Joining RON platforms as a Michigan Notary

Heather MacGraine (Guest Post) • February 26, 2025

This article was published first at OnMyWay Mobile Notary

This article is written for an audience of professional notaries looking to break into Remote Online Notarizations. If you're not a notary, a lot of this may not make sense! But you're welcome to come along on this journey.

The Michigan Law on Notarial Acts allows us to use only approved platforms for remote and electronic notarizations. I have included information on each of the allowed RON platforms. Please refer to the MINA training on RON before plunging in! This article does not include any recommendations for best practice, and is only based on my personal experience.

First, let’s define a few terms:

RON: Remote Online Notarization. No one needs to be in the same location as the notary. Each signer verifies ID and signs digitally through the use of an approved platform. Camera and microphone are required to complete the signing.

RIN: Remote Ink Notarization. Using audio-visual technology like Zoom, the client signs in ink while the notary views online. The physical document is then mailed to the notary, who notarizes it as if they had witnessed the client signing in person. This is not currently allowed in Michigan, and the industry is leaning away from using it due to the lack of security.

IPEN: In Person Electronic Notarization. The document signer and Notary physically meet in person, and the document is in an electronic format that is signed and notarized using an electronic signature and seal. No camera or microphone required, but must use an approved platform. The client needs to have the document available in digital format, or you need a way to scan it at the appointment.

GNW: General Notary Work. Everything that isn’t specifically real estate.

Digital Certificate: used for RON. A digital certificate performs two key functions — it verifies the identity of the Notary who affixed the electronic signature and seal on the notarized document, and it makes the document “tamper-evident.”

Seal: Just like our stamp on a paper notarization, it’s a digital seal. You can build one in Canva or any other platform that allows you to create and save an image file.

Pre-tagging: Think of it like using the little paper flags for signing packets, but even more. You’re adding the text fields they need to complete, and inserting date fields. Clients may or may not be able to do this themselves.

KBA: Knowledge-based authentication. This is information using the person’s social security number to gather questions about the person’s life from public records. Only works for people who are US citizens and using a US ID.

Biometrics: Uses a variety of camera angles to compare the face of the person in the camera to their ID. This is not currently allowed in Michigan, so we are at this time unable to use RON services for people who are using a foreign country ID.

Now onto comparing the platforms. Let’s talk similarities first:

All the platforms that allow General Notary Work also allow real estate transactions.
You can (and must) bring your own clients.
If you join for a fee, you might get access to clients through the platform, but all were clear that you should not expect to make a full income this way–this is not a W2 job, this is freelancing.
Paying for a subscription usually grants access to support and increased levels of support.
All platforms that I was able to join provide 10 years of storage for the files related to your e-journal, and as far as I can tell all give you an option to download your journal at any time just like you would set a physical journal on a shelf when it’s full.
All the platforms have some level of training available, with some requiring you to complete it in order to notarize and others allowing you to jump right in if you’re feeling confident.
All of the GNW platforms allow for pre-tagging documents before the clients are in the session.

FAQ: How can this make any money when I’m only allowed to charge $10 per stamp? Can I charge platform fees to my clients?

The short answer is, you don’t charge directly. MINA training told us we cannot charge platform fees to the clients. You pick an option that allows pass-thru billing where the client pays the platform whatever the platform asks for and the platform pays you out whatever they offer; just like how loan signings are usually package payouts, not itemized.

BUT! With larger appointments–more signers and/or more notarizations–there is a point where it becomes more lucrative to bill directly and charge only the $10 per seal. Where that point is depends on the session fees. For Blue Notary, it’s between 4-6 notarizations depending on the number of signers.

Individual Platform Notes:

CyberizeIt: I gather this platform was one of the first available and primarily used by experienced notaries, and it shows.

Free option allowing use of the platform for most transactions with only session fees; allows billing both within and outside the platform. A paid membership allows for advanced trainings, group zoom meetings, personal coaching meetings, and business building classes (all depending on membership level). $25 a month includes more support, job board access, and these session fees: $3.00 per signer up to 10; First Notary Act is FREE; $1.00 per additional Notary Act; $5.00 per witness supplied by the platform. (I’m not finding the free account session fees, it’s probably in a video somewhere.) You have to bring your own seal from another platform or build it yourself, and they have training on how to do it in Canva.

