NSA 101 WORKSHOP DATES/DESCRIPTION
NSA 101 Workshop: Presenting Loan Docs to Clients at the Signing Table
CLARK COUNTY - Saturday November 14th 10am-4pm (bring a sack lunch)
$350 - limited seats due to COVID restrictions; masks required; advance purchase required; non-refundable. No drop-ins permitted.
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites Portland/Vancouver
Hotel address: 315 SE Olympia Dr, Vancouver, WA 98684
Hotel phone: 360-891-3000 (for hotel driving directions or room reservations)
Direct all other workshop questions to me, Carmen Lane: 360-280-0888
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(Can't attend? The recorded March 21st workshop is also available for purchase in the online store.)
PRE-WORKSHOP REQUIRED READING Attendees must review these important and *FREE* reference materials prior to any NSA 101 workshop:
1. Washington State Notary Handbook:
https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/docs/notary-handbook.pdf
2. 2020 NNA Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility:
https://www.nationalnotary.org/file%20library/nna/reference-library/code-of-professional-responsibility-2020.pdf
3. Notary Signing Agent Code of Conduct:
https://spswg.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/spw-code-of-conduct-2016.pdf
4. Signing Presentation Guidelines:
https://spswg.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/spw-signing-presentation-guidelines-2016.pdf
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU: PPE & hand sanitizer, sack lunch (if attending in person). Repositionable POST-IT arrows (100 or so) to help you identify all the signature blocks in the loan package; highlighter, pen & notepad to take notes if you wish.
OVERVIEW: Welcome! Whether you are attending a workshop in person, or via Zoom meeting/webinar, or even watching the recorded version of the March 2020 NSA 101 workshop, my main purpose is simply to help Washington notaries bridge the gap between any notary signing agent training they may have received online (or independent self-study) and the first real life loan signing with real clients, real loan documents. We look at the role of the Notary Signing Agent. We discuss some of the state/federal notary laws and rules as they pertain to NSAs; we discuss NSA's code of conduct/ethics as established by the National Notary Association, and consider the value and purpose of applying Signing Professional Workgroup’s signing presentation guidelines to our loan signings. REFINANCE is the most common assignment for NSAs. We practice handling sample loan documents and conclude the workshop with a Q&A session to ask any lingering questions you may have about being a signing agent in Washington or any closing remarks or comments you wish to offer.
ASSUMPTIONS: This workshop assumes attendees are current Washington notaries with basic knowledge of the loan signing process and that required reading assignment above has been completed. [Two book recommendations for aspiring NSAs: Notary Signing Agent Certification Training Study Guide (ISBN 1-597-67195-9) and The Notary Signing Agent's Loan Document Sourcebook (ISBN 1-597-67256-7). These are great reference books for beginners.]
PROPOSED AGENDA:
· Introductions/goals; operating rules; handouts
· Your role as Notary Signing Agent (deemed an ESSENTIAL JOB during COVID-19 pandemic)
· Washington notary laws, NSA ethics and code of conduct
· Handling sample loan documents – what to look for; what to say
· Final Q&A and closing remarks
Critical Documents in a Loan Package:
• Uniform Residential Loan Application/1003
• CLOSING DISCLOSURE
• NOTE
• DEED OF TRUST/MORTGAGE
• First Payment Letter
• Initial Escrow Account Disclosure Statement
• Occupancy Affidavit
• NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CANCEL
WORKSHOP OPERATING RULES: No audio/video recording; masks/social distancing rules apply; be respectful of others; silence cellphones; if attending in person, OK to bring snack/beverages; participate; ask questions.
POST WORKSHOP EVALUATION & FEEDBACK: Your feedback and suggestions are welcome.
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DISCLAIMER: THIS WORKSHOP REFERENCES NNA AND SPW MATERIALS BUT I AM NOT EMPLOYED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH EITHER ORGANIZATIONS. I AM ALSO NOT A LICENSED FINANCIAL, MORTGAGE, TITLE/ESCROW, REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, OR AN ATTORNEY. I CANNOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. ANY OPINIONS OFFERED AT THIS WORKSHOP ARE MY OWN. NOTARIES/NSAs ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING AND FOLLOWING THE LAWS OF THEIR PROFESSION.
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WHAT IS NSA 101 WORKSHOP?
NSA 101 was created as a practical hands-on workshop to help Washington notaries who are interested in becoming signing agents. Washington notaries can gain some valuable hands-on practice before sitting down at the signing table with real clients and real loan documents. You should get a better understanding of your role as Notary Signing Agent and know where the NSA fits in the typical loan process. Learn what to say, what to do. Practice in a friendly, safe environment with sample loan documents. Ask questions, boost skills, boost your confidence: This is the goal.
