NSA 101: Five Ways to Learn HOW TO PRESENT LOAN DOCUMENTS

---

Q. WHAT IS A NOTARY SIGNING AGENT?  

A. 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. 

Q. WHO HIRES A NOTARY SIGNING AGENT? 

A. Signing agents are typically hired as independent contractors 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. 

Q. WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO BECOME A NOTARY SIGNING AGENT IN WASHINGTON?

A. First and foremost you must be a commissioned notary public in Washington. (How to get your notary public license in Washington.) Although Washington state does not mandate training, it behooves you to seek it anyway. After you obtain your commission, I recommend you receive some notary public basic training so that you understand the responsibilities of a notary public, and then get some practical experience performing notarizations. Next, I highly recommend getting certified by NNA www.nationalnotary.org as a notary signing agent. NNA certification has become the gold standard for many hiring companies. Lastly, get some practice handling and presenting loan documents (and THAT is where NSA 101 comes in). 

Q. WHAT TRAINING DO I NEED FROM NSA 101?

A. That is entirely up to you. Everyone comes into this with different backgrounds, experience, and skill sets. Ultimately, I think it depends on where you currently are in your notary signing agent career, how confident you feel about your loan document presentation skills, and the type of learner you are. Pick a training method that makes the most sense for you. I encourage you to read the rest of these FAQs, look through the NSA 101 website. And then call me if you have questions. I am happy to help. Happy to answer any questions you may have.

Q. IS NOTARY TRAINING REQUIRED BY WASHINGTON STATE LAW? 

A. Technically, NO. Washington currently has no state-mandated training, testing, or certification requirements for notary public nor for notary signing agent. Not every notary public is a notary signing agent, but every notary signing agent in Washington must first be a notary public. Anyone who meets Washington's notary public qualifications and who successfully completes its application process and passes the background check receives a notary commission. The absence of state-mandated training/testing does not absolve signing agents of their responsibility to perform duties correctly. Knowing our job, following rules, and being able to successfully perform our duties is still absolutely required. Although the state of Washington currently does not mandate training, testing, or certification, bear in mind that hiring companies (lenders, title companies, and signing companies) may have their own special requirements. It is the notaries responsibility to follow the law and it behooves all of us to seek/obtain any necessary training in order to do our jobs correctly no matter what that job is. #commonsense 

Q. WHAT IS NSA 101 WORKSHOP?

A. It is a practical hands-on group training workshop I like to hold several times a year 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. (Also what NOT to say, what NOT to do!) This is a way to practice in a friendly, safe environment with sample loan documents. Ask questions, boost skills, boost your confidence: This is the goal. Use loan documents from a sample loan package to practice your signing agent presentation skills.

Q. WHEN AND WHERE IS YOUR NEXT LIVE TRAINING WORKSHOP?

A. The pandemic has messed up everyone's plans and schedules and it has been no different for me. So if you do not see a date posted for the next NSA 101 live group training workshop, please be patient. It makes sense to rent meeting space only when it is safe to do so and when enough people sign up for it. Renting group meeting space costs money and so if people are hesitant to sign up because of the pandemic (rightly so), then we must use alternate training methods. Please know that you can always contact me to arrange a private training/coaching session and I can come to your location.  My private training rates are $450 per person for up to 3 hours and $550 for up to 5 hours in the comfort and privacy of your own home. I hope this answers your question.

Q. WHAT IS NSA 101 WEBINAR?

A. The webinar is online using Zoom. It is a much abbreviated version of the live NSA 101 Workshop and does not offer live Q&A. Using a stationary document camera, this webinar focuses only on my approach in presenting a mock refinance loan package to John and Jane Signer. I demonstrate how I present loan documents, what I say, and why. My webinars focus on how to present loan documents and should have broad appeal to all beginning signing agents, no matter where they reside in the USA. I have a recorded webinar available for sale as an instant digital download and I offer scheduled live Zoom webinars as well. 

