Hi there! My name is Makayla, and I will be your host for today. For a notary public, the work to be done may only involve witnessing signature marks on legal documents, but these jobs do take some rather dark, unexpected turns indeed. Following are seven of the scariest and most memorable stories told by a seasoned Notary Public. To get the services of a professional Notary public in OKC, contact Keefe@PrivatelnvestigatorOKC.com or call (405) 407 – 2891.
A Risky Location with Dangerous Implications
While notarizing at home or business is very common, sometimes the setting itself creates safety considerations. One example was the visit to a tough neighborhood at night. The notary was nervous about the setting of the area, which seemed somber and dimly lit with few streetlights around. Upon arriving at the house and opening the door, the customer acted apprehensive immediately after, which in turn made the notary feel uneasy. The client was nervous inside, and it wasn’t until long before the notary learned something else was wrong with the setting. The notary was surrounded by numerous people who seemed into some fairly shady dealings, which would require them to remain calm and complete the assignment without compromising safety. Thankfully, it did not escalate. However, that could easily have been a wake-up call regarding how uncontrollable it could become to do mobile notary jobs.
Dealing with an Uncooperative Client
Once, the notary visited one client’s residence, almost being treated hostilely. He wanted some legal papers to be urgently notarized but got angry the moment he was asked some simple questions concerning the contents of the papers. The notary tried to explain, but he refused to budge and made unreasonable demands. It quickly escalated, and the client threatened to report the Notary for causing him further delays. One of the salient points that the Notary picked from this experience is that one needs to know when to walk away, keeping professional with hostile or abusive clients. It was good judgment on the part of the notary to leave, realizing no piece of paper is worth the safety or well-being of a person.
A Request for Fraudulent Documents
Another harrowing experience is when the notary was called upon to notarize documents that were fraudulent or doubtful. One client brought in a batch of documents that to any passing glance seemed valid. However, on closer look, the notary found some evidence of forgery. All the signatures seemed to appear as if they were written by the same person. More importantly, the client was dodgy and refused to answer even basic questions about the documents that required notarization. Indeed, taken altogether, it raised his suspicions as a notary, and when pushed, the client became hostile. Confronted with the very real possibility of becoming an accessory to a crime, there was little the notary could do but refuse the request. That case underlined how very important notaries can be in preventing fraud by identifying signers so that legal documents are valid.
The Tensions of a Family Dispute
Notarizing documents sometimes means witnessing much more than the actual signing in very tense situations. One such experience that really must have been quite unsettling had to do with the notarization of a will. The notary called and found a family there in tense silence. Just about the time they were to witness the client signing the will, it blew up with an argument between the family members. The different children of the testator filed against the terms of his will, some against others, each asserting more than others. Instantly, the argument scaled, with raised voices and fingers pointed at one another. The notary, feeling high, needed to cool himself down, reminding the family that all he was required to do was witness the signatures, not settle family disputes. Uncomfortable, yes, it was, but it just stated the obvious. Neutrality and professionalism are called for in sensitive situations like these.
The Demanding Client
Not every client is patient, and some expect notarizations to happen at lightning speed, regardless of the circumstances. The notary was called to meet a client at an inconvenient hour, late at night, with an urgent request to notarize several documents. Upon arrival, the notary found the client impatient and insistent on having the paperwork processed quickly. The time factor began to press on him when the notary was supposed to hurry up, which was a large stack of complicated paperwork. This all came to a head when he started yelling to hurry it up. He kept his cool and told them that notarization cannot be rushed when it involves the validity of the documents at stake. They gave in at the end to the notary’s professionalism, but it drove home once more an important factor. That is managing the clients’ expectations is equally important as performing the notary’s duties.
Mysterious Documents with No Clear Explanation
In this field of notary services, it does happen that clients sometimes present documents that, upon sight, raise several flags. One such disturbing experience involved one client who presented a whole heap of documents without any or, rather, minimal explanation of what they were for. On close study, the notary found no apparent indication of what they were for or why notarization was required. He became evasive as he asked other questions, answering vaguely and trying to avoid being specific. He refused to give in to the request as one needed proper identification, paramount in all these cases of notarization. It again drove it home just how important clarity and communication were within the notary process, or within the notary’s responsibility to make certain that the documents they were witnessing were valid.
An Attempted Identity Theft
Perhaps the scariest situation any notary may ever face is a case of attempted identity theft. The notary reported receiving a request for a notarization from a client in possession of what initially seemed to be a typical identification card. However, the notary did note some inconsistencies almost immediately. The photo on the ID looked years older, and the card had several red flags. The client realized he had been caught in his effort to present fraudulent identification and turned defensive. He tried everything from pleading with this notary to convincing him to accept those discrepancies. The notary continued resisting intimidation from his client and refused to notarize this document. This experience placed a premium on the important role notaries play in the prevention of identity theft and how one needed to be observant of such unlawful acts.
Conclusion
Notary work is as rewarding as it can be challenging. The experiences shared herein mirror just this kind of job unpredictability. In unsafe environments, a notary may also have to work into stolen or fraudulent documents. This profession is both about professionalism and flexibility in holding up the law when warranted. While most house calls by notaries go off without incident, some of the harrowing tales that follow bring into startling focus the very serious, often dangerous job that notaries do. It’s because of them that documents get executed properly, protecting the person and the larger legal system. So, for more details as regards our Notary Public services, visit us at https://www.oklahomaprivateinvestigations.com you can email us at vivien@ojpslegal.com.
