Lisa's 24 Hour Mobile Notary

06/03/2026

05/09/2026

Most people think a notary is simply someone who verifies identities and applies their notary stamp to documents. Even some notaries may think so when they first enter the profession. However, being a notary public involves much more than that.

A notary public is a person of proven integrity appointed or commissioned by their state’s government authority to serve the public as an impartial witness when taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, and performing other notarial acts allowed by law. To serve as a notary, an individual must take an oath of office, swearing or affirming to faithfully perform their duties in accordance with applicable law.

This definition may sound simple, but the responsibilities of a notary public are significant. A notary must understand their role, know the limits of their authority, remain impartial, follow the law, and perform every notarization correctly.

For example, when taking an acknowledgment, a notary must require the signer to personally appear before them, verify their identity, confirm they are aware of what they are signing, and ask them to acknowledge that they signed the document freely and willingly. The notary must also review the notarial certificate to make sure it contains the proper wording, complete it, record the notarization in a journal, and follow any additional procedures required under their state’s notary laws before applying their official signature and stamp.

Similarly, when performing a jurat, the notary follows many of the same steps required for an acknowledgment. However, a jurat is different because the signer is not acknowledging that they signed the document. Instead, the signer must sign the document in the notary’s presence and swear or affirm that the statements in the document are true.

When a party receives a notarized document, the party relies on the notarization as evidence that the notary properly performed the acts described in the notarial certificate. An incomplete or improperly performed notarization may delay a transaction, prevent a document from being accepted or recorded, or cause financial harm.

Affixing a notary stamp to a document, by itself, does not constitute a valid notarization. However, affixing the notary’s official stamp and signature to a completed notarial certificate serves as evidence that the notary performed the notarial act described in the certificate. By understanding their role and following proper notarial procedures, notaries help deter fraud, preserve the integrity of notarized documents, and maintain the public’s confidence in the notarial process.


Legal disclaimer: The American Association of Notaries is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information in our newsletters. However, it is important to note that the information provided in our newsletters is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. We do not claim to be attorneys and we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. You should always seek the advice of a licensed attorney for any legal matters. In no event shall the American Association of Notaries, its employees, or contractors be liable to you for any claims, penalties, losses, damages, or expenses, howsoever arising, including, and without limitation, direct or indirect loss, or consequential loss, out of or in connection with the use of the information contained in the American Association of Notaries newsletters. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate notary laws governing your state. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of their state’s notary authorities or attorneys if they have legal questions. If a section of this disclaimer is determined by any court or other competent authority to be unlawful and/or unenforceable, the other sections of this disclaimer continue in effect.

04/25/2026

04/25/2026

Deed Fraud: A System Failure, Not a Notary Failure

Imagine discovering that your home has been sold, transferred, or used as collateral without your knowledge. For a growing number of property owners, that is not just a fear, but a reality. Deed fraud is one of the most damaging forms of property crime because it can quietly take away a person’s most valuable asset and leave the rightful owner facing a long and costly legal battle to reclaim it. When deed fraud happens, the blame is often placed on notaries. But that response overlooks the real problem.

When you sell a car, you are generally required to present the official certificate of title issued in your name to prove that you own it and have the right to transfer it. But when it comes to a home, a recording office often does not require that same kind of direct proof before accepting a deed for recording. In many cases, all that is needed is a document that appears to satisfy the filing rules. A home is often far more valuable than a vehicle, yet the system may allow ownership records to be changed with less meaningful verification.

Recording offices are designed for speed and efficiency. Their job is to process a high volume of documents quickly so property transactions can move forward and public records can be maintained. But a system built for fast filing rather than meaningful verification creates an opening for fraud. It allows criminals to exploit a process that focuses more on whether a document looks complete and compliant than on whether the transaction is genuine.

Recording offices also often do not have the time or resources to verify whether the notary seal or stamp on a deed is legitimate. In today’s digital world, a fake notary seal can be created with common design software, and notary stamps may also be fraudulently obtained from vendors that fail to require proof of a valid notary commission. As a result, a forged deed may pass through the recording process without anyone confirming that the notarization itself is authentic.

