Notaries and Signing Agents

People often ask us to explain the difference between Notaries and  Signing Agents. With this blog, we hope to enlighten the casual reader. At Notary New York, we train people to pass the New York Notary Exam. We do not train people to become signing agents. You need to know what distinguishes one from the other. Let’s begin by saying that not all signing agents are notaries, but not all notaries are signing agents. If you wish to become a signing agent in New York, we recommend you view the linked video.

Notaries Public:

A notary is a person appointed by his or her state. The primary responsibility is to be an impartial witness to the signing of documents. They do this by validating the client’s identity and confirming that the client is not signing under undue influence or duress. In addition, they may take an oath or deposition.

Because of this responsibility, a notary has to meet certain qualifications provided by the state in which they reside or do business. They cannot give legal advice or act in their own self-interest. Most notaries perform their acts in person. But technology continues to advance. As such, more notary certifications will be done remotely.

Signing Agents:

Remember, signing agents are also notaries. But not all notaries are signing agents. The difference is that a signing agent needs to have additional training and a broader knowledge base than a traditional notary. This is because they must be trained to handle important load documents, like mortgages. Many real estate professionals expand their notary certification to become a certified signing agent. That’s because the transactions done are often complicated.

They usually appear in the final stages of a financial transaction for the purpose of facilitating document handling. Just as a notary helps to prevent potential fraud, the same is true for a signing agent.

A signing agent usually goes through a more thorough background check than a notary. Some states require a background check annually.

Conclusion:

In either case, both professions provide a leg-up on any competition seeking the same employment post. In addition, it lets a potential employer know that you are a professional who possesses integrity. This integrity must be maintained even if your boss requests that you notarize an illegal document.