The mobile Notary and Signing Agent experience can be a bit like that of a rideshare driver, process server, or electrician: when you get called out for a job, you really don’t know where you are going and what to expect.
Most of the time, the signing location is nice and comfortable, and the signers are pleasant. But every once in a while, things don’t go quite how you would expect. That’s why in a recent “Question of the Week,” we asked our Notary community: What’s the worst place where you had to perform a notarization?
With 165 responses so far, your stories were eye-opening. Here are a few highlights:
Marta Hinojosa had a few memories she’d likely prefer to forget:
“In my 10 years as a Notary there’s been some crazy ones. Near a pig in a cage, at a home that had a mouse trap on the table as we were signing, in baggage claim at the airport, with a crying soon to be ex-wife and hubby, the list is endless!!”
Debbie Barnett recalls a situation that was downright puzzling:
“In a hoarder's home that reeked of cigarettes ... I asked for a table to sign the documents on and they pointed to their kitchen table. Problem was it had a jigsaw puzzle across the entire surface. Yeah, no, that's not going to work. They pulled out a folding card table and set it up on the patio instead. Much better than signing on a puzzle.”
For some Notaries like Jaime Chau, the situations are happening now, in real time:
“Today I had one in a house with 10 cats, 3 dogs inside and 9 peacocks, 13 turkeys, 2 horses and bunch of chickens, the smell and the noise surely drove me crazy, yet I still had to keep smiling and professional manner. As soon as I checked the docs after signing, I just rushed out of the house.”
And then there’s this gem from Jessie Calderon, in which apparently a few prayers were in order:
“(The signing was) Quite a drive out of town. It was getting close to dark and outside on fence was a sign that said ‘Stay Out!! You Must Have Permission First or You WILL be Shot!’ (I couldn't confirm the closing date and time but was instructed by the hiring company to go anyway.) My husband went with me because he wouldn't agree for me to go so far away from home by myself. When we went through the gate my husband did the sign of the cross! Lol.”
And then there’s Courtney Burbank, whose unusual signing location was a gift that kept on giving:
“My carport, in the middle of a thunderstorm, in 2020, when Title Companies were to be shut down, but we still had to close loans. Between being a title agent, a tax collector, and a Notary, my carport saw a lot of traffic that year.”
Every week on social media we ask you — the nation’s Notaries — to share your experiences on our “Question of the Week” threads. With responses ranging from the highest highs to the lowest lows, the Notary community gives us a glimpse into what day-to-day life is like for Notaries everywhere. We’d love for you to join in the conversation! Look for our “Questions of the Week” on the National Notary Association’s Facebook page. We can’t wait to hear your stories.
Note: Some responses above were lightly edited for grammar, style, and clarity.
Phillip Browne is Vice President of Communications at the National Notary Association.