Champion Mobile Notary Services: Serving Santa Clara and South San Mateo Counties, California

Phone: 650-290-3550 or 408-355-3700
Email: info@championmobilenotary.com

Serving Silicon Valley

  • Home
  • Services and fees
  • About Me
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Me
  • FAQs
  • Blog
Champion Mobile Notary Services: Serving Santa Clara and South San Mateo Counties, California
15 Dec2011

What Do You Look Like?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Notary Public/Loan Signing Agent Fun, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

Sometimes I meet clients in public places, such as coffee shops, restaurants, shopping malls, or hospital or health care facility lobbies in Silicon Valley to provide mobile notary service or loan signing service. To make finding each other easier, I ask them, “What do you look like or what is your physical description?” I find interesting how we describe ourselves. Some people are basic:

“I am 6 feet, big and bald.”

“ I am 5 feet 2 inches with short black hair.”

“I have brown hair and wear glasses.”

Some people are very specific:

“I am 5 feet 6 inches, short black hair, Caucasian. I will be wearing a black jacket, black pants and a white striped blouse.”

“I am 6 feet 2 inches tall, brown curly hair, brown jacket and khaki pants.”

“Brown hair, tall, dress shirt, dress pants and I will be with my wife and two young children.”

Some people search for mobile notary service online to find me, so they know what I look like with my photo online. They tell me it is helpful for them.

For the people who need a description of me, I tell them I am 5 feet 9 inches, short black hair, (if I am wearing my glasses I will tell them), describe my clothing and that I have a black briefcase and a big orange name badge with “Champion Mobile Notary” on it.

How do you describe yourself?

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© 2011 The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 1 Comment
10 Oct2011

Identification Cards For Non-Drivers?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

“My dad stopped driving years ago, so he doesn’t have a current driver’s license. He never traveled out of the country, so he doesn’t have a passport. He needs to have a power of attorney and advanced healthcare directive notarized.”

“My grandma is 93 years old and hasn’t driven in years. She has a couple of trust documents to notarize.”

“My mother’s health turned for the worse. She’s been unable to drive for years. She has a couple of power of attorney’s requiring notarization.”

“My uncle always bicycled to work, so he does not have a driver’s license. He is in the hospital and needs a power of attorney notarized.”

These are some of the reasons I hear why a person who needs documents notarized does not have a current government issued photo identification. Without proper identification, notary publics cannot notarize a signer’s documents (Credible witnesses can be used, but are not always convenient to use.)

I wish I could help them in their time of crisis, but I cannot due to lack of appropriate identification.

With the rise in identity theft and to protect you, banks, medical facilities, post offices and some other businesses require a current government issued photo identification.

Here is a link to the California Department of Motor Vehicles who issue identification cards to identify a person. http://www.dmv.com/ca/california/apply-id-card

If you have a current driver’s license and don’t plan to continue driving, obtaining the identification card may be easier since your information is current with the DMV. Ask them to find out.

Be proactive. Minimize your stress. Obtain a California identification card when it’s convenient for you.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© 2011 The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 2 Comments
30 Sep2011

The Police Are Part of Mobile Notary Work Week

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Notary Public/Loan Signing Agent Fun, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

Some people wonder what I do as a mobile notary public. Here is a brief summary of my work week as a mobile notary public in Silicon Valley.

I met with business executives and professionals at their offices to notarize various business documents:
1. Business agreements
2. Copies of their government issued identifications to do business in foreign countries
3. Conditional and unconditional waivers and release upon progress payment forms
4. Liquor license transfer

I met with Merill Lynch wealth managers and their clients at their homes to complete notarizations of trustee certification forms. Their San Francisco office contacted me for mobile notary service.

As a certified loan signing agent, I completed sign offs with borrowers at their homes and offices who are refinancing and purchasing properties. I worked with escrow and lenders locally and nationally to complete the signings to beat their rate lock deadlines.

I visited an elder woman at her home to notarize a couple of deeds to help with family affairs.

The most interesting assignment I received involved the police. The CEO of the company was served papers by one of his vendors (“John”) and he would not allow John to remove his expensive equipment from the CEO’s company’s premises. I notarized the papers the CEO was served. About 30 minutes after I left, John called me to return to location. The police needed a statement from me. An employee and the CEO claimed John threatened the employee. John believed he would have been arrested without a witness statement stating otherwise.