Instead of addressing weaknesses in the recording system, lawmakers focus on enacting stricter notary regulations, thereby misunderstanding a notary’s limited role. The notary’s duties are ministerial in nature, which means a notary is not required to determine the legality of a document or the accuracy of its contents. Stricter notary regulations do not fix the problem; instead, they may discourage qualified individuals from serving.

Notaries should continue to do their part to help deter fraud, maintain the integrity of the notarial process, and preserve public trust. That includes requiring every signer to personally appear at the time of notarization, verifying each signer’s identity, properly recording notarial acts even when not required to do so by state law, safeguarding their notary seals, and promptly reporting any seal that is lost or stolen. Notaries should also consider carrying errors and omissions (E&O) insurance to help cover legal defense costs and other covered expenses resulting from unintentional mistakes or invalid claims.

04/13/2026

What is SC House Bill 3368 about?
House Bill 3368 would make South Carolina's tax code follow or conform to current federal tax law. In plain terms, it updates state rules, so they match certain changes made at the federal level. This may change your South Carolina refund or amount owed, so you may want to wait to file.
What the bill would do
Update South Carolina law to align with the current Internal Revenue Code, including provisions commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This could include aligning the state's standard deduction amounts with the federal amounts and excluding overtime and certain bonuses from gross income.

04/11/2026

Role: A notary public is an impartial official who verifies identities, witnesses signatures, and administers oaths to deter fraud.
Primary duties: Acknowledge signatures, administer oaths/affirmations, take affidavits/depositions, and certify copies (where allowed).
Identity verification: Notaries must confirm signers’ identity, typically via acceptable ID (government-issued photo ID) or credible witnesses per state rules.
Neutrality: Notaries must be impartial; they cannot notarize documents where they have a personal interest.
Signer presence: The signer must usually be physically present (some jurisdictions allow remote notarization under specific rules).
Recordkeeping: Many states require notaries to keep a journal/log of notarial acts and retain it for a set period.
Certificate wording: Notarial certificates must include specific wording, date, venue (jurisdiction), notary signature, and seal where required.
Notary seal: Seals/stamps often include the notary’s name, commission number, commission expiration, and jurisdiction; some places ban rubber stamps.
Commission/term: Notaries are commissioned by state government for a fixed term (varies by state) and may need education/exams.
Fees: States regulate maximum fees a notary may charge per act.
Remote/online notarization: Increasingly allowed under state laws with identity-proofing and audio-video technology; rules vary widely

