23/07/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/186QwETUhP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Not every closing ends with signatures.
As the mobile notary assigned to this real estate closing, everything was going smoothly until the very last few pages. That's when the seller suddenly stopped the signing after realizing there could be significant capital gains tax consequences because they hadn't lived in the home long enough to qualify for the full exclusion. The signing ended right there.
Moments like this remind me that a notary's role is to verify identity, witness signatures, and follow the law—not to give legal or tax advice. When something doesn't feel right or a signer chooses not to proceed, the process stops.
Looking back, I'm grateful the seller made the decision before the documents were completed and notarized. It also reminded me how important it is for notaries to stay alert. Fraud and scams have become far more common over the years, and while this wasn't a fraud situation, protecting the integrity of every notarization is part of the responsibility we carry.
Every signature matters. Every notarization matters. Integrity always comes first.
The Notary Queen, LLC