The adventures of mobile notary public work in Silicon Valley continue.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
31 Jan2011

How Important is My Name on My Photo ID?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

How important is my name on my photo ID? It is very important. If the document that needs to be notarized has “John L. Smith” and your photo identification has “John Smith”, the document can only be notarized using the name “John Smith”. As California notary publics we are only allowed to notarize the name that is shown on the signer’s photo identification. We can use less of a name but never more of a name. For example, if the photo identification states “John Lyndon Smith”, the document can be notarized with the name “John Smith”, “John L. Smith” or “John Lyndon Smith”. If his photo identification stated “John Smith”, the document cannot be notarized “John L. Smith”.

When a notary signing for today was scheduled, I mention the ID name requirement. The current driver’s license included “John L. Smith”. The deeds to be notarized had the name “John Lyndon Smith”. I asked the signer if he happened to have other government issued photo ID with “John Lyndon Smith”? He did not. Fortunately, the document was drafted in office, so they changed his name to “John L. Smith”. I notarized both deeds with “John L. Smith”.

In summary, your documents can be notarized with the same name or less of your name stated on your current government issued photo identification.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 2 Comments
29 Nov2010

How Does Champion Mobile Notary Help People?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

A fan suggested that I share how I help people as a mobile notary on my blog. Thank you for the suggestion Betty Kaufman of Wine Shop at Home.
.
* Are you short on time with documents that require notarization with accuracy and efficiency?

* Do you know someone in the hospital with an advanced healthcare directive or power of attorney they need notarized with patience and accuracy?

* Is your child traveling out of the country with a travel consent form that requires notarization?

* Are you unable to travel to the title company to sign off on your mortgage loan documents which require a thorough and knowledgeable notary?

* Are you adopting an international child with documents at your physician’s office that have to be notarized promptly and meticulously?

* Are you a solo attorney practicing estate planning who prefers an on-call professional mobile notary to service your clients?

* Are you a financial advisor with clients who do not have time to drive to your office to notarize their power of attorney and trust certification documents?

If you answered “yes”, I would be glad to be of service. I bring notary public services to you and your clients on the Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley, Monday-Saturday. As a full time mobile notary, I am flexible in working with your and your clients busy schedules.

To find out more how I can specifically help you, call me or email me.

Cathy Wong
Mobile Notary Public & Certified Loan Signing Agent
Champion Mobile Notary
Phone (650) 290-3550 or (408) 355-3700
Cathy at ChampionMobileNotary dot com
http://www.ChampionMobileNotary.com
http://www.facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary
http://www.youtube.com/user/ChampionMobileNotary

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
26 Oct2010

What’s Important About the Notary Journal Entries?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator, Security/Privacy

During a recent signing in Palo Alto, the signer was annoyed that I was writing the documents information in my notary journal. He said, “My usual notary has me sign once, no matter how many documents I have.” I replied, “Notary laws changed recently. Notaries are required to use one journal entry per notarized document.” He was very impatient, although he was doing his work while I completed the journal entries. It protects him. If the documents are challenged in the future, do you think he would prefer the notary who used one journal entry per notarized document or the notary who used one journal entry for all of the notarized documents? Usually, more details are more helpful.

Copies of my notary journal entries have been requested by attorneys. In one instance, in San Jose a mother had terminal cancer and was concerned about the guardianship of her two children. She was advised to have a letter notarized stating her wishes. After she passed away, her family challenged her children’s guardianship. She was of sound mind and understood what she signed. The details in my notary journal included:

1. The date and time of the notarization
2. The title of the document
3. The number of pages of the notarized document
4. A loose notary acknowledgment was attached
5. Credible witnesses driver’s license information (they were used to identify her)
6. Credible witnesses signatures
7. Her name and address
8. Her signature
9. Her right thumb print
10. The fee for the notarization
11. I also included notes on where the notarization occurred

Another instance, in Los Altos an elderly woman signed a revised trust and a certification of trust. She was of sound mind and understood what she signed. After she passed away, some of her family contested the documents because they were not included as beneficiaries. Her attorney’s contacted me for my journal entries. My journal entries were helpful, as they showed the time of the notarizations, her identification information, her signature and thumbprints. They used the time of the notarizations to show that I was there for about 30 minutes for the signing (from the start of the notary appointment). It was not a “quick, sign here good-bye notarization.”