02/04/2026

Listen 👂

01/21/2026

🚨🚨House Bill 1292 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Okoye of the 102nd, Burns of the 159th, Efstration of the 104th, Beverly
of the 143rd, Reeves of the 99th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Titles 44 and 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property
and public officers and employees, respectively, so as to require that real estate documents
presented by self-filers be recorded using electronic filing; to require the promulgation of
rules and regulations by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority to ensure
that persons presenting electronic documents for recording provide identifying information;
to require that notaries public keep a journal of each notarial act performed for a self-filer;
to provide for education and training requirements of notaries public; to provide for the
promulgation of rules and regulations; to amend Titles 10, 23, and 51 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to commerce and trade, equity, and torts, respectively, so as
to provide protections concerning real estate transactions; to require certain notices be
included in certain solicitations regarding the purchase of real property; to provide penalties;
to provide remedies for fraudulently recorded deeds or other instruments; to provide for the
recovery of costs and attorney's fees in certain quiet title actions; to provide for a civil cause
of action for the recording of fraudulent or forged deeds or other instruments; to provide for
related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
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PART I
SECTION 1-1.
Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property, is amended by
revising Code Section 44-2-2, relating to the duty of clerk to record certain transaction
affecting real estate and personal property, priority of recorded instruments, electronic
filings, effect of incorrect tax parcel identification number, and effect of recording on rights
between parties to instruments, as follows:
"44-2-2.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'self-filer' means any person who is a party to
an instrument listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section who is not:
(1) An insurance agent or a representative of an insurance agency licensed to sell title
insurance in this state;
(2) An attorney licensed to practice law in this state or a representative of an attorney
licensed to practice law in this state;
(3) Licensed under Chapter 40 of Title 43;
(4) An agent of a bank or credit union with federal deposit insurance or an affiliate
An agent of a licensed or exempt mortgage lender pursuant to Article 13 of Chapter 1
thereof;
(5) of Title 7;
(6) An agent of a servicer as such term is defined in 12 C.F.R. Section 1024.2;
(7) A public official or employee of a federal, state, or local government or a department,
agency, board, commission, or authority thereof performing their official duties; or
(8) A professional land surveyor licensed under Chapter 15 of Title 43 and in good
standing with the Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board.
(a)(b)(1) The clerk of the superior court shall file, index on a computer program designed
for such purpose, and permanently record, in the manner provided constructively in Code
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Sections 15-6-61 and 15-6-66, the following instruments conveying, transferring,
encumbering, or affecting real estate and personal property:
(A) Deeds;
(B) Mortgages;
(C) Liens as provided for by law;
(D) Maps or plats relating to real estate in the county; and
(E) State tax ex*****ons and state tax ex*****on renewals as provided for in Article 2
of Chapter 3 of Title 48.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term 'liens' shall have the same meaning as described
in Code Sections 15-19-14, 44-14-320, and 44-14-602 and shall include all liens provided
by state or federal statute.
(3) When indexing liens, the clerk shall index the names of parties in the manner
provided by such rules and regulations adopted by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks'
Cooperative Authority pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 15-6-61 as authorized
by Code Section 15-6-97.
(4) When indexing maps or plats relating to real estate in the county, the clerk of the
superior court shall index the names or titles provided in the caption of the plat.
(b)(c) Deeds, mortgages, and liens of all kinds which are required by law to be recorded
in the office of the clerk of the superior court and which are against the interests of third
parties who have acquired a transfer or lien binding the same property and who are acting
in good faith and without notice shall take effect only from the time they are filed for
record in the clerk's office.
(c)(d)(1) The clerk of the superior court shall offer electronic filing for the recording of
all instruments listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a)(b) of this Code section. On and
after January 1, 2025, any instrument listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this
Code section presented to a clerk of superior court for recording by a self-filer shall be
submitted using electronic filing.
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(d)(e) The clerk of the superior court shall make available a public computer terminal
which provides a filer with access to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative
Authority's electronic filing portal.
(e)(f) The presence of an incorrect tax parcel identification number, or the absence of a tax
parcel identification number, on a recorded instrument shall not:
(1) Void or render voidable such instrument;
(2) Affect the validity, enforceability, or priority of such instrument; or
(3) Affect any notice, constructive or otherwise, provided by the recordation of such
instrument.
(f)(g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to affect the validity, enforceability,
or priority of any deed, mortgage, judgment, or lien of any kind between the parties
thereto."
SECTION 1-2.
Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 44-2-39, relating to the adoption of
rules and regulations and standardization, as follows:
"44-2-39.
(a) The authority shall adopt rules and regulations and any standardized forms necessary
to implement this part.
(b)(1) The rules and regulations adopted by the authority pursuant to this Code section
shall include any rules and regulations necessary to ensure that any individual wanting
to submit electronic documents for recording, regardless of whether such individual is
acting on his or her own behalf or on behalf of another person and prior to such
individual submitting to a clerk of the superior court any electronic documents for
recording, provide through the authority's electronic filing portal information sufficient
to identify such individual. Such information may include, without limitation, a copy of
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the individual's driver's license, passport, military identification card, or personal
identification card authorized under Code Sections 40-5-100 through 40-5-104.
Any information required to be provided by an individual pursuant to the rules and
regulations adopted by the authority pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be
retained by the authority, shall not be subject to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, and
shall be treated as confidential and released only:
(A) To peace officers in the course of investigating potential crimes;
(B) In response to a subpoena, discovery request, or court order;
(C) To an individual who holds a recorded interest in real property that was the subject
of an electronic document that was submitted for recording by the individual who
provided such information; or
(D) To an individual who is named as a party in an electronic document that was
submitted for recording by the individual who provided such information.
(c) To promote uniform standards and practices and compatibility of technology used
within offices of clerks of superior court in this state and recording offices in other states
that have enacted or may enact provisions substantially similar to those contained within
this part, the authority shall consider when adopting, amending, and repealing its rules and
regulations and any standardized forms:
(1) Standards and practices of other jurisdictions;
(2) The most recent standards promulgated by national standard-setting bodies, such as
the Property Records Industry Association;
(3) The views of interested persons and governmental officials and entities;
(4) The needs of counties of varying size, population, and resources; and
(5) Standards that ensure that electronic documents are accurate, authentic, adequately
preserved, and resistant to tampering."
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SECTION 1-3.
Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public officers and employees,
is amended by revising Code Section 45-17-8, relating to powers and duties generally of
notaries public, as follows:
"45-17-8.
(a) Notaries public shall have authority to:
(1) Witness or attest signature or ex*****on of deeds and other written instruments;
(2) Take acknowledgments;
(3) Administer oaths and affirmations in all matters incidental to their duties as
commercial officers and all other oaths and affirmations which are not by law required
to be administered by a particular officer;
(4) Witness affidavits upon oath or affirmation;
(5) Take verifications upon oath or affirmation;
(6) Make certified copies, provided that the document presented for copying is an
original document and is neither a public record nor a publicly recorded document,
certified copies of which are available from an official source other than a notary, and
provided that the document was photocopied under supervision of the notary; and
(7) Perform such other acts as they are authorized to perform by other laws of this state.
(b) No notary shall be obligated to perform a notarial act if he or she feels such act is:
(1) For a transaction which the notary knows or suspects is illegal, false, or deceptive;
(2) For a person who is being coerced;
(3) For a person whose demeanor causes compelling doubts about whether the person
knows the consequences of the transaction requiring the notarial act; or
(4) In situations which impugn and compromise the notary's impartiality, as specified in
subsection (c) of this Code section.
(c) A notary shall be disqualified from performing a notarial act in the following situations
which impugn and compromise the notary's impartiality:
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(1) When the notary is a signer of the document which is to be notarized; or
(2) When the notary is a party to the document or transaction for which the notarial act
is required.
(d) A notary public shall not execute a notarial certificate containing a statement known
by the notary to be false nor perform any action with an intent to deceive or defraud.
(e) In performing any notarial act, a notary public shall confirm the identity of the
document signer, oath taker, or affirmant based on personal knowledge or on satisfactory
evidence. Such satisfactory evidence shall include, but not be limited to, by verification
of a government issued photo identification document, including without limitation a valid
driver's license, personal identification card authorized under Code Sections 40-5-100
through 40-5-104, or a military identification card such as a Veterans Health Identification
Card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or based on personal
knowledge.
(f) The signature of a notary public documenting a notarial act shall not be evidence to
show that such notary public had knowledge of the contents of the document so signed,
other than those specific contents which constitute the signature, ex*****on,
acknowledgment, oath, affirmation, affidavit, verification, or other act which the signature
of that notary public documents, nor is a certification by a notary public that a document
is a certified or true copy of an original document evidence to show that such notary public
had knowledge of the contents of the document so certified.
(g)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'self-filer' shall have the same meaning as
provided in Code Section 44-2-2.
(2) A notary public shall maintain a written or electronic journal which shall include an
entry for each notarial act performed at the request of a self-filer. Each such entry shall
include the name of the self-filer; the self-filer's address; the self-filer's telephone
number; the date, time, and location of notarization; the type of government issued photo
identification document presented by the self-filer, unless the identity of the self-filer was
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confirmed based on personal knowledge; elements of such identification document, if
applicable, including any identifying number; the self-filer's signature; and the type of
document presented for notarization.
(h)(1) A notary public shall complete an educational training class relating to the duties
of notaries public as provided for in this chapter. Such training shall be completed prior
to the initial appointment and within 30 days prior to each subsequent renewal
appointment.
(2) The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority may adopt rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection."
PART II
SECTION 2-1.
Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commerce and trade, is
amended in Code Section 10-1-393.19, relating to unsolicited inquiries, by adding a new
subparagraph to paragraph (1) of subsection (a), revising subsection (b), and adding a new
subsection to read as follows:
"(A.1)(i) If the solicitation includes a monetary offer, following the text required in
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the following notice in capital letters:
'THIS OFFER MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE
OF THE PROPERTY.'
(ii) If the solicitation includes a monetary offer less than the value of the previous
year's assessed value for ad valorem taxation by the county tax assessor for the county
in which the property is located, following the text required in subdivision (i) of this
subparagraph, the following notice in capital letters:
'THIS OFFER IS LESS THAN THE COUNTY ASSESSED VALUE FOR
THIS PROPERTY.'"
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"(b) Failure to comply with the provisions of this Code section shall be considered an
unfair or deceptive act or practice which is unlawful and shall therefore be punishable by
the provisions of this part; provided, however, that notwithstanding Code Section 10-1-399,
a claim of a violation of this Code section may be brought in a representative capacity and
may be the subject of a class action under Code Section 9-11-23; and provided, further, that
damages for such violation shall be three times the actual damages sustained
or $200.00 $600.00 per violation, whichever is greater.
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor."
SECTION 2-2.
Title 23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equity, is amended by revising
Code Section 23-3-41, relating to when relief is granted and costs, as follows:
"23-3-41.
(a) In all proceedings quia timet or proceedings to remove clouds upon titles to real estate,
if a proper case is made, the relief sought shall be granted to any complainant irrespective
of whether the invalidity of the instrument sought to be canceled appears upon the face of
the instrument or whether the invalidity appears or arises solely from facts outside of the
instrument.
(b) In such cases the costs shall be taxed against the litigants in the discretion of the court;
provided, however, that, in any case where it is found that the defendant fraudulently
created the instrument that is sought to be cancelled, the complainant shall be entitled to
recover all costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred in bringing the action to
cancel such instrument.
"
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SECTION 2-3.
Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to torts, is amended in Chapter 9,
relating to injuries to real estate, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"51-9-12.
(a) In addition to any other remedy that may be available at law or in equity, the owner of
any real property may bring an action against an individual who has knowingly filed,
entered, or recorded, or caused to be filed, entered, or recorded, in any public record a false
or forged deed or other instrument purporting to convey the owner's interest to such real
property to such individual or a third party or purporting to encumber the owner's interest
in such real property to:
(1) Recover the owner's actual damages caused by the filing, entering, or recording of
such false or forged deed or other instrument or $5,000.00, whichever is greater; and
(2) Recover the owner's costs incurred in bringing such action, including reasonable
attorney's fees.
(b) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as creating a cause of action against
any public official or employee, including, without limitation, a clerk of the superior court
or any employee or agent of a clerk of the superior court, for actions taken in the
performance of his or her duties."
PART III
SECTION 3-1.
(a) Except as provided for in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become effective
upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
(b) Part I of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2025.
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SECTION 3-2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

