Mobile Notary Review

Summer Jail Marriage Sale

2009-07-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

The warm days of summer are officially upon us and in order to celebrate we are offering a discount on our jail marriage services. From now until August 31st if you and a friend both use our services (preferably on the same days) we will take 10% off.

For jail weddings at Men’s Central or Twin Towers that can represent a savings of $50! The more friends you refer the higher the discount. Please contact us today @ 888-229-8452.

We service jails and detention centers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura County.

Not all appointments run smoothly

2009-07-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today was my 3rd time (yes, I did say third) trying to complete a notarization in the LA County jail system for a client.

My first attempt was last Thursday, which due to a miscommunication was not completed. I went back to the jail the following day but I was still unable to complete the notarization because a lock down was called.

Because of the previous troubles, I decided it might be better to get his signature in court (which I've done plenty of times before) but the bailiff decided to call his supervisor for permission and of course I was denied. So once again the appointment must be rescheduled.

Some appointments run so smoothly that you almost feel guilty charging a fee, then there are those that make you question your sanity.

Mobile Notary Available By Appointment

2009-07-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

I always say you never need a notary, until you need a notary and if you are looking for a notary to travel to you give The Document Diva a call!

The Document Diva is available for day, evening, weekend and holiday appointments. Whether it is a residence, business, jail, detention center, courthouse, convalescent home or hotel we strive to painlessly accommodate the needs of our customers.

We can be reached @ (562) 314-4319. Most phone calls are answered immediately but if for some reason we are not available voicemails are returned within 15 minutes.

Notarizing Your Power Of Attorney

2009-05-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

A power of attorney is a notarized document that gives an appointed agent the power to act on someone else's behalf in legal or business matters. Powers of attorney are especially important if a loved becomes hospitalized or incarcerated because they may physically be unable to handle necessary transactions.

If a power of attorney is required to handle financial matters it is best to check with the bank to verify that they will accept the POA. Some banks, such as Bank of America, require their own documentation to be notarized in order to appoint an attorney-in-fact.

If you or a loved one require a mobile notary to notarize your power of attorney in the greater Long Beach area please contact The Document Diva @ (562) 314-4319.

Successful Notary Tip #11 Setting Your Travel Fee

2009-04-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

If you decide to take your notary business mobile you will have to set an appropriate travel fee. When setting your travel fee there are a few things to take into consideration:

Travel time - time spent traveling back and forth to your appointment.
Length of appointment - a notarization at a jail or hospital may take longer than at an office.
Your competition - your travel fee should be comparable to other notaries in the your area, not too high or too low.
Income - how much would you be satisfied with making for an hour of your time?

When considering your time do not forget that time includes preparing for your appointment, traveling to the location, time spent at the location and travel back home.

Most importantly know your worth! You offer a specialized service. If it was so easy to be a notary more people would be notaries. Do not be so hungry for business you undervalue your service but do not be so uptight you price yourself out of the market.

Focus on becoming a brand that offers such good service you develop repeat customers versus a commodity that can be found anywhere. What makes your business different is you!

Related Blogs:

Successful Notary Tip #10 - Spoil Your Customers

Successful Notary Tip #9 - Use Your Embosser

Successful Notary Tip #8 - Just Try It!

New Year Blog Post

2009-03-15T23:20:00.000-07:00

I'm baaaaaccckk! I can't believe I haven't posted a blog new since 2008! While I have not posted I've been busy in the notary world. Below are a few pictures from my recent adventures.

I have had two firsts recently. I completed my first notarization at a race track (I wish I had taken a picture of my shoes after I almost fell in mud near a horse) and at a cruise ship terminal. I was also able to enjoy a beautiful California day in Palos Verdes after a notarization.

I hope you enjoy!

Holiday, Evening Weekend Mobile Notary

2008-12-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

If you have ever needed a document notarized on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or after hours you are aware it can be quite difficult to find a notary. Well, I'm here to tell you that The Document Diva is available to notarize documents when her clients need her the most.

If you are in need of a weekend, holiday or evening notarization please do not hesitate to give The Document Diva a call at (562) 314-4319.

