Be a SMART SIGNER!
What do I do if my documents have errors?
Many times we encounter mistakes made by law firms, real estate brokers, auto dealerships, etc. Everyone is human, everyone makes mistakes – but how do you fix it? What can I do if …?
The question is often put as “I’m at my notary signing, and there is an error in the paperwork. Who can fix it?”
As a general rule of thumb, here is what a notary agent CAN correct-
- Your name
- Your address
- Your date of birth
- Actual dates (of signing)
- Witness information
- Delivery information of signed documents (with author verification)
- Most other information pertinent to the signer of the document
- … all of these are based on communication with the actual document author/requestor and provided State or Federal Identification from the signer.
A notary signing agent CANNOT correct-
- Contract terms and conditions
- Statements of liability, etc.
- Any payment amounts, terms, etc.
- Any patent information, claims, etc.
- Any legal description of real property (real estate, automobiles, etc.)
- Specific document content authored first party by an attorney or other legal professional
- Specific medical information not already outlined elsewhere in the document
- … and in no circumstance can a notary agent act as an attorney and/or give what could be deemed as ‘legal’ advice.
Any reputable document provider will work with you to correct any error on their end. As a signer, DO NOT sign, or otherwise execute any document, once you know it is in error. Speak with your notary agent, and ask him/her to reach out to the author to get the corrections. Once you have signed a document, you cannot modify it.
A few more helpful tips for signers –
- Never sign any document that has been to sent to you from someone claiming to a local, state, or federal agency without verification.
- Never sign documents that arrive in the mail that are from unfamiliar sources.
- Never let anyone coax or coerce you into signing any document that you do not fully understand and agree with.
- Never sign on behalf of anyone unless legally authorized to do so (i.e. Power of Attorney).
- Never send copies of signed/notarized documents to anyone that you are not familiar with.
- Never sign a document for someone who claims that they “will have them notarized later on for you”
- Always use common sense, and if you have questions – ask them. You own your signature, no one else.
- Always select a verified Notary Public. It’s not at all rude to ask for proof of good standing, insurance, etc.
- Always keep a record of what you signed, when, where, and with whom.
- Always read over your documents for accuracy. If you find an error, STOP until it’s corrected.
- Always remember that your signature is a legal and binding action.
If you have questions, or if you find yourself with a document error, please feel free to reach out to us!
The most important rule to remember is if you are not certain of what you are signing, STOP.
- Contact the author of the document.
- If someone is pressuring you to sign, inform your Notary immediately.
- If someone has threatened you in any way, shape, or form tell your Notary and/or contact law enforcement at once. We will even make the call for you.
- If you are a senior citizen and someone has approached you with a “too good to be true offer”, do your homework. Most of these are scams that prey on the elderly.
- … and at all times, ask questions. A Notary is not an attorney, and cannot give legal advice, but they are typically capable of detecting activities that may be fraudulent.
At HOP2IT, LLC we make every effort to protect our clients.