While onboarding, I decided I really disliked their workflow. First and foremost, you need two logins for two different websites and a third for Adobe that’s provided through the company. Plus your digital certificate, purchased separately. You’re required to upload the document to be notarized before inviting the signers and setting the appointment session. My biggest issue with the workflow was that you have to send an email to each signer separately at each phase of the signing in order for them to join and sign. And I’ll be honest, I lost track of what was happening with switching into and out of Adobe because I was already frustrated with the process by then. It’s not very friendly to switching devices, so you would be limiting yourself to doing RONs on one computer. It’s definitely the cheapest option, but it’s also the one that requires you to be the most technologically adept. If you make a mistake you have to start the session over from scratch so you want to be very well versed in notarizations in general.

NotaryCam: The $99 payment just to onboard and still paying $15 a month plus session fees was out of my price range when there were other options. I didn’t sign up so I can’t say anything about their system.

Notary Hub: $19 a month gets you access to the platform with unlimited sessions at fixed pricing for the client ($21 for the first seal, $15 for each additional seal) with no session fees, and 75% of that price goes to you directly and immediately minus a 5% processing fee (which you’d pay for any online payment processor). You also have the option to set your own fees and pay a flexible monthly amount according to how many sessions you use, with a maximum monthly price of $50 if you go over 20 sessions in a month. Add a $60 yearly document signing certificate for security, if you don’t have one from elsewhere. And of course you can buy a year or two at a time to reduce your monthly costs. I didn’t join so I can’t speak to workflow or technical difficulties.

PandaDocs: On the surface, paying $15 per session as a brand new notary sounds appealing.. No monthly costs, tons of integrations with other business services, they even give you a free session, and they allow multiple signers per session. The problem is, the terminology wasn’t clear on whether I had used that session or not after I had tried a few times to complete a notarization and I did end up buying another one when I didn’t need to. You can bulk buy sessions for a lower fee per session. We kept running into technological difficulties: video not working, sound not working, knowledge-based authentication not working, and if we made it that far not a single person’s ID would scan in. So I never did successfully complete a notary session there. Then I had to request a refund for the session I had paid for up front, and it took a lot of back-and-forth for them to understand what I was even asking.

You’re required to upload the document to be notarized before inviting the signers and setting the appointment session. If you make a mistake during pre-tagging that you discover during the signing, you have to start over from scratch.

Secured Signing: $389/year with no monthly option. Includes 50 “credits” which are equal to $1 apiece and cover your first $50 in session fees, with limits to session duration. A single signer, single seal session would cost $10 in session fees. Additional “credits” must be purchased BEFORE a signing session. Looks like all billing happens outside the platform.

Signix: $449 per year, includes your digital certificate, covers “a minimum of 5 transactions per month” which appears to mean it includes 5 transactions and additional transactions are $10 apiece. Each transaction includes one seal, with additional seals billed at $5 each. These are session fees–You bill outside the platform.

Blue Notary: A free account lets you bill through the platform, and they pay out immediately. You’re limited to one signer per session at a free account level. At least for now, you get a free seal & digital certificate even on the free plan (it's labeled "early adopters so I'm assuming they will charge separately for those at some point).

The Pro Hybrid plan is $27 per month, and of course cheaper by the year. (If you cancel during the first month they give you half off two months, and thereafter cancelling gives you a variety of offers off the next couple months.) If you bill through the platform, meaning Blue Notary sets the rates and pays you out, you get a higher payout than a free account. If you invoice the client on your own, you can charge whatever you want and you pay session fees. Allows multiple signers, branded emails, and open calls.

This is the one with which I have the most experience and the only one I have successfully completed a notarization on. It’s very easy for the notary and the client. Any technical difficulties are usually cleared up through reloading the page – and if the client has passed KBA & ID verification they won’t have to do it again (unlike PandaDoc and CyberizeIt). If the client doesn’t want to send you the document ahead of time they can upload it themselves, which helps everyone feel secure. The client can add their own check marks or date stamps as you go. If you discover halfway through signing that you made a mistake pre-tagging, or if you didn’t get a chance to pre-tag, you can add fields as you go. My biggest gripe is that I can’t add a signature field for myself while pre-tagging, so I have to carefully add my signature each time as we go through the documents (which is only a problem because you have the ability to click a button to go to the next entry field, so it’s easy to miss a signature). The chat support has been phenomenal and fast every time I’ve needed it.