Christmas, New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July (Independence Day)

Mobile Notary Downtown Long Beach

2008-12-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

If you live or work in the Downtown Long Beach area The Document Diva is available to meet all of your notary needs. We are strictly a traveling notary service so we can meet you at a time and location that is convenient for you.

Whether it is a business, residence, hospital, hotel, convalescent home, law office, airport, restaurant or any other agreed upon location we look forward to providing you excellent service.

Mobile Notary services provided to all Long Beach neighborhoods.

4th Street Corridor, Alamitos Beach, Alamitos Heights, Arlington, Belmont Heights, Belmont Park, Belmont Shore, Bixby Knolls, Bixby Village, Bluff Heights, Bluff Park, Broadway Corridor, California Heights, Carroll Park, Central Area, Craftsman Village, Downtown Long Beach, Drake Park, East Village, Eastside, El Dorado Park, El Dorado Park Estates, El Dorado South, Hellman, Imperial Estates, Lakewood Village, Cambodia Town (Little Phnom Penh), Long Beach Marina, Los Altos, Los Cerritos - Virginia Country Club, Memorial Heights, Naples, North Long Beach, Park Estates, Peninsula, Ranchos, Rose Park, Shoreline Village, Stearns Park, Saint Mary's, Sunrise, Terminal Island, Traffic Circle, University Park Estates, Washington School, West Long Beach, Willmore City, Wrigley North and South, Wrigley Heights, Zaferia

Tips to Pass the 2010 Census Test

2008-12-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

The following are tips to passing the 2010 Census Exam:

Call your local Census Bureau office to schedule your test.

Download the census practice test - this is a must as you only have 30 minutes for 28 questions and they are not easy questions.

Set aside a minimum of 2 hours on the day of the test to fill out the paperwork, take the test and to receive your score.

Bring your ID and social security card, or just your passport.

To pass the census test you must answer at least 10 questions correct but the higher your score the faster you will be hired. You are allowed to retake the exam if you do not pass or you would like to try for a higher score.

2010 Census Is Hiring

2008-12-17T12:34:00.000-08:00

With the hundreds of layoffs in recent months it is rare to hear of an employer hiring but with the 2010 Census around the corner the Federal Government is in need of thousands of employees.

From the website:

"The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home.

Census taker jobs are excellent for retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community."

You can find your local Census Office with their interactive map to schedule a test.

Cute Doggie Pics

2008-12-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

Aren't these the cutest dogs ever?

I Swore In An Attorney Today

2008-12-11T23:10:00.000-08:00

Today I had first. I was found on the internet by a gentleman who recently passed his bar exam and he needed to be sworn in by a notary to legally start practicing law.

He missed the swearing-in ceremony at his school because he was out of town but thankfully the CA State Bar Association offers alternatives. One of the options was to be sworn in by a notary.

He read the Attorney's Oath:

"I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counselor at law to the best of my knowledge and ability."

After reading the oath I notarized his signature. It was quick and painless. It's always fun to find new ways to use my notary stamp.

Easy Online Notary Classes

2008-12-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Online education is all the rage these days as more than a few schools are offering this option to their students.

If your life is as busy as mine, sitting in a classroom is not on your list of favorite things to do. When I needed to renew my notary license I was happy to find that this also could be accomplished online.

I found the simplest way to renew or to become a notary was online with Golden State Notary. When I renewed my notary license earlier this year I found the process pretty painless.

After I downloaded and printed the training materials I simply watched the streaming video to meet the State of CA mandated hour requirement. Once I finished viewing the videos I was able to print the confirmation certificate that I needed to take the notary test.

Whether you choose DVD or online you can painlessly renew or become a notary from the comfort of your home with Golden State Notary.

Cute Doggie Picture

2008-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of my sister's dog, Pepe. Doesn't he look too cute?

The Holiday Slow Down Has Begun

2008-12-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

With November comes a disease called holidayitis aka holiday slow down. The symptoms of this yearly phenomenon hits the masses as everyone starts to slow down as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

The business world is affected with less e-mail, fewer returned phone calls and just an overall work slow down. Instead of concentrating on work many are focusing on their upcoming vacation.