A couple of years ago, the California Secretary of State started requiring notary publics use one journal entry per notarized document, so more details of each document could be entered. The purpose is to help deter fraud and protect the parties involved in the notarizations. Previously, notaries could use one journal entry for multiple notarized documents. This was hard to include more details about each document.

According to the FBI…”A written or electronic record of the transaction in a journal of notarial acts. By recording critical facts about each notarization at the time of the act is performed, the Notary creates an official public record that safeguards citizens’ valuable property and due process rights.” (The Role of Notaries in Deterring and Detecting Fraud and Identity Crimes 2004)

What is important to you about the notary journal?

Join me on Facebook www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary to learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public & loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area, Peninsula, and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

(C) The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 2 Comments
27 Sep2010

What Kind of Documents Do You Notarize?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Notary Public/Loan Signing Agent Fun, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

This is a common question I receive when talking with people.

Common documents that I notarize for business clients are patent applications, patient assignments, leases, power of attorneys and documents for out of country offices.

Popular documents for wealth management clients are trust certifications and power of attorneys.

Frequent documents for individual clients are for international child adoptions, life certificates, DMV paperless title transfer and estate planning documents.

Common documents notarized for the real estate industry clients are for purchases, sales or refinances of properties.

Recently these are documents for which I completed notarizations:

• Life certificate. These are for European countries used for “social security” benefits to European’s.
• Patent assignments. Inventors assigning patents to their companies.
• Refinance in state and out of state properties
• Purchase of out of state properties
• Mortgage modification
• Statement of Consent Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age of 16.
o This allows one parent to apply for their child’s passport, instead of both parents being present.
• Trustee Certification of Investment Powers for financial advisor
• Power of Attorneys for financial advisor and for individuals
• Marriage Settlement Agreements for in state and out of state divorces
• Trust Amendments
• DIN-1 Form. For board of directors of companies India.
• Company Registration Form for Germany
• Copy Certification by Document Custodian for California Driver’s License and USA Passport
• Physician’s Medical Care Letter for Patient for parents of international child adoptions
• Agreement for Private Loan
• Grant Deed for transferring property to their trust
• Trust Agreements Estate planning.
• Certificate of Trusts
• Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Progress.
o Used in the construction industry for payment at phase completion.
• Unconditional Waiver and Release Upon Final Payment.
o Used in the construction industry for final payment of vendor work.
• Special Power of Attorney for real estate transaction
• Declaration of Irrevocable Trust
• Letter to Foreign Bank for change of address
• Police Clearance Letter for people adopting international children and people working or studying in a foreign country

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.

(c) The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
22 Jul2010

Is a Notarization Just a Notary Stamp on the Document?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

Wouldn’t that be simple, having a notary just stamp your document that requires notarization? Some calls I receive people say, “I just need a notary to stamp my document.” A couple of days ago, I received a crisis call for grant deeds that were notarized incorrectly. Several properties were involved in the transaction. The buyer flew out from the Midwest to meet with the seller here on the San Francisco Peninsula to complete the transaction. The seller was a client of a well known national bank, so they decided to have one of the national bank’s notaries notarize the grant deeds. The buyer flew back home thinking the transaction was complete.

The County Recorder office returned the grant deeds to the seller, since they were notarized incorrectly. Both parties were unhappy. The seller said, “My whole trip out there was a waste. The reason I flew out there was to notarize the grant deeds and they were done incorrectly….”

The seller was leaving the country for over two months, so the buyer needed the notarizations of the grant deeds completed ASAP.

You may be wondering how were the grant deed notarizations executed incorrectly? (“You mean it’s not just a notary stamp on them?”)

1) The notary added the buyer’s name as a signer and notarized him on each grant deed. With grant deeds, only the seller (grantor) signs it and is notarized.
2) The grant deed had an outdated notary acknowledgement. The notary law for this matter changed a couple of years ago.
3) Write in changes were made on the grant deed and were not initialed by the seller. This deters fraud. Otherwise, someone can make changes after the seller signs without the seller’s knowledge.
4) The notary didn’t log the grant deeds in the Notary Journal. This is important for both the buyer and seller, as it is proof the notarizations occurred. If they ever needed a copy of the journal line item, they would not have it. The notary law changed a couple of years ago, requiring each notarization have its own journal entry.