Proof (formerly Notarize): I clicked the link for notaries to join, but my account is not a notary account. I even tried with a different email address to make sure I had done the right process, and the same thing happened. I’ve never received a response to my support requests. In early 2025, the online support groups for RONs have had a significant increase of posts complaining about technical difficulties, support requests without responses, and incorrect billing without responses. I would be concerned at this point that the platform has been abandoned so if you have used it before, I would download all available data as soon as possible.

NotaryLive: is not currently onboarding notaries in Michigan. Access to the software is free, compensation for each session varies.

Digital Delivery: is not in the chart because they got back to me minutes before posting. They have a very detailed contract to onboard as a notary, which costs money, there's a software access fee, and the session fees are $25 apiece. They seem geared toward real estate signing services rather than independent notaries but I didn't see that explicitly while skimming the contract.

I tried to do a comparison chart. If anyone has information on the missing data from platforms I am not on, PLEASE feel free to send me an email at info@onmywaymichigan.com and I’ll update the chart. Thanks!

	CyberizeIt	PandaDoc	Blue Notary	Singix	Notary Hub	Notary Cam	Secured Signing
Onboard Fee	No	No	No	No	No	$99	No
Subscription Fee	$25+/month	$19 starter/$49 enterprise /month	$27/month	$449/year	$19/month	$15/month minimum 1 year	$389/year, max 600 documents
Free Subscription Option	Yes, unknown session fees	Yes	Yes, Only 1 signer per session	No	No	No	No
Digital Certificate Included	No	Yes (both tiers)	Yes	Yes	No ($60 yearly)	No	Yes
Tag While Signing	No	No	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Unclear	Yes
Job Board	Yes (paid)	No	Yes (paid)	Unclear	Unclear	Unclear	Yes
Witness Pool	$5 each (free to bring your own)	No?	$10 (free to bring your own)	Unclear	Unclear	Yes?	Yes
Bill separately	Yes	Yes	Yes (paid)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Session Fees: (paid subscription & billed yourself unless noted)		Free sub: $15 per session Paid in advance. Paid: $10 per session + KBA & ID Fees	$25 flat for closing package, or GNW:	$50/month for 1-5, $10 each after.	ID check/KBA free. Tiered pricing based on # of sessions, $10 for 1 and max $50 per month for 21+ sessions	Max $52.20 per session	Credits model, paid in advance; $1 per KBA, $3 per ID check
Per signer	$3 (max 10)	Inc	First included then $4 each	NA	NA	$5 1-2, then $5 ea for 3+	$5 1-2 (call time limits)
Per seal	1 free, $1 each	Inc?	$5 first, $0 thereafter	1 inc, $5 each after	NA	$15	$1
Bill Thru Platform	Yes? But I think it’s an invoice feature, not pass-thru billing.	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unclear
Payouts (if billed thru their platform)			$5-10 by open call. $30 flat closing. By invite, $15 (if free subscription) or $20 for first seal, +$4 per additional seals. -5% processing fee.		75% of what the client pays, -5% processing fee	Unclear	Unclear

The following companies do not allow general notary work. Real estate/loan signings only.

Amrock:

As of February 2025, Amrock had minimal need for new signing agents. They requested an email if you meet all requirements below, which I didn’t. Onboarding prerequisites:

Minimum one year loan signing experience
$25,000 in E&O Insurance
Ability to complete Remote Online Notarization and In Person Electronic Notarization (if applicable in your state)
Background check and membership with the National Notary Association (NNA)

Smart Notary/Stavvy: Serving Mortgage & Home Equity lenders, Title & Settlement companies, and Real Estate Law firms. Does not work with independent notaries.

One Span: “We currently sell our software for businesses to host their own notaries and clients needing notarization.” – Can only join as an employee of a company that has purchased the software.

Docusign: “Docusign Notary is a good fit for enterprises and organizations that notarize 200 or more documents per year. Organizations also must supply their own notaries public, and we’ve found that many larger organizations have notaries public already employed or contracted who can use Docusign Notary to complete notarial acts.” Cannot join as an independent notary.