Personally, I plan to use the increased free time to declutter, get organized and to prepare for entering 2009. My goal is to enter the new year prepared with a revised business plan, marketing plan and ready for an increase in business.

A question to my readers:

How is your year end turning out? What have you learned that you plan to use in 2009?

Southern California Networking Meeting

2008-12-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Notary Networking Meeting for Notary Business Owners at:

PAT & OSCARS

29375 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591
January 17th, 2009 at 12:00 PM to 5:00 P.M.

$25 fee (Payable thru Paypal at the TheDocxpert Store) notarydocxpert.com
(Please note that we are not accepting fees at the door!)

Join us for an afternoon of exciting ways to supplement and enhance your Notary Business!

The Elite Notary Network has put together this event to attract and welcome our Notaries from all over the Inland Empire and beyond. Come listen and learn from our fine panel of speakers. Enjoy the delicious atmosphere and dine at one of the most popular restaurants in the area!

Embrace excellent marketing ideas that can enhance your Notary Business
Meet and network with our fellow notaries (BRING your business cards!)
Win fabulous prizes

Meet our panel of speakers:

American Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants
Vikki Watanabe

Travel Agent of YTB
Marlene Blyden

H&R Block Tax Preparer for the Notary Public
Wendy M. Waits

Any Questions??? Call Cynthia James, 951-440-9928

Cheryl Andersen, 951-514-9205

Millions of Loans Modifications Coming

2008-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of loan modifications may be soon under way. The government is considering a plan that would help 3 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. The plan would include loan modifications that would lower their interest rate for five years.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, more than 4 million homeowners were at least a month behind on their mortgage in June and 500,000 had started the foreclosure process so some type of plan is desperately needed.

Some banks have already started allowing borrowers to modify their existing loan. JP Morgan announced last week that they are starting a new program to stem the number of foreclosures and they will not put any homes in foreclose for the next 90 days while they implement the plan.

JP Morgan's progam will also include Washington Mutual and EMC clients, which they acquired earlier this year.

Bank of America will start loan modifications Dec. 1 that are expected to cover about 400,000 loans previously held by Countrywide.

I look forward to the help borrowers will receive under these loan modifications.

The Document Diva can easily handle the notarization of your loan modification. The cost, including travel and notarization, is $50 for an individual and $60 for a couple.

Credible Witnesses - The Human ID

2008-11-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

Picture ID is required in order to have a document notarized. And this is not just any ID, it must be government issued, such as a passport, driver's license or identification card.

On rare occasions, I have been asked to notarize a document for someone that is unable to produce ID. CA notary law allows a way around this problem.

If the client does not have ID then they must produce two credible witnesses that can vouch for their identity. The credible witnesses must have identification and they must affirm under oath the following:

The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the
person named in the document;
The credible witnesses personally knows the signer;
The credible witnesses reasonably believe that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification;
The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the signer’s identity;
The credible witnesses do not have a financial interest and are not named in the document signed.

They both must sign the notary journal and their ID must be input in the journal.

Having a Bad Day? Smile

2008-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Elwood, 2008 World's Ugliest Dog. This is a face only a mother could love but I think it is hilarious. He reminds me of a Gremlin.

Successful Notary Tip #10 - Spoil Your Customers

2008-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Excellent customer service is essential, especially for the small business owner. As the owner of a small business you do not have the luxury of spending hundreds of dollars to get new customers so you have to work to retain the customers you have. It often takes less work to maintain your current client base than to acquire new ones.

It is always good to develop a process that works for you. My customer service process is to send every new client a thank you card within a week of our appointment. Repeat clients receive chocolate chips cookies from DoubleTree Hotel (absolutely to die for). Persons who refer me business are sent gift cards in varying amounts. I also give new clients my business card and a magnet with the same information, something they are less likely to easily loose.

Quality customer service is one more way to set yourself apart and become a successful notary.

Quote:

Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends. - WALT DISNEY

Sometimes You Need the Patience of Job

2008-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Book of Job in the Bible details how the righteous man Job endured severe trials with great patience. He never once allowed himself to loose his cool so to speak. Patience can come in handy in the notary field.