I met with the seller to notarize all of the grant deeds. After we finished, he left for the airport for his trip. Both the seller and buyer were relieved to have the grant deeds notarized correctly before the seller left.

Just stamping your document with their notary stamp is far from what a professional notary public provides to you. When you are in need of a notary public, be sure to choose a professional notary public. They are up-to-date on the notary laws, provide knowledge, experience and deter fraud to make your notary transaction smooth.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Fan Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula, South Bay and Silicon Valley.”

© The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
30 Jun2010

Should A Notary Communicate with the Signer?

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

I received a phone call asking about mobile notary service to a local Silicon Valley hospital. During our phone conversation the caller mentioned the signer only speaks Portuguese. I informed her that unfortunately, I do not speak Portuguese. She would need to find a notary who speaks Portuguese to communicate with the signer. She found this frustrating and wanted me to still notarize the documents using an interpreter, their niece. I shared that notaries must be able to communicate directly with the signer. It is important as the notary must determine if the signer understands what they are signing and is signing of their own free will (no duress). Our state law requires notaries communicate directly with a signer. Otherwise, notaries may face penalties.

“The completion of a certificate of acknowledgment that contains statements that the notary public knows to be false not only may cause the notary public to be liable for civil penalties and administrative action, but is also a criminal offense. The notary public who willfully states as true any material fact known to be false is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000.”
California Secretary of State Handbook 2010

I encouraged her to find a notary who speaks Portuguese to complete the notarizations.

Stay in touch, join my Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary. You will also learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public and loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

© The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 2 Comments
14 May2010

Notary Public Oath

Written by cathy. Posted in General Notarizations, Mortgage Loan Signings, Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator

I just renewed my notary public commission. Well, according to the Secretary of State, “You are appointed for another term. There are no renewals of commissions.” The final step in this process is filing and taking an oath of office and filing official bond with the County Clerk’s office where my principal place of business is located. For me this is the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office. After submitting my various paperwork and paying my dues, the County Clerk Recorder asked me to sign the Notary Public Oath and Certification of Filing Forms. Then, she asked me to raise my right hand. I stated my name and she stated from memory the following oath:

“do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

I responded, “Yes, I do”.

Wow, I wondered if I signed up for the military, CIA or FBI. This is the oath for California Notary Public’s. I wonder what the oaths are for the military, CIA or FBI.

I thought you might find the Notary Public of California oath interesting. Starting June 5, 2010, I officially start my new notary public appointment term.

Is there an oath you have for your profession?

Join me on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ChampionMobileNotary to learn more about the daily happenings of a mobile notary public & loan signing agent in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and South Bay and Silicon Valley.

The contents of this blog are copyrighted. No portion of it may be reproduced without written permission.

  • Continue Reading
  • 1
  • 2

Counties Served

Santa Clara County

South San Mateo County

Some of the Cities I Serve

Campbell, CA
Cupertino, CA
Los Altos, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Mountain View, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Sunnyvale, CA

Contact Me

Phone: 650-290-3550
Phone: 408-355-3700

HOURS:
Mon-Fri 9 AM - 6 PM
Sat 9 AM - 2 PM

Email: info@championmobilenotary.com

Follow Me:

Mailing Only Address

Champion Mobile Notary
809 Cuesta Drive #B2150

Mountain View, CA 94040

Mailing ONLY Address
Actual Office is Mobile

Categories

  • General Notarizations
  • Mortgage Loan Signings
  • Notary Public/Loan Signing Agent Fun
  • Realtors/Mortgage Brokers Accommodator
  • Security/Privacy
  • Uncategorized

Archives

Home | Services and Fees | Testimonials | About Me | Contact Me | FAQs
Santa Clara Mobile Notary Services | South Peninsula Mobile Notary Services

Copyright © 2006 - 2022 Champion Mobile Notary, Inc. Serving the Mid-Peninsula, Silicon Valley and South Bay - All Rights Reserved
Mailing Only Address: 809 Cuesta Drive #B2150, Mountain View, CA 94040| Phone: (650) 290-3550 or (408) 355-3700

  • Home
  • Services and fees
  • About Me
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Me
  • FAQs
  • Blog