01/21/2026

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ 💯

THE GEORGIA SUPERIOR COURT CLERKS’ COOPERATIVE AUTHORITY
NOTARY PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL RULES FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Version 2024-10-09 – Effective January 1, 2025
Section 1. Authority for Adoption
Statutory authority for the promulgation of these rules by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’
Cooperative Authority are found at:
Georgia General Assembly 2024 HB 1292, Act 529, amending O.C.G.A. §45-17-8 as to provide
for education and training requirements of notaries public.
Section 2. Adoption Date
These rules are adopted by official action of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative
Authority Board of Directors at the meeting held on October 9, 2024.
Section 3. Effective Date
These rules become effective on January 1, 2025.
Section 4. Office and Contacts
The office and mailing address of the adopting entity is: Georgia Superior Court Clerks’
Cooperative Authority 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30345
Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (404) 327-6023
Section 5. Definitions
Defined terms within these rules shall be as follows. Defined terms need not, and may or may
not, be capitalized depending on context.
a. Initial Appointment means the first time an individual is appointed as a notary public or
the first appointment after a notary appointment has expired.
b. Renewal Appointment means an appointment granted within 30 days prior to
expiration of the current appointment.
NOTARY PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL RULES FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Rule 1. GSCCCA Approves Educational Training
Any educational training class related to the duties of Georgia’s notaries public for the purpose
of being appointed a notary public shall be approved by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’
Cooperative Authority.
Rule 2. Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of the course, the notary applicant will be provided a certificate of
completion.
Rule 3. Presentation of Certificate of Completion to Clerk of Superior Court
The notary applicant seeking an initial or renewal appointment will include a certificate of
completion, along with the notary application, to the Clerk of Superior Court.