DocMagic: “our platform does not support general notary work – only real-estate closing transactions initiated by title/settlement agents who are chosen by our Lenders.”

Expedite/DocVerify: “Docverify has been decommissioned, and our clients have been migrated to Simplifile”

eNotaryLog: This is software that gets integrated within other apps/computer software; it’s not a direct platform itself.

Qualia: “only works with Title & Escrow Companies & Title Insurance Underwriters”

Pavaso: “is for notaries working with a signing agency, title company, real estate attorney firm or lender (collectively referred to herein as “approved company or approved companies”) already working with Pavaso. Pavaso does NOT support notaries who are not associated with an approved company already working with Pavaso.”

The following companies have not responded to my email asking how to join, but all information suggests they only work with companies rather than independent notaries.

SimplySecureSign

NTC (PerfectDocs)

Pactima

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Can I Accept This ID, or Not?

By Leslie Hocker • December 2, 2024

It’s important for notaries to stay on top of the changes to forms of identification. This is the most important component to our job – identifying the signer. Michigan law 55.285 Performance of notarial acts; scope; verification, Sec 25. 6 (c) states: A notary public has satisfactory evidence that an individual is the individual whose signature is on a record if that individual is any of the following: (a) Personally known to the notary public. (b) Identified upon the oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally known by the notary public and who personally knows the individual. (c) Identified on the basis of a current license, identification card, or record issued by a federal or state government that contains the individual's photograph and signature. This article relates to (c). The notary must identify the signer based on their current license or ID card or record that is issued by a state or federal government , and it must have, so it can be read, the individual’s photograph and signature. We are all familiar with a driver’s license and state ID card. That’s the easy one. So, let’s discuss other ID cards that we might think we can accept, but we cannot. But first, we must address current vs valid. In my experience, asking if the signer has valid ID leads to arriving and finding that the driver’s license is expired. The law says CURRENT, not VALID. Therefore, we must be clear when communicating with the client that the ID must not be expired, as the definition of current is belonging to the present time . This translates to not expired . A better way to ask is, “Does the signer have unexpired ID?” Next, let’s talk about “a” state or federal government. The first operative word here is “a” . Michigan law does not say we can only accept Michigan or even US identification. If you can read the ID, and you can communicate with the signer, and the notarial block is in English, you can notarize using the foreign ID, as long as it follows the same law: State or Federal issued. Now, on to the last part: that contains the individual's photograph and signature . Both the signature and the photograph must be on the ID. There doesn’t need to be an expiration date, as some IDs don’t expire. Take military veteran ID, for example. They don’t expire. Passports, driver’s licenses, and ID cards do expire. Speaking of Passports: When a person applies for a passport in the US, they have a choice of a passport book or card, or both. They are the same application, but the results make the difference in being able to be used as ID. When a passport book is received, the owner signs it, therefore it can be used as identification by a notary. But when a passport card is received, it is already laminated, and it does not get signed. Therefore, a notary cannot accept a passport card as identification, as it is missing the signature. And finally, we need to discuss Military ID. In 2020, the military began rolling out a new method of identifying military members. In 2024, all military members – including spouses and other dependents, and new veterans – began receiving the new ID cards when they needed a new one. These cards have a chip in them and are not signed, so, we cannot use the NEW military ID cards as identification, because they are missing the signature. As a bonus, let’s talk for a moment about CPLs – Concealed Pistol License. These are not to be used as valid ID, as they are not issued by the state or federal government. They are issued by the county, and therefore do not qualify for use by a notary for identification purposes. If you have more questions about this topic, or anything related to notarizing in Michigan, consider our Notary Basic Education class for $59 at https://www.michigannotaryassociation.org/ Group rates are available for groups of 6 or more. Contact LHocker@MichiganNotaryAssociation.org for more information.