We use loan documents from a sample loan package to practice signing agent presentation skills.
IS THIS NSA 101 WORKSHOP NOTARY PUBLIC BASIC TRAINING? DOES IT TEACH ME HOW TO BE A NOTARY PUBLIC OR HOW TO PERFORM BASIC NOTARIZATIONS? NO, NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. NSA 101 workshops are not intended as a notary public basic training course; they are more advanced. NSA 101 workshops assume you are already a commissioned notary in Washington with a very basic understanding of the loan process, that you have received some online NSA agent training (or rigorous self-study) and are seeking some practical in-person practice before accepting your very first loan signing assignment. I created this workshop to help other Washington notaries bridge the gap between any online training they may have received and their first signing agent assignment. Attending a workshop does not automatically make you a notary public/signing agent. Notary public commissions are granted by the Washington State Department of Licensing. You must first successfully complete the Washington notary application process. If you are not a commissioned notary in Washington and you still wish to attend NSA 101 workshop, you are certainly welcome with the understanding this is beyond basic notary and that this workshop's core function is to review some of the notary laws (as they pertain to signing agents) and to practice presenting loan documents at the signing table.
Don't have a notary commission? Please get the ball rolling on your Washington notary commission application ASAP. I urge everyone to read/study the Washington DOL notary website in its entirety. Basically everything you want to know about being a notary public in Washington is there. I urge you to obtain your notary commission and gain some practical experience performing notarizations before attempting to work as a notary signing agent.
WHAT IS A NOTARY SIGNING AGENT? A Notary Signing Agent is a commissioned notary public who has also received training to present loan documents. The signing agent presents the loan documents to the signers but cannot discuss details of the loan. The signing agent's duty is limited to reading the title of the loan document, stating its general purpose, and locating the signature lines and any places for initials. And of course, witnessing signatures and notarizing documents as required. Afterwards, the signing agent returns the executed documents as instructed by the hiring company.
WHO HIRES A NOTARY SIGNING AGENT? Signing agents are typically hired as an independent contractor by the lender or title/escrow company. Sometimes a third party company, a loan signing service, acts as a broker to contract with a notary signing agent on behalf of the lender or title companies. Notary signing agents may also be hired by attorneys or private individuals.
WHAT IF I HAVE MY NOTARY COMMISSION BUT I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT HOW TO BE A NOTARY PUBLIC? WHAT IF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PERFORM A NOTARIZATION? Then I strongly suggest you first STUDY the Washington DOL website for notaries (https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary) and consider getting basic notary public training and gain some practical experience before jumping into being a notary signing agent.
WHERE CAN I GET *BASIC* NOTARY PUBLIC TRAINING IN WASHINGTON? There are many, many online notary public training programs, as you have probably already seen. You sign up and pay their fee, then after a few clicks of your mouse, they consider you "certified" as a notary public.
If you are the type of learner who learns better in person and/or needs to be able to ask the trainer questions directly, and if you are seeking an in-depth notary public training by a Washingtonian who specifically covers Washington rules, I can personally recommend Rebecca Jacob's notary public training. Her company is called Attorney & Notary Supply, Inc. Rebecca Jacobs is an expert in her field and an excellent instructor. She offers live workshops and online training via Zoom. I try to take her class yearly as recurrent basic training. This year was my first Zoom training with Rebecca and it was pretty good. She can also answer your specific questions about basic notary public training AND signing agent insurance rates, as well as help you with notary journals, stamps, and supplies. I do not have any special arrangement with ANS of WA for making this recommendation other than I just like her and appreciate her knowledge and expertise. Please contact Rebecca's office directly for more information on her notary public training workshops, signing agent insurance, and/or notary supplies.
ATTORNEY & NOTARY SUPPLY, INC. http://www.ansofwa.com/
200 Mill Ave S., Ste 410, Renton, WA 98057
(425) 271-6353 | (800) 572-1689
IS NOTARY TRAINING REQUIRED BY LAW? TECHNICALLY, NO. Currently the State of Washington has no mandated training, testing, or certification requirements for notary public nor for notary signing agent. You must first be a notary public in order to work as a notary signing agent. But anyone who meets Washington's notary public qualifications, successfully submits an application, pays the fee, and passes the background check will typically receive a notary commission. This does not absolve you of your responsibility to perform your notary duties correctly. Knowing our job and the rules and being able to successfully perform our duties is still absolutely required of any of us. Although the State of Washington may not mandate training, testing, or certification, the lenders and other companies who hire us to present loan documents to their borrowers may have special requirements. Thus the responsibility falls upon us to seek and obtain any training we need and to stay informed. #commonsense
