We will be open 8 am-1 pm Monday, July 4, 2022.
Please don’t be offended if…
To my dear clients
Please don’t be offended if in this time of pandemic that I don’t hug you, even if you’re a repeated client that’s become a friend or shake your hand as you welcome me into your home.
I think we can all agree, that we’re having to adapt to new social norms, and hope you’ll accept my ‘jazz hands’ or shaka as an appropriate greeting instead at this time.
Summertime & Back to School Shopping
We’re in the midst of summer and I’ve been notarizing a lot of (last minute) parental consent to travel with minor forms lately. Looks like a lot of fun trips to be had. As people come back and start to gear up for back to school and back to school shopping, it reminds me of when I was a child and getting a new pair of shoes each year (i went to parochial school and wore a uniform, so shoes were pretty special). Many children do not have that luxury these days, they quickly grow out of the shoes they have, buy second hand shoes at thrift stores, as well as their clothes, if they dont get them second hand. I’m happy to take part in a Back to School Shoe drive with Ssamaritan House of San Mateo. From July 14 through August 11, I will be donating all of my travel fee funds to purchasing new school shoes for children ages 11-16 who are clients for Samaritan House. I’m so thankful that I was able to have both the education I had as a child, as well as new school shoes each year.
Thursday Trivia – Don’t Have a Cow!
In 2014 AB924 went into effect which authorizes the Secretary of State to deny, suspend or revoke the commission of a Notary for grand theft of the carcass of cattle or other animals as provided in Penal Code Section 487a(a).
Verification for I9 for Employment
It has become standard practice in the last few years for Employers (especially those out of state or country) to request a Notary to verification identification for I9 forms. Most likely because the notary is aware of what correct identification documents look like as they utilize them in their day to day notary work.
However this is not something that is allowed in the State of California, unless, the notary is also an Immigration Consultant.
As we’ve had a couple of requests again lately to verify I9 documents we’re publishing the following from the California Secretary of State Notary Newsletter January 2017.
A notary public may notarize the signature on a document affecting the immigration or citizenship status of any person; however, under current law,a notary public who is not also an immigration consultant cannot do the verification tasks in
connection with completing immigration forms because this activity is prohibited by the broad language of California Government Code section 8223.
Only an attorney, a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice, or a person who is registered by the California Secretary of State and bonded as an immigration consultant under the California Business and Professions Code section 22441 may assist a client in completing immigration forms. Additional information concerning immigration consultants, including the offering of non-legal assistance or advice on immigration matters, the qualifications to act as an immigration consultant and the requirements of an immigration
consultant can be found in California Business and Professions Code section 22440 et seq.
The I-9 Federal Employment Verification Form is an immigration document in that it covers both citizensand noncitizens and also requires the employer or employer’s authorized representative to record and verify data. The duties of an immigration consultant
cover these tasks too. Even if a notary public is functioning in a non-notarial capacity and does not use the phrase “notary public,” a notary public who is not also an immigration consultant is prohibited from completing the I-9 Federal Employment Verification Form.
Acceptable forms of Identification for Notarizations
Effective January 1, 2017, Assembly Bill 2566, in conjunction with Senate Bill 997 amends Civil Code Section 1185, making the following changes:
- Foreign passports are no longer required to have a current visa stamp from USCIS or DHS.
- A valid consular identification card issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship now acceptable.
- An ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government is now acceptable.
Notary Fee Increase Effective January 1, 2017
With the passing of AB2217 and signed into law by Governor Brown and recorded with the Secretary of State on August 17, 2016, our fees for signatures will be increasing on January 1, 2017. The fee schedule will be as follows:
-For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or other instrument, to include the seal and the writing of the certificate, the sum of fifteen dollars ($15) for each signature taken.
-For administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including the seal, the sum of fifteen dollars ($15).
-For certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Section 4307 of the Probate Code the sum of fifteen dollars ($15)
Our travel fees will remain unchanged at this time.