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There are THREE Types of Notarization in Michigan

By Leslie Hocker • November 4, 2024

Because learning how to notarize has been largely a game of telephone, many Michigan notaries, no matter how long they have been notarizing, have no idea that we have three types of notarizations. Many states only have two. And when notaries learn how to notarize from social media, this is the most common misunderstanding they come away with. The three types of notarization in Michigan are: Acknowledgement Jurat Witness What is a Witness notarization? In order to fully understand the Witness notarization, we must first understand what an Acknowledgement and a Jurat are. The most common notarization is…truthfully, there isn’t a “most common” type. Let’s review all of them, one at a time. A notarial block is the only part of the document that a notary needs to read and understand, aside from the title of the document. Why? Because the contents of the document are the signer’s concern, the notarial block is the notary’s concern. Sometimes a notarial block will have words like “Acknowledged” or “Subscribed and Sworn”. Those are key words for a notary to know how to navigate this notarization. An Acknowledgement is, essentially, the signer saying - or acknowledging – that he has signed the document. In this instance, the signer can have signed on that date; on a past date; whether with the notary or not. It’s the signer saying, “yep, that’s my signature!” The notary will properly complete the notarial block, will sign, and stamp near the notary signature. The stamp is used to show all the legal credentials of the notary and should look like this, obviously with the notary’s information.

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College Students: Voting is Fundamental – Even When You Are Out of State on Election Day

By Deborah Lowery • September 20, 2024

Federal laws govern voting rights, but state laws govern how an individual can vote. Your voter registration is based on your place of residence. College students may have the option to register to vote either in your hometown or in the state where they attend college, depending on their state's residency laws. While students might live in multiple places, they are only permitted to vote in one. If you're a college student studying outside of your home state, absentee voting is the most convenient way for you to cast your ballot. Absentee voting allows you to participate in elections even if you can't make it to your home polling place. However, some states require additional steps, like a notary or witness signature, to complete your absentee ballot. Here's what you need to know and how our website can help you find a notary for your voting needs. As a college student, you may be registered to vote in your home state but attending school here in Michigan. This makes absentee voting essential. However, depending on where you're registered, your state may require a notary or witness to validate your absentee ballot. Knowing the rules is crucial so your vote counts. Finding an educated and ethical notary can be challenging. The Michigan Notary Association makes it easy. Go to https://www.michigannotaryassociation.org/find-a-notary to locate a notary who can go to you. If your city or county isn’t listed, call or text 313-444-0614 for a direct referral. States Requiring Notary Signatures for Absentee Ballots

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Is a Printed Signature Acceptable and Legal?

By Leslie Hocker • August 21, 2024

In 2010, the powers that governed Michigan decided that cursive does not need to be taught in schools anymore. So, it makes sense that many people did not learn cursive, and therefore, do not sign their name in cursive. But is their signature legal? Yes, it is legal. What is a signature? According to Wikipedia, “a signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent.” Notice it doesn’t mention cursive? What notaries don’t realize is that MiLona is not all encompassing for the laws that govern us. We sometimes must look beyond Michigan Law of Notarial Acts 238 of 2003 to find the answers to questions we might have. For instance: Michigan Law MCL - Section 8.3q “Written” and “in writing” construed (interpreted) The words "written" and "in writing" shall be construed (interpreted) to include printing, engraving, and lithographing; except that if the written signature of a person is required by law, the signature shall be the proper handwriting of the person or, if the person is unable to write, the person's proper mark, which may be, unless otherwise expressly prohibited by law, a clear and classifiable fingerprint of the person made with ink or another substance. History: Add. 1959, Act 189, Imd. Eff. July 22, 1959 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 266 , Imd. Eff. Dec. 16, 2005 However, this situation is actually in MiLona, right on page 2. 55.267 Definitions; S to V. Sec. 7. (b) "Signature" means an individual's written or printed name, electronic signature, or mark, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed, adopted, or made by the individual with the intent to sign the record. Another instance of MiLona not being all encompassing for notaries is, to learn how to fill out a notarial block properly, one must go to the section of the law that governs deeds. MCL 565.201 Sec 1 states (b) A discrepancy does (can) not exist between the name of each person as printed, typewritten, or stamped beneath his or her signature and the name as recited in the acknowledgment or jurat on the instrument. It is in this same section that reads: (a) The name of each person purporting to execute the instrument is legibly printed, typewritten, or stamped beneath the original signature or mark of the person, and the signature or mark is in black or dark blue ink. Now let’s talk about “ink” . Gel is water based, and therefore not preferred for legacy documents. The law says black or dark blue ink . Notaries typically default to blue, to distinguish their signature from other markings on the page. There had been a law stating the notary must use black ink, but that was repealed in 2013. As for gel “ink”, it is wonderful to write with, however, it doesn’t hold up for legacy documents. Some gel inks are better than others, but how do we know which is which? Ballpoint ink is oil-based, and preferred because it won’t wash or fade if exposed to the elements. Gel can fade, and will run if exposed to water, so therefore, it is a best practice to use ballpoint ink, not gel. Fun fact: Michigan has a bill pending that will require schools to teach cursive, again. It is House Bill No. 4064, and it has passed in the House, and has been referred to the Committee on Education. Click here to learn more about Michigan Notary Laws, and how to incorporate them into your notary career. https://www.michigannotaryassociation.org/#Memberships

