Improve Office Efficiency with Notary Public Staff Member

Consider having one or more members of your management staff become a notary public. Many documents that you or your residents must sign require notarization to ensure that the document's signatures are authentic. For instance, you or the owner may need to sign a power of attorney for an upcoming transaction, or you may require households to sign certain affidavits to properly certify or recertify their income. These documents usually need to be notarized.

In notarizing a document, a notary claims that the document's signer identified herself as the person she claimed to be. If you don't have a notary on staff, you'll have to find one and arrange a visit each time you or your residents need documents notarized. And if residents must find someone to notarize forms you give them to sign, they may delay in returning the forms to you. But if a staff member is a notary, you won't have to go through this hassle or lose any time.

Check your state's requirements for becoming a notary public, as requirements vary. Most states require applicants to be U.S. citizens or registered voters. But many states have more specific requirements, such as requiring no felony convictions or application exams. Visit the National Notary Association's Web site, www.nationalnotary.org, to find out your state's requirements and procedures for becoming a notary public.