license;
- State-issued identification card;
- U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State;
- U.S. military ID;
- State, County and Local Government IDs;
- Permanent resident card, or "green card," issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
- Foreign passport; and
- Digital driver's license.
Per Maryland law, I can not give advice because I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. Also, I am not allowed to draft legal documents, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities. As a best practice for my Notary business, I will ask you to explain the type of document you want notarized and to read the notarial language on the document, if any. This will help to confirm the type of notarial certificate you will need.
A Notary Signing Agent (NSA) or Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractor NSA/TIPIC is a Notary who has special training to handle loan document signings.

Title companies and signing services hire NSAs to deliver loan documents to borrowers, oversee the signing and return the documents.

Notary Loan Signing Agent is a Notary who has been trained to handle loan documents. Lenders and title companies hire Signing Agents as independent contractors to assist in the last step of the loan process. [Source: NNA]
The Difference Between a Notary Public and a Loan Signing Agent:

All signing agents are notaries, but not all notaries are loan signing agents.

Notaries and Loan Signing Agents (LSAs) provide essential services for legal transactions. A loan signing agent notarizes and certifies financial and legal documentation related to loan documents. A notary is a public officer who is certified to witness and confirm the signing of documents.

[Source: Notarize]


What is a Notary Public Loan Signing Agent?

A Notary Public simply witnesses signatures — that's it — and charges per signature witnessed.

A Loan Signing Agent witnesses signatures AND knows how to walk a borrower through the loan signing process.

[Source: Loan Signing Systems]
As a Loan Signing Agent, I notarize the following documents:

- Home Equity Lines of Credit;
- Loan Modifications;
- Piggyback Loans;
- Home Purchases;
- Real Estate Investing;
- Home Refinancing;
- Reverse Mortgages;
- Mortgage Closings; and
- Split Closings.
A TIPIC is a Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractor in the State of Maryland. A Notary Signing Agent (NSA) is in the State of Virginia.

They are a Notary who has special training to handle loan document signings.

As a TIPIC and an NSA, I can assist you with mortgage loan closings by providing loan closing services at your client's convenience. Your clients will receive the same professional and personalized service that your staff would provide. I will ensure that your mortgage documents are properly executed and promptly returned to you.
When you hire me to be your Notary, you will receive courteous, convenient and professional services.

You will have the option to get your documents notarized in-person or remotely.
My Notary services Include:

- Acknowledgements;
- Advance Health Care Directive;
- Buyers/Sellers Loan;
- Compliance Agreement;
- Loan Modification;
- Power of Attorney (POA); and
- Refinance Loans .
As a Loan Signing Agent, I provide the following services:


- Home Equity Lines of Credit;
- Home Purchase;
- Loan Modification;
- Mortgage Refinance;
- New Construction Purchases;
- Piggyback Loans;
- Real Estate Purchases; and
- Split Closing.
No. I am available to notarize your documents from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) on Saturdays.

To schedule an appointment, visit my Contact Me page.
I am a background screened Notary and hold the following certifications in the States of Maryland and Virginia:

- Maryland & Virginia Notary Public;
- Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractor (TIPIC); and
- National Notary Association (NNA) Notary Signing Agent in Virginia.
Yes. I have Errors and Omissions Insurance in the States of Maryland and Virginia.
Yes. I am a member of and a background screened, certified Notary Signing Agent with the National Notary Association (NNA).
I have completed the following training for notaries:

- TIPIC Pre-licensing Training;
- Continuing Education Renewal Training;
- Notary Certificate of Course Completion;
- Loan Signing System Certified Signing Agent;
- Estate Planning Document Certification;
- Remote Notary Certification on Pavaso
The fee will depend on the service, number of clients and travel fees. My fee, may not to exceed $50 per person, for the performance of a notarial act ONLY. My travel fee is $5 plus applicable mileage established by the Internal Revenue Service for business travel per mile.
It's simple, all you need to do is schedule your appointment here , pay a non-refundable deposit, and I'll see you on the day of your appointment.
Here's what you need to know when you have your documents notarized:

1. The document signer(s) must appear in person before the Notary Public The signer must present acceptable primary identification, e.g., driver's license, state identification card or passport.

The Notary Public assesses competency and willingness of the signer.

2. The Notary Public will record the details of the notarization, e.g. date and time of notarization, type of notarial act performed, description of the document, method of identifying the signer and obtain the signer's signature in the Notary's fair register or journal.

3. Depending upon the type of notarization performed, the Notary may witness the signer's signature, ask the document signer to acknowledge that he/she signed the document willingly or administer an oath or affirmation to the signer.

4. The Notary completes the notarial certification by dating, signing, writing the Notary commission expiration date, and placing the notary seal on the document.
I value and protect every client’s privacy and handle all matters with discretion. I am commissioned by the State, which is something I take very seriously.

Maryland notaries are authorized to abide by State laws and to follow proper security protocols when handling client’s personal information.
Shunta's Mobile Notary services the following areas in Maryland and Northern Virginia:

MARYLAND -

- Charles County, Maryland;
- St. Mary's County, Maryland;
- Prince George's County, Maryland; and
- Calvert County, Maryland.