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Why Michigan Notaries Deserve Mandatory Training

By Leslie Hocker • July 30, 2024

It’s understandable that notaries wonder if they are doing things correctly, because the state doesn’t train us. The state mandates that new notaries read the law, but they don’t add all the information to the law that we need to notarize properly. For instance, how to fill out a notarial block is in the part of the law for mortgage deeds and is not included in the Michigan Law of Notarial Acts. It only makes sense that notaries understand that the entire Michigan Compiled Laws applies to us, and that the excerpt they call MiLona is only part of what we need to know. It also makes sense that notaries don’t understand, because I have been trying to get the Office of the Great Seal to answer my questions pertaining to the interpretation of MiLona laws, and they won’t. I have asked attorneys too, and some won’t touch my questions, because they don’t interpret the law. Then who does? If interpretation of the law is left to notaries, and what goes wrong is only checked on when someone complains, then being a notary is just a wildcard game. The Michigan Notary Association has been working tirelessly with lawmakers and attorneys and registers of deeds to understand the law, get answers, and bring those answers to all Michigan notaries. From day one, we have been dedicated to the education of all things notary. We are expecting our first Bill numbers this week and will begin the process of raising awareness to the lawmakers who vote for or against legislation. We are asking for mandatory education for notaries. We are asking for all notaries applying for a commission to pass an examination. If this succeeds, we will become the 32 nd state to require either education, an examination, or both. I can’t think of any other job that doesn’t require an education or training of some sort. Yet a notary, whose primary responsibility is to help deter fraud, has no mandated education. If you are craving an education so you can avoid using your surety bond, you can now get a proper education at MINA’s new Copper level. It’s the same class as the full membership receives, and the exam is included. Click here to get started. If you are one of those people who don’t think education is needed, I challenge you to take our mini exam, and see if you can pass it. Email me at LHocker@MichiganNotaryAssociation.org for more information.

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The Contents of the Document are Not Your Concern… And Not Your Business

By Leslie Hocker • July 14, 2024

Confidentiality is the most basic principle of notarial practice. By focusing on your core duties of verifying identity, awareness, and willingness, and by avoiding any unnecessary reading of the documents, notaries can maintain the highest standards of privacy and trust. This not only protects their clients but also preserves the integrity and reputation of the notarial profession. Confidentiality is not just a professional courtesy—it's an ethical obligation. Notaries serve as impartial witnesses in the signing of important documents, but their role extends beyond mere verification. One of the cornerstones of their duty is to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of their clients' information. Confidentiality is a non-negotiable principle. Your clients trust you with paperwork that contains their sensitive personal and financial information, and it is imperative that this trust is not breached. The easiest way to not breach this trust is to not read the document, ever. Remember, the contents of the document are not your concern. You will never be asked, in court or otherwise, to tell anyone what the paperwork said. You will be asked if you issued an oath, if and how you verified the signer’s identity, if your signers were aware of what they signed, and if they were signing willingly or under duress. It is not the duty of the notary to guarantee any of the information in the document. There was a trend for a while where the notary fanned the document and stamped or embossed across all pages. In the State of Michigan’s handbook, it states that a notary Cannot apply their notary stamp or notary embosser pages to show a page belongs within the document. Every stamp or embossing is considered a notarization and requires witnessing a signature and having all the elements of a proper notarization. Notaries must resist the temptation to delve into the specifics of the documents they notarize. Reading the contents of a document is not only unnecessary but also inappropriate. The notary's role is strictly to authenticate the signing process, not to read or know the details of the document. By maintaining this boundary, notaries uphold the integrity of their profession and the confidentiality of their clients. Leslie Hocker is a contributing editor for the Michigan Notary Association blog. Leslie is the President and co-Founder of the Michigan Notary Association , and runs her own mobile notary business, Mobile Notary of Macomb , in Chesterfield Michigan.

