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Notary question
Posted by Thoth99 on October 21, 2023 at 1:05 pmI’ve always worked at companies that have an employee who is a notary public. If you start a survey business on your own, can you become a notary yourself? Probably a dumb question but I don’t know the rules yet.
holy-cow replied 6 months, 2 weeks ago 8 Members · 13 Replies- 13 Replies
Check online with the Secretary of State Office for your geographic area.
Here are the requirements for Kansas for an example.
Yes, you can.
A notary cannot legally notarize a his own signature nor a document in which his name appears.
I’m a notary in Vermont. There’s a good chance you or someone in your firm can become a notary in your state. But laws vary from state to state about whether an employee-notary can notarize a document that pertains to the company they work for. And as others have said, notarizing a document that the notary signed as a principal (e.g. corporate officer, surveyor, or survey technician) would not be allowed. Not so clear if the notary’s name appears but the notary didn’t sign it.
One exception is a state where a notary can certify a paper copy of a document that was notarized electronically. If the notary performed an act electronically and signed the document electronically as a notary, the same notary could print it out and certify the printout as a true copy.
I know lawyers who are notaries, PE’s that are notaries, I don’t know any surveyors that are notaries, but there is no rule against it. You will have to pay attention to your state’s rules, but otherwise go for it.
Can you notarize your own documents? – PandaDoc Notary
notary.pandadoc.com
Can you notarize your own documents? - PandaDoc Notary
Can you notarize your own documents? Learn why you can't notarize your own documents.
I was an NC notary for a bit years ago, but let it lapse. As I remember, you were not supposed to notarize anything that you had an interest in? I found this on a quick peruse…
https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/articles/why-notaries-cannot-notarize-their-own-documents/
notarypublicstamps.com
Why Notaries Cannot Notarize Their Own Documents
Notary laws in all states strictly prohibit notaries from notarizing their own documents or notarizing documents when the notary is named as a party to the underlying transaction, has a financial or beneficial interest in the transaction, or is a … Continue reading
I am a notary and a PLS. I refuse to notarize any document that I am signing as a PLS, not only because it is illegal in Montana, but also because it is a blatant conflict of interest.
@hi-staker thank you for posting this.
I’ve seen several recorded surveys for boundary line adjustments and small subdivisions; where the surveyor stamping and signing the document is also the notary stamping and signing the document.
Guess they figure it’s only going to be a problem if somebody makes it a problem. risky business in my book…
I hope everyone has a great day; I know I will!3
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