Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Notary Education - A Long Term Commitment
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- Published: December 27, 2019
Notary education is selectively required from state to state. However, a growing trend in the United States suggests that mandatory education and/or examination may become a requirement for more states in the future.
It is so critical to a notary’s success that they understand their duties and their obligation to complete these duties lawfully and ethically. Currently, fewer than one-third of the states require some formal training prior to appointment. Regardless of state requirements, notaries everywhere should commit to the initial and continued study of their practice.
A notary who is devoted to his or her education is taking a valuable step toward minimizing their risk. Do not think of education as a hurdle. Instead think of it as an investment in your notary career. There are a variety of duties a notary may perform in any given day and many of these duties involve sensitive information and liability. Being fluent and competent in notary practice is the best way to avoid making costly mistakes. Mistakes like notarizing incomplete documents, or notarizing for a signer who isn’t present, are very common and can result in the notary finding themselves in the middle of a lawsuit.
A good notary education course will cover essential topics such as:
- Functions and ethics of notaries public
- Qualifications and the appointment process
- Personal liability and disciplinary actions
- Authorized notarial duties and prohibited acts
- General guidelines for less common notarial acts or unusual situations
When it comes to notary training, learning this subject matter once will not be sufficient. Laws and rules change year-to-year. It’s essential that a notary keep their finger on the pulse of their business by regularly seeking refresher training.