The Notary Hotline receives hundreds of calls daily from Notaries nationwide who find themselves in challenging situations. To boost your knowledge of Notary standards of practice, we’ve created a series of scenarios based on actual situations and ask a simple question: What would you do?
In this situation, a signer comes to your office with a document and requests a notarization. He tells you that he has power of attorney to sign for his wife, who is bedridden and unable to sign documents for herself. The signer says he would like to sign the document twice — once for himself, and once signing as attorney in fact on his wife’s behalf — and would like you to notarize both signatures.
However, when he presents you with the document, you realize it is a divorce settlement agreement for the signer and his absent wife.
What would you do?
Would you proceed with this notarization? Does the signer’s request meet the requirements of your state’s Notary laws? Do you have concerns because the husband is signing a document on behalf of his absent wife that potentially benefits him? What approach would you take in this scenario?
To participate in this week’s “What Would You Do?” scenario, share your answers in the comments section below. We may mention your response in next week’s Bulletin, where we offer the best possible answer(s) to this Notary challenge.
David Thun is the Assistant Managing Editor with the National Notary Association.
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