National
Contrary to popular belief, issuance of a medallion signature guarantee is not a standard duty of America’s notaries public. Instead, this service is performed only by certain banking and financial institutions. Understanding what a medallion signature guarantee is and how to obtain one can help both notaries and persons in need of this service.
For many new notaries, receiving a notary commission is a joyous occasion. Be aware that although you may want to celebrate by sharing a photograph of your notary certificate or stamp impression online, you should refrain from it in order to minimize your risk of a scammer impersonating you!
Read more: Protect Your Commission Certificate and Stamp Image!
Notaries are trusted to be unbiased and impartial in every notarial act they perform. Conflicts of interest can occur when a Notary has additional interests such as gaining a financial or material benefit from the transaction. A Notary acting out of self-interest can compromise trust in the notarial act, and raise questions about the transaction. They can also be held financially responsible for damages.
Effective January 1, 2025, every Georgia notary public who performs a notarial act at the request of a “self-filer” must document the notarial act in a “written” (paper) or electronic journal.