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Your Signature Is Your Personal Fraud Deterrent

By Leslie Hocker • June 26, 2024

Identity verification is the main resource for fraud prevention for various transactions and legal agreements, and your signature plays a pivotal role. Each time you sign your name, your signature is the binding mark of your identity and consent. Because of this, it is important to remember that your signature must match the one on your identification documents. Why Does Your Signature Need to Match Your ID? Your signature is a legal representation of your identity. When you sign a document, it signifies that you agree to the terms within. If the signature on your document doesn't match the one on your ID, it can raise questions about the authenticity and your intent. Matching signatures ensure that you are indeed the person who is approving or agreeing to the document's contents. One of the primary reasons institutions require a matching signature is to prevent fraud. If someone tries to impersonate you or forge your signature, a mismatch between their attempt and your official ID signature can be a red flag. This safeguard helps protect your assets and your personal information from unauthorized use. Many transactions require the verification of your identity through your signature. Banks, government offices, and notary publics compare the signature on your ID with the one you provide at the time of the transaction. A consistent signature across all your documents helps in smooth and quick verification, saving you from potential delays and complications. Maintaining a consistent signature across all your documents simplifies record-keeping. It allows entities to track and verify your history of agreements and transactions accurately. This consistency is crucial for personal records, legal documents, and financial accounts. If your signature has evolved over time, consider updating your ID to reflect your current signature. This can prevent discrepancies in future verifications. When signing important documents, take your time to ensure your signature matches your ID. Avoid quick or careless signing, especially in formal or legal settings. Ensuring your signature matches your ID might seem like a simple task, but it’s a vital part of safeguarding your identity and maintaining trust in legal and financial systems. Keep your signature consistent, and you’ll avoid many of the pitfalls that come with identity verification. Leslie Hocker is a contributing editor for the Michigan Notary Association blog. Leslie is the President and co-Founder of the Michigan Notary Association , and runs her own mobile notary business, Mobile Notary of Macomb , in Chesterfield Michigan.

A woman is standing in front of a group of businessmen.

The Hidden Cost of Discrimination in Business

By Leslie Hocker • June 17, 2024

Discrimination remains a common issue that can significantly undermine the success of any small business. Discrimination, whether based on race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristic, has profound and far-reaching effects on a business. Whether the discrimination is in person, shown through your advertising, or even just a simple post on your social media page, you are at risk of losing clients if you put your own beliefs above those of your potential clients. You will lose a good half of your clients if you can’t remain neutral about other people’s choices for their own selves, and if you can’t understand and accept that not everyone looks or acts like you do. Types of Discrimination Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Gender Discrimination Age Discrimination Disability Discrimination LGBTQ+ Discrimination Religious Discrimination Political Discrimination Body Modification Discrimination Michigan Law allows a notary to refuse to notarize for any reason, except discrimination. While many notaries will not discriminate in person, their online presence depicting the intolerance of any of the above could cause a negative impact on their business. Impact on Business Legal and Financial Consequences Reputation Damage Missed Opportunities It is always best to stay neutral, and to be inviting to and accepting of all people. Not only will your business prosper, your mindset will be calmer, and your anxiety will be lower. Leslie Hocker is a contributing editor for the Michigan Notary Association blog. Leslie is the President and co-Founder of the Michigan Notary Association , and runs her own mobile notary business, Mobile Notary of Macomb , in Chesterfield Michigan.

A man in a suit is holding a piece of paper with a question mark on it in front of his face.

