This was our second Notary and once again, the right wording wasn't on the document(s).
So, after clumsily sifting through mounds and mounds of internet garbage about the proper way of notarizing,
I realized that most notaries don't have a clue as to what they are doing.
They're just running the bases.
If they can't right it down, then they probably don't understand it.
So we should do great.
I read a lot about loose certificates.
Nowhere on the internet is there an example of one.
You can buy them from NNA, but why, if you could just print them up.
I also read about certificate stamps.
Nowhere on the internet can you buy one. I had to get some made up.
This is a very gray (or grey) business we're stumbled into.
Its hard to find good documentation on anything.
They say you shouldn't have to read a document.
It shouldn't have any blanks.
It should have the correct notarization verbage. If it doesn't state it, ask the customer...but how many people do we know that knows the meaning of the words like:
JURAT, or ACKNOWLEGEMENT, or that some ACKNOWLEGEMENTs need JURATS...lol.

We started at 10:00 am and got home at 11:45am.
We made $60. Not bad!
It was a blast. The gate security at Georgia Pacific knew we were coming and let us right through.
PLUS: Best Rate Lending called for an $80 notary on Monday.
What's odd about that is another agent at Best Rate was going to call me on Monday for a refinance.
We were in the spaghetti bowl when he called, and I thought it was for the refinance...oops.
I could hardly hear because of all the road noise and told "Brian" I would call him back in 20 minutes.
I did, but by then, he'd already found someone else...
: (
Its all well and good though.
I've noticed that its probably going to be pretty common for documents not to have the notary certificate wording on them.
I'm going to order stamps from Office Max with Copy Certificate, Jurat and Acknowledment wording.
Plus, for the heck of it, I should bang out a document, take it to Post Office Express, and see how they handle documents without the notarial certificate.

My Be Quick system got its design purely from my imagination, and by watching a notary for about an hour.
Its amazing how much you can surmize with little input.
Another site (NotarySoftware.Com) has a system for signing companies.
I was up a 4am this morning studying it.
It does pretty much the same thing my system does, but seems much more complicated.
If my software was to be adapted to theirs, it would be a total rerwrite. The reverse is true too. THAT'S GREAT!!!
It does offer some simple features that I don't have though.
-They use MSN Maps for their system. It looks like MSN will show you the route the agent will take.
-They bill by invoice. I bill based on COD, and therefore can take cash or credit.
The biggest advantage I have over the competition is
- My system is prettier.
- Its easy to learn.
- It has less clutter.

In the notary site, if an order is place, a message is sent to the closest agent's phone (in this case, Becky's phone).
Becky would get the order in a text message, and reply to it.
I wrote a program that pulls those text message responses off the internet. That wasn't as easy as it sounds either.
Anyway, my program will update the database for the text message responses, eg-accepted or rejected.
It's all pretty cool, but we were up until 5am.

This looks so much better, doesn't it. I've only got two modules left to write. However, since 1and1 went down, maybe I should rethink a few things. If they had restored my system with 10 day old data, that would have been TERRIBLE. So I need to back up the system at least once a day. But, then there's the stuff that happened during the day. I guess I need to send email messages for the little things. Hmmm.
It's starting to look like cash and credit card transactions have no business being stored on Microsoft Servers.
One of the most perplexing problems I've run into lately is:
The software that is available to me, and most developers, contains programs for sending emails out. I've yet to find one (with the exception of JMAIL), that will let a program read email. To me, thats seems crazy!!! Most all email facilities have Autoresponder capabilities, but thats terrible for custom replies. See, what I want to do, is when an agent gets a text message for an order, I want him to reply to the text message, then a program I write will read it, and mark the transaction as In Progress.
That shouldn't be that tough now, should it?

Well, I have to write a couple of puny programs, and test a little bit, but now I'm down to hours of coding.
The next step will be the funnest part...using it, putting it together and selling the service.
Its nice to know my skills have improved over the years.
Becky and I have to get dolled up for smoozing customers. 
I can finally order a fax line and get a dual tray laser printer, then we can make up flyer's and brochures.
It should be a BLAST!!!
And if this system holds up well, we're going to doing Notary Conventions.
I never really, really wanted to actually do notaries. I wanted to develop a transactional system, and I did.
It took 1 month to develop. YEA!
Thursday (tomorrow), we have to get the condo rented good to go.
That means picking up some blank contracts, and getting organized for renting. It should be very easy this time.
We're less lost.

Unfortunately, I wasn't ready for it. I was really surprised they even had my cell phone number. I was listed on SigningAgent.com as a certified notary on December 21st, after completing my certification test.
Anyway, I was so surprised. I thought it was another loan company calling my cell phone for a home refinance.
I didn't have a canned response for the loan company, so I apologized. Then I asked if the loan was something they could walk me through, since I'm new (I was honest). They said it was a piggy-back loan, and it was rougher than most. hmm.
We will be using Becky's number out for Notaries, not mine. Oopsee.

Its really picky code to master, after all, who wants spam in their cell phone's text messages.
Here's how it works right now.
- You logon into the notary system.
- You place your order
- You select cash for payment type.
- The system locates the closest agent, and sends him text messages about the order on their cell phone.
- A log entry is made to the administrator of the notary system.
- The agent replies to the cell message when each task is completed.
Pretty cool, huh?
The last enhancements will be:
- Add text messaging for credit card payments.
- Add transaction screens for sales people
- Add transaction screens for notary agents.

I called NNA @ 800-876-6827 and asked them what now?
Did I pass the background screening? Do I get a hard copy certificate? What? What? What?
They said I'd be listed on http://www.signingagent.com and to keep my profile accurate.
She said I should be getting calls anytime now. Kewl.
So, I guess I'm certified. hmmm. wow.
Funny. I don't feel any different.

After talking to Teresa Zeigler from Yellow Book (702) 406-8170.
We will now get a white backed Yellow Page ad for $200 a month.
The book comes out in April, so we got in just about the right time.
A business has to advertise!
Our ads will be under the headings for Notaries, Loans, and Real Estate.
Plus, we'll show online in 6 weeks.
Ya know, I had to notice from the other ads in Yellow Book
- There was an ad for a notary that was listed as Notario Publico, which is EXTREMELY ILLEGAL.
To people, from spanish speaking countries, that is the title of a lawyer.
It is specifically listed in the Nevada Revised Statutes as being a no no.
- Also, in the listings, an ad mentioned wills. Normally a will is notarized by the lawyer that drafts it.
While this is not illegal, it is probably unethical.

I've had to notice, since I've been studying the laws relating to Notaries.
Two things are mandated:
- The person has to be in front of the notary.
- A notary can't charge you more than $5.
This year, we've had four documents notarized.
One for a home refinance (it was legal).
One for our bond and insurance (it was illegal, the notary never saw us, she was in Pahrump).
One for our corporate account (it was illegal, the notary never saw us).
One was a neighbor's document that had no title, no legal certificate but a Postal Outfit notarized it for $15 anyway.
After calling around for a Mobile Notary Services
I noticed ALL of them charged more than $25!
At least I'll be 100%  legal.
I'm going to charge $20 for the referral, $20 for the trip, and $5 for the notarization.
I may be the only person with a legal notary business in Las Vegas.

It costs $2,500 to open, but it is completely free!
And it pays interest, even if you just have a $1 balance.