The Document signer must personally appear before the Notary at time of notarization - not before, nor after.  A telephone call from the signer or the Notary's familiarity with a signature is not personal appearance.

The Notary must identify the signer through either (1) personal knowledge or (2)  vouching of personally known reliable, uninvolved witness who is under oath or (3) current government-issued ID card with photograph and physical description.

The Notary must be impartial and disinterested and not notarize a document bearing Notary's name or signature or that of Notary's spouse or relative, or document which in any way benefits the Notary.

The Notary must make a record of each notarization and require document signer to affix signature - and, if necessary, thumbprint - in official journal of notarial acts.

The Notary must hold and scan document to note unfilled blanks and glean information (title, name of signer(s), number of pages, etc.) for recording in journal of notarial acts.

 The Notary must not certify a copy of a birth certificate or other vital record or of a recordable document such as a deed.  Copies of these documents must be issued only by the appropriate public records custodian.

What is Annual Percentage Rate?
This is not the note rate for which the borrower applied. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the cost of the loan in percentage terms taking into account various loan charges of which interest is only one such charge. Other charges used in calculation of the Annual Percentage Rate are Private Mortgage Insurance or FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (when applicable) and Prepaid Finance Charges (loan discount, origination fees, prepaid interest and other credit costs). The APR is calculated by spreading these charges over the life of the loan which results in a rate higher than the interest rate shown on your Mortgage/Deed of Trust Note. If interest was the only Finance Charge, then the interest rate and the Annual Percentage Rate would be the same.

What are Prepaid Finance Charges?
Prepaid Finance Charges are certain charges made in connection with the loan and which must be paid upon the close of the loan. These charges are defined by the Federal Reserve Board in Regulation Z and the charges must be paid by the borrower. Non-Inclusive examples of such charges are: Loan origination fee, "Points" or Discount, Private Mortgage Insurance or FHA Mortgage Insurance, and Tax Service Fee. Some loan charges are specifically excluded from the Prepaid Finance Charge such as appraisal and credit reports.

Prepaid Finance charges are totaled and then subtracted from the Loan Amount (the face amount of the Mortgage Note). The net figure is the Amount Financed.

What do the Financed Charge mean on the Truth-In-Lending Statement?
The amount of interest, prepaid finance charge and certain insurance premiums (if any) which the borrowers will be expected to pay over the life of the loan.

What do the Amount Finance on the Truth-in-Lending Statement mean?
The Amount Financed is the loan amount applied for less the prepaid finance charges. Prepaid Finance charges can be found on the Good Faith Estimate/Settlement Statement (HUD-1 or HUD-1A). For example if the borrower's note is for $100,000.00 and the Prepaid Finance Charges total $5,000.00, the Amount Financed would be $95,000.00. The Amount Financed is the figure on which the Annual Percentage Rate is based.

What does the Total of Payments represent on the Truth-in-Lending Statement?
This figure represents the total of all payments made toward principle, interest, and mortgage insurance (if applicable) over the life of the loan.

What does the dollar figure in the Payment Schedule represent?
The dollar figure in the Payment Schedule represent principle, interest, plus Private Mortgage Insurance (if applicable) over the life of the loan. These figures will not reflect taxes and insurance escrows or any temporary buy down payments contributed by the seller.

How do I become a Notary Public?
To become a Notary Public depends largely on the State you are a resident. Contact the Notary Division in the Secretary of State's office and request a notary application packet and/or information.

When can a Notary Public refused to notarize a document?
Some states have strong laws prohibiting refusal of notary services. Check with your Secretary of State office. With proper ID and a completed form, the notarization should be straightforward. Rarely should a notary refuse a notarial service to a customer, unless issues of force, coercion or fraud is apparent. 

A notary should not notarize a signature on a document with blank spaces. The document is incomplete. The spaces should be filled in, if only with "n/a" or "not applicable.

Contact Information 
Notary Public: Faneice T. O'Neal 
Phone: 1-760-855-1779
Fax: 1-760-233-1561
E-mail: mobilenotary@onealProductions.com

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