You may have to wait hours for loan docs, encounter a borrower who is a reader or your client may be older so it may take them longer to understand the notary process. Three times last week I had to exercise GREAT patience.

First, I had a client that needed three documents apostilled that were destined for Croatia. She was older and failed to realize that she would need identification in order for her documents to be notarized so I had to reschedule our appointment until she was able to get two credible witnesses with ID that could vouch for her identity.

Second, a client needed an inability to appear affidavit notarized by her finance who was incarcerated. The detention center was in San Bernardino, which is an hour from Long Beach. Not only was this a distance but the staff at the jail was extremely slow.

Jail notarizations in Los Angeles County usually take no more than 15 minutes but this one took an hour! I left at 11 a.m. and did not return until 3 p.m. so it was a long day.

Lastly, on Wednesday the borrower was quite quite a talker. The loan should have taken no more than an hour to sign but it took 2 hours! No matter how I tried to move things along he just would not budge. Very nice gentleman but just lively.

As they say, patience is a virtue and may need to be exercised from time to time in the notary profession.

Successful Notary Tip #9 - Use Your Embosser

2008-10-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

What sets one notary apart from another? Some may think a notary is a notary so one has to work to distinguish oneself. One way to do this is to use an embosser with gold seals in addition to a notary stamp.

The embosser impresses the same information that is on your notary stamp - your name, commission number and state of commission on to the gold seal. So few notaries use gold seals that your client will be instantly impressed.

I also use my embosser when I attach a loose leaf certificate to a document. I make an impression through both documents so that one can tell the documents belong together. This is useful in deterring fraud.

Gold seals are also important for documents being used internationally, especially in an international adoption. International governments favor gold seals.

Work to set yourself apart - use your embosser!

Successful Notary Tip #8 - Just Try It!

2008-10-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

When it comes to marketing your business there are no hard and fast rules. What works for one person or business may not work for another. If you have a marketing idea the best thing to do, if it's in your budget, is to give your idea a try.

Some people will swear against cold calling, canvassing, mailers, e-mail marketing, networking groups and promotional giveaways but then there are others that have built their business using these techniques. Since the notary business has been slow in my neck of the woods I decided to give cold calling a try.

Cold calling is definitely not on the top of my list of favorite things to do but I figured it could not hurt. To my surprise the response I received was 99% positive. Because I am offering a service and not trying to sell anything, the person on the other end of the phone was happy to learn that I was available to perform mobile notary services.

So next time you have a marketing idea give it a try!

Successful Notary Tip #7 - Canvass Your Area

2008-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Before the loan industry enabled notaries to become Loan Signing Agents notaries mostly worked for the public notarizing general legal documents.

Well, as of 2008 there has been a significant slow down in the amount of loans being processed, which results in less work for Loan Signing Agents.

It is always important to market your services, and even more important during slow times. In order to drum up business a fellow notary and I decided to canvass our local business districts. We focused on businesses we knew would use our services, such as lawyers, CPAs and financial planners.

Initially, it was a nerve-wrecking experience because we were confronted with no soliciting signs at every turn but we decided to proceed anyway. We let the person at the front desk know we were mobile notaries in the area and we were available for all their notary needs. We handed them a business card and a freebie (ie. desk calendar).

To our surprise almost everyone we encountered was happy to receive our information and thanked us for stopping by. We got questions about our availability and the cost of our services. And most importantly, we never once got thrown out of a building.

So if notary work in your area has decreased take some time to canvass for business. You may be pleasantly surprised with increased revenue.

Related Posts:
Successful Notary Tip #6 - Always Be Marketing

New Series: Successful Notary Tips

New Website Launch - InmateNotary.com

2008-10-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Document Diva is happy to announce the launch of a new website catering to the needs of inmates, lawyers and inmate family members. We have recently launched InmateNotary.com!

We provide mobile notary services to jails, courts, detention centers and prisons in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Most jails offer professional visiting hours M-F so we can usually process the signing of the documents within an hour. An attorney need not be present the day of signing. We handle the signing and notarization.

Common forms needing notarization by inmates are powers of attorney, affidavit of inability to appear, health care directives and financial documents.

Related Posts:

Bride or Groom Unable to Appear?

Caught on the Wrong Side of the Law