A Friendly Guide on How to Identify Signers

By Leslie Hocker • June 2, 2024

Without a lot of fanfare, let's dive into how to identify signers for notarization. Identifying signers isn't just a formality; it's the notary's responsibility to ensure that the person signing the document is who they claim to be. This prevents fraud and maintains the integrity of the notarization process. Government-Issued IDs: The most common form of identification is through state or federally issued identification. This ID must have a photograph of the signer and the signature of the signer. This includes: Driver's license Passport State ID card Military ID Ironically, even though the method of obtaining a passport card is identical to obtaining a passport book, a passport card does not have a signature, and therefore cannot be used as identification. The notary must ensure that the name on the ID matches the name on the document. There might be some variations of the name. Think Steve vs Steven. Or First Middle Last name, vs First and Last name. Those are acceptable, if all the other steps are taken. Steps: Examine the ID Carefully: Look for signs of tampering or forgery. Check the expiration date – an expired ID is not valid for notarization purposes in Michigan. Engage the signer in a conversation. This helps you get to know them better and also helps for you to determine if they are confident or nervous. A person presenting stolen or fraudulent ID will likely have a nervousness to their demeanor. Compare the Signature: This is easiest to do if you keep a journal. Whether bound by law or not, this one step can help the notary in so many ways. When the journal is filled out prior to the signing of any documents, it is easy to fill out your journal, have the signer sign the journal, and while you’re still holding the ID card, you can compare the signature. Not all signatures will be totally consistent, but you can see a pattern. Fingerprint or Thumbprint: In some jurisdictions, notaries are required to take the signer's print. Michigan does not mention fingerprinting for notaries. But when I investigated fingerprinting for notaries, I spoke with Barb Self, Departmental Analyst, Applicant Processing and Modification Unit, Michigan State Police. Barb explained that taking a fingerprint of a signer is a fruitless effort as without a fingerprint being on file with a government unit, there is no way to prove that print belongs to the signer without a subpoena. When IDs is Expired or Non-Existent: A Credible Witness can be used if a signer doesn’t have ID, or if it is expired. The Credible Witness must personally know the signer and the notary. The Credible Witness would act as the ID for the signer. The Credible Witness would be recorded in the notary’s journal, and sign it, as would the signer. The Credible Witness would be issued an oath attesting to the identity of the signer. Personally Known. With over 100,000 notaries in the state of Michigan, any person is bound to personally know a notary. If the notary knows the signer well, but is not closely related to the signer (laws apply) the notary can notarize without having to see ID. A notary’s job is to prevent fraud. Without knowing how to properly identify a signer, fraud can prevail. Always keep in mind, we notarize signatures, not documents. The contents of the document are not the responsibility of the notary. Verifying the identity of the signer is the notary's responsibility. Leslie Hocker is a contributing editor for the Michigan Notary Association blog. Leslie is the President and co-Founder of the Michigan Notary Association , and runs her own mobile notary business, Mobile Notary of Macomb , in Chesterfield Michigan.

A woman mobile notary wearing glasses is sitting in a car driving to notarize a document.

Notaries Can Have a Perfect Mobile Business!

By Leslie Hocker • May 19, 2024

The world today is vastly different from the past. Since 2020, people have learned more about themselves and are more interested in navigating life their way, instead of the old status quo. One of the changes people have made is to do less business in person, and more online or on the fly. Standing in line, waiting for attention isn’t something many people want. Consider self-checkouts. They have become so popular that people will choose them instead of a cashier, so they don’t have to interact. People are also not using their local banks and credit unions as much. Many branches are closing, because people are doing their banking online, or via the ATM. The number one choice, if available, is online banking. They can deposit checks using their cell phone, and we have become almost a cashless society. People use money moving apps like PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, and Zelle. Who needs cash anymore? Who needs a bank? Some do, but most don’t. Mobile notaries are on the rise due to this same thought process. They can meet a mobile notary at a public place, or the notary can go to the signer’s home or office. People love this convenience, because they don’t have to go anywhere. They get to show off their home, if they want, or meet the notary outside if they want, or meet at a coffee shop if they want. The notary can charge a travel fee, if allowed by their state, plus the per notarization fee. It’s a win-win. So how do you get started? First, make sure if you are a notary for your work, that your surety bond is in your name only. Otherwise, every notarial act you perform will be the responsibility of both your employer and you. Get a separate bond if this is the case. Next, make sure to get a proper education. Mobile notaries see many different documents and many different signing situations. They need to assess awareness and willingness at a much higher level in most cases. The 65+ population is growing and will continue to grow for the next 5 years. You can start your set up now, and in 2-3 years have a lucrative business. Just like any business, starting a mobile notary business takes time to grow. The Michigan Notary Association has a great program to get you started with education and building a foundation for your mobile notary business. Check it out here: https://www.michigannotaryassociation.org

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