Serving All 50 States ~ Military Discounts
Serving All 50 States ~ Military Discounts
Alabama Notary Services was founded in 1996 and we are a division of Alabama Business Services Montgomery, LLC. We provide professional Notary and Business Services in Montgomery, surrounding counties, and internationally. As a privately owned business, we are not affiliated with the state of Alabama.
Alabama Notary Services is licensed, certified, bonded, insured, and background screened. We acquired an additional certification title as a minority woman business enterprise through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Alabama Governor's office.
As we continue to take our Notary services serious and honor the state laws, we remain licensed, certified, bonded and insured. One more step that we take to ensure that our clients/customers feel comfortable with our service and trusting us to process their confidential documents, we remain yearly background screened.
Our Mission ~
Our mission is simple, how we get there is unique, "trust, honesty, commitment, understanding and patience." Alabama Notary Services is on a mission to be the preferred, Notary Public of choice, in the witness "document signing industry, and document authentication services.
" Thank you so much for your business and trusting our services."
Notary Signing Agent ~ Real Estate Closing Agent
WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC ~
WHAT IS A NOTARY PUBLIC?
The Notary's term of office is four years and is applicable state-wide. He/She is an officer of the state of Alabama and is appointed by the Probate Judge of their county. As the name implies, a Notary Public is a public officer located in the community so that he or she may be of service to the public. Our laws consider certain instruments of such importance that they must be signed by the maker in the presence of a public officer, the Notary Public.
NOTARY RECORD KEEPING.
Before a notarization is executed, a Notary's primary duties include requesting a valid non-expired photo i.d., such as a driver’s license, military i.d, or a valid non-expired passport, to identify the signer. With legislative enactment of Act No. 2011-295 (Section 2), the requirement was repealed that each Alabama Notary "keep a fair register of all his/her official acts" (formerly COA 36-20-7), effective January 1, 2012. Notary's may keep records. Even with enactment of Act No. 2011-295, nothing prevents an Alabama Notary from continuing or beginning to keep a record of all officials acts. However, it is highly recommended and is supported by the Alabama Secretary of State's Office that the notary should continue to record every notarization act into a Notary journal. Be very detailed with your recordings. Should there be any question regarding the Notary's transaction, your log will verify the information.
NOTARY PUBLIC QUALIFICATIONS & APPLICATION.
Consumer must provide proof of residency, must apply in the county of his/her residency, must be 18 years of age, and must be capable of posting a $25,000.00 bond with the Notary application, including a $10.00 fee for the issuance of a Notary commission. If a convicted felon who has not served in office, receives a pardon, which specifically restores his/her civil and political rights, such pardon removes the disability accompanying a felony conviction, including the ineligibility to hold office. Please note, it is highly encouraged that you also purchase E & O Insurance (errors & omissions insurance) to protect yourself should you become sued. The general required notary bond protects the signer, not the notary, therefore it is encouraged to add additional protection to cover your legal fees should you be part of or named in a lawsuit and it can happen to you! " It is strongly advised, if you are not required to be a notary, then do not apply. "
NOTARY GENERAL INFORMATION.
Should you have an elder person that needs a document notarized, please be careful. You may need to ask very carefully if they are aware of what he/she is signing. The Notary is not authorized to practice law or give legal advice. The Notary may not take acknowledgments over the telephone or take an acknowledgment because he recognizes the signature or a friend states that it is the person's signature. If appointed, you must never take an acknowledgment unless the person being acknowledged appears before you, otherwise, the whole purpose is defeated, and this will prevent fraud and forgery. Notaries are important because they provide safety to business transactions. But, unless the notary does the job correctly, serious legal problems can result for the notary!
ROLE AND POWERS OF THE NOTARY.
The role, function and powers of the Notary Public are vastly misunderstood. There is a natural tendency to downplay the importance of notarization's in executing legal documents and instruments. It seems that they are easily treated as inconsequential. Whether the notarization is performed as a mailer of statutory compliance or as a means of enhancing the security of a transaction, it is an act and function of law. It is not inconsequential. Civil and criminal consequences of wrongful notarization’s can be surprisingly severe. Attorneys are bond by the canons of ethics to ensure the correct and truthful performance of notarization's under their supervision. The prudent attorney ensures that notarization's under his supervision are performed competently and truthfully.
A Notary Public is a public officer whose function is: To administer oaths; and to attest and certify, by his/her signature and official seal, certain classes of documents, in order to give them credit and authenticity; and to take acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances and certify the same; and to perform certain official acts, chiefly in commercial matters, such as the protesting of notes and bills, the notice of foreign drafts, and marine protests in cases of damage.
State-at-large; may perform duties of the office State-wide; 2. Civil law notary; for attorneys only
EVERY NOTARY IN AMERICA HAS A LEGAL DUTY TO KNOW 4 important principles:
Know your state's notary laws; Know the difference between notary laws and notary folklore (the former is binding upon you, the latter will only get you into trouble); Know the standards of reasonable care for every notarial act; and Know to STOP the notarization if you feel that fraud is present.
Effective January 1, 2012, Alabama Notaries may seal documents with either their seal embosser or their seal inking stamp, code of Alabama (COA 36-20-72) . Formerly, only an embosser was permitted. However, when a document is authenticated, apostilled, or certified, the embosser must be used, and you may also affix an ink seal.
Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility Guiding Principles and Notary Knowledge:
The Notary shall, as a government officer and public servant, serve all the public in an honest, fair and unbiased manner. The Notary shall act as an impartial witness and not profit or gain from any document or transaction requiring a notarial act, apart from the fee allowed by statute. The Notary shall not execute a false or incomplete certificate, nor be involved with any document or transaction that is false, deceptive or fraudulent.
The Notary shall require the presence of each signer and oath-taker in order to carefully screen each for identity and willingness, and to observe that each appears aware of the significance of the transaction requiring a notarial act. The Notary shall affix a seal on every notarized document and not allow this universally recognized symbol of office to be used by another or in an endorsement or promotion.
The Notary shall record every notarial act in a bound journal or other secure recording device and safeguard it as an important public record. These records can be subpoenaed if needed by the court. The Notary shall respect the privacy of each signer and not divulge or use personal or proprietary information disclosed during execution of a notarial act for other than an official purpose.
The Notary shall give precedence to the rules of law over the dictates or expectations of any person or entity. The Notary shall act as a ministerial officer and not provide unauthorized advice or services. The Notary shall seek instruction on notarization, and keep current on the laws, practices, and requirements of the notarial office. If you stay on this path, you should not encounter any notarial problems.
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