Pam Adame, Mobile Notary Services
As a Notary we play a very important role in assessing our clients and preventing fraud. Below are some points when working with the senior population.
As a notary, it is important to ensure that the signer is both competent and willing to sign to prevent fraud and ensure awareness of legal consequences.
To assess competency, the notary should consider the signer’s age, ensure understanding of the document and its purpose, assess mental capacity, and have an ombudsman or patient advocate present if needed.
Notaries should consider the potential influence of drugs and alcohol when assessing competency, document any observations in the journal, and consult with a physician if necessary.
To assess willingness, notaries should confirm voluntary signing without coercion or undue influence, and have one-on-one conversations with the signer if needed.
Notaries must take responsibility for these assessments seriously to protect the legal rights of all parties involved and decline to notarize the document if there is any doubt about the signer’s competency or willingness.
Assessing the competency and willingness of a signer is a crucial step in the notarization process. It is essential to ensure that the signer is aware of the legal consequences of their signature and that they are signing the document voluntarily. (CLIN)
Pam Adame
Mobile Notary