A notary is a very vital part of the economy and business. Modern world transactions include complex agreements between various parties. These agreements and the supporting documents have a very high chance of being fraudulent. If that is the case, the entire transaction stands to be null and void. This affects the functioning of business at every level and the economy as a whole. To avoid this kind of hassle in regular and important transactions, a notary public officer comes into the picture.
A notary public officer can verify and sign various documents but it requires a notary signing agent to verify and sign the documents related to home loans, mortgages, titles, etc.
A notary signing agent to sign documents needs to be qualified to do so. The one with requisite qualifications and who is certified by the National Notary Association or NNA must follow the standards laid down by the respective state laws and regulations.
If you are looking for an NNA-certified notary signing agent to hire, you must look for the following qualities.
Qualification
There is a difference between a notary public and a notary signing agent. Not every notary is a qualified signing agent. For a person to be a signing agent, he must first become a notary. A qualified notary needs to pass the examination held by the National Notary Association and get a license of practice from the respective state within which they want to practice. The certification from NNA has been the gold standard for the industry for many years.
It ensures that your singing agent has the requisite knowledge, training, exposure, and experience that is required to function as a professional signing agent. An NNA-certified notary signing agent means a high standard of professionalism.
Experience
When it comes to dealing with loan transactions and documents, every situation and transaction becomes unique. There may be similarities among transactions, however, every transaction, document, parties to the transaction, and their needs are unique.
An NNA-certified notary signing agent is exposed to vast experiences in dealing with various types of documents. Thus, a qualified signing agent can not only distinguish between uniqueness and similarity but also guide you and suggest the best available options in your unique case.
Also, an experienced notary will keep their personal opinions and prejudices at bay while handling your particular case. This is also held in high ethical standards of being a professional NNA-certified notary signing agent.
An experienced notary can quickly identify and suggest the appropriate solutions in your particular case. The more experienced a notary is in handling various documents, the better is your chance to reap their rich and varied experiences.
Availability
The business hours of a notary signing agent must be at least conducive to your working hours. If they do not coincide with your working hours, then check if they could be available to contact via other means as well, viz., phones, emails, etc. Also, check if a notary is available near your location and whether they will be able to meet outside at a mutually convenient place to get your documents signed and notarized.
Another factor to consider is that a reputable NNA-certified notary signing agent will normally have their hands full of work and assignments. Business prudence often tells that a busy professional is best when they are prompt. A signing agent can often be very busy. But that should not mean they are not available when and where you need them.
Whether busy or not, a good notary signing agent is prompt and flexible with their response and presence. Make sure your signing agent is so.
Fees
A notary signing agent earns through the fees for their notary services. They will charge an appropriate fee for verifying and signing your documents. Any such fees are legally valid and can be levied on the customers according to the standards of the industry and limits prescribed by a particular state’s laws and regulations. However, you need not and should not pay an exorbitant amount of money as fees for the notary services. A good signing agent will be transparent about their charges.
Check the industry standards and compare the fees of your signing agent. If it is reasonable and competent, you need not worry.
Knowledge
A good notary signing agent will have vast knowledge in his field. This will be evident by the manner your agent interacts with you and handles all the queries you may have about getting your documents signed.
Since an NNA-certified notary agent has to undergo ongoing career upgrading education at periodic intervals, they are up to date with the latest developments, requirements, and amendments in the regulations.
When you hire a signing agent, you should not worry about keeping track of the latest updates. Your agent should be able to furnish you with every single detail you need to carry on with your transactions.
A good notary agent does not show off their knowledge. Rather, it becomes evident by the way they handle the queries of their customers. They makes the process easy and smooth. All of these are possible because of their vast knowledge base in their field.
Ethical
An NNA-certified notary signing agent has to undergo a background screening to get their certification from the National Notary Association before they can embark on their professional notary practice. This also ensures privacy and confidentiality.
A notary signing agent who has a clean background screening result will ensure that your transactions take place under the guardianship of an ethical professional.
A signing agent is also duty-bound to follow the state’s laws and regulations. Thus, it becomes of prime importance that a notary signing agent’s professional, personal and moral conduct is of utmost ethical standard.
Wrap Up
So whether you are looking for a one-off transaction deal to sign or require a series of transaction documents to verify and sign, an NNA-certified notary signing agent can handle them easily and make your dealings smooth. However, look for the qualities mentioned above before hiring one to ensure you are entrusting the right professional.