Q. DOES NSA 101 WORKSHOP OR NSA 101 WEBINAR PROVIDE ME WITH BASIC NOTARY PUBLIC TRAINING? 

A. NO, NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. My NSA 101 workshops and webinars are not intended as notary public basic training courses; they are more advanced. NSA 101 assumes you are already a commissioned notary in Washington with a very basic understanding of the loan process (or for the state in which you reside), that you have received some online NSA agent training (or rigorous self-study), and you are seeking some practical in-person practice before accepting your very first loan signing assignment. My training is 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 or webinar does not automatically make you a notary public signing agent. In Washington, notary public commissions are granted by the 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 or webinar, 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 the webinar only demonstrates how to present loan documents at the signing table.

 
If you don't already have your Washington notary public commission, get the ball rolling on your notary commission application ASAP. Read/study the Washington Department of Licensing notary website https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/ in its entirety. Basically everything you want to know about being a notary public in Washington is there. They offer a free manual and even have a "how to" video. After you obtain your notary commission, gain some practical experience performing basic notarizations before attempting to work as a notary signing agent. #commonsense
If you do not reside in Washington state, look at the notary requirements for your state.

Q. WHERE CAN I GET *BASIC* NOTARY PUBLIC TRAINING IN WASHINGTON? 

A. 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. But if you are the type of learner who, like me, 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, then I can personally recommend Rebecca Jacob's basic notary public training. Her company is called Attorney & Notary Supply, Inc. Rebecca 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. 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

Q. 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 NOTARIZATIONS? 

A. Then I strongly suggest Washingtonians first STUDY the Washington DOL website for notaries https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/ (or the one for your state) and then consider getting basic notary public training and gain some practical experience before accepting any notary signing agent assignment. 

Q. I PREFER TO HAVE PRIVATE 1-ON-1 NSA 101 TRAINING. Do you offer it? What does it involve? How much is it? And how do I arrange it?

A. Yes, I can travel to your location for a private signing agent training/coaching session to demonstrate to you how I present loan documents. I will bring materials to you and will leave a set of loan documents for you to practice on your own after I leave. You will be able to ask me questions as they arise and will even have an opportunity to practice presenting loan documents back to me. 

    --> HALF day private coaching (up to 3 hours) is $450 per person, 4 people maximum.   

    --> FULL day (up to 5 hours) is $550 per person, 4 people max. 

How to arrange: Call me directly 360-280-0888 and we will figure out what day works best. Then, before we meet, allow yourself time to complete your reading assignment AND watch parts 1 and 2 of my NSA 101 training video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqE2mHtSZBM

Q. (NEW) WHAT IF I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR SIGNING AGENT TRAINING RIGHT NOW?

A. I have to say trying to work as an untrained notary public OR an untrained notary signing agent is a recipe for disaster. I think of training as an investment in myself and as a precaution against getting sued (or worse) for failing to do a job correctly and/or inadvertently breaking the law. 

That said, in this economy not everyone can afford to pay for training right now. I totally get it. I have been in that position in life before too. So here is what I recommend if you cannot afford to pay for my signing agent training right now:  

Look through this NSA 101 website at all of the FREE TRAINING MATERIALS. For example, #1-4 of the reading assignment are invaluable for beginners. Watch my FREE videos on YouTube. Get creative.

If you are in Washington state, go to the DOL website for notaries: https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/npractices.html (Or go to the notary page for YOUR STATE). Read all the notary materials you can.

Read/study and KNOW the notary laws for YOUR STATE. Practice handling loan documents on your own. Practice presenting loan documents on your own. Practice describing loan documents. Get commissioned as a notary public, continue working your day job and doing basic notarizations until you can save up and purchase the insurance, office equipment/supplies, and/or training you will eventually need as a notary signing agent. 

Stay positive. Don't allow yourself to become overwhelmed or discouraged. Everything is doable. Sure, it may be challenging or take a bit longer, but it is ALL DOABLE! Just take it step by step. Believe that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

If you feel like it is a confidence issue for you, then practice with yourself in the mirror first. Smile at that beautiful determined person looking back at you. Then practice presenting to a loved one. Practice, practice, practice. Keep believing in yourself. Please call me if you have questions. I always answer my phone if I am available.