NORTHERN VIRIGINA -

- Alexandria, Virginia; and
- Arlington, Virginia
I provide notary services to:

- Adult Day Care;
- Assisted Living Facilities;
- Churches;
- Corporations;
- Fitness Centers;
- Hospitals;
- Hotels;
- Independent Living Facilities;
- Law Offices;
- Loan Officers;
- Medical Facilities;
- Mortgage Companies;
- Nursing Homes;
- Real Estate Agencies;
- Residential;
- Signing Services;
- Social Clubs; and
- Title Companies.
Yes. I offer Remote Online Notarizations, also known as R.O.N.

With this service, you will first upload your documents on Notarize, Simply Signing, or Pavaso to have your identity verified.

On the day of your appointment, I will verify your I.D. then I will notarize your documents.
The requirements for having your Power of Attorney notarized in the State of Maryland are;

1. The person authorizing Power of Attorney to someone else must be competent, as observed and assessed by the Notary Public.

2. Furthermore, the person must be aware of the document he or she is signing.

I am authorized to refuse notarization if I determine that a person is under duress or impaired.

3. Two witnesses (who are not named as agents) are also required. The Notary Public can stand in as one of the witnesses.
If you don't feel comfortable anytime during the signing, I will not pressure you or rush you to sign.

You are free to stop the process at any time.
Before meeting with me:

1. You must have completely filled in all the blanks on the document(s) prior to arrival, but DO NOT SIGN.

2. If your appointment will be held in an assisted living facility, hospital, or nursing home, please make sure the signee(s) and witnesses are of a sound mind, coherent, and understands what he/she is signing.

3. If you need me to provide witnesses, there is an additional fee.
Yes. However, a notary can only notarize documents in the States they are commissioned. For example, a Maryland notary cannot notarize a document from Virginia unless the notary and the client are physically located in Maryland during the notarial act.
If scan backs are requested, we will do that promptly. We also return documents promptly, as soon as the signing is complete. FedEx and UPS have multiple locations in the area, for ease of shipment.
- The signer is not physically present at the time of appointment
- The document is incomplete or blank
- The signer has been adjudicated mentally incapacitated and has not been restored to capacity as a matter of record
- The signer cannot produce acceptable identification
- The signer appears to be intoxicated, sedated, or disoriented
- The notary knows or suspects that the transaction is illegal, false, or deceptive
- The notary believes that the signer is being coerced or does not understand the consequences of signing the document
- The signer or witnesses do not agree to signing the document
All notaries must carefully and dutifully follow their state guidelines when executing notarial acts. Not only do state statutes and administrative rules define what notaries may legally do, they also define acts that notaries are prohibited from performing.

These prohibitions are designed to protect the public and help ensure the credibility and integrity of transactions involving notaries. All conscientious and law-abiding notaries will decline to proceed with a notarial act if asked or pressured to perform a prohibited act. While some customers view this as an inconvenience, they should instead appreciate the notary’s efforts to ensure a lawfully executed transaction.

Following are some of the more common prohibited acts.

• A Notary cannot officiate if the document signer is not physically present. (Currently, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Texas and Virginia allow remote notarization, please see their states' Notary Public Administrators website for more information.)

• A Notary cannot officiate if the document contains missing pages or blanks that should be complete at the time of notarization.

• The document cannot be dated later than the day of notarization.

• A Notary cannot post-date a notarial certificate (his/her official statement at the end of the document), or date it earlier than the actual date of notarization.

• A Notary cannot sign/seal a blank notarial certificate.

• A Notary cannot proceed with notarization if the signer cannot be positively identified through personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of identification. (At this writing, California prohibits relying solely on personal knowledge – satisfactory evidence of identification MUST always be presented.)

• A Notary cannot proceed if the document is not “original,” bearing the signer’s original, wet-ink signature (not a photocopy or fax of a signed document).

• A Notary cannot proceed if the required notarial act is not indicated by the document, the signer or someone connected to the document.

• Notaries cannot authenticate or validate objects.

• Notaries cannot give advice or opinions that should be given by an attorney—this is unlicensed practice of law.

• A Notary cannot advertise services in a foreign language without a disclaimer explaining that he/she is not an attorney.

• Notaries cannot translate the English words, “Notary Public” into any other language for purposes of advertising notarial services or for any other purpose.

• Notaries cannot sign with any name or initials other than the name or initials that appear on their official commission certificate issued by their state authority.

• A Notary cannot proceed with notarization if the signer appears confused or mentally incapable of understanding the transaction.

• A Notary cannot proceed with notarization if he/she is a named party in the transaction, or if he/she will derive a financial or material benefit. (This does not apply to employee notaries earning their regular salary.)

• A Notary may not alter a notarial certificate after the notarial act is complete. (Generally, the notarial act is complete when the signer takes the document and leaves the notary’s presence.)

• A Notary may not fill out a notarial certificate with information that the Notary knows is false.

• A Notary may not certify the accuracy of a translation. (The notary may take the oath of a person who swears the translation is accurate.)

• A Notary may not proceed with notarization if he/she thinks or knows the transaction is illegal.

• A Notary may not proceed with notarization in situations that may or will compromise the notary’s impartiality.

• The Notary may not proceed with notarization when he/she is a signer of the document (notaries may not notarize their own signature).

[Source: https://www.asnnotary.org/?form=prohibitedacts]

Still have questions or need something notarized?

For any inquiries relating to my notarial services or loan signing services, feel free to reach out to me by calling or filling in the contact form below.

Phone

(301) 751-0899

Location

Waldorf, Maryland