The Notary Files: A Podcast by National Award-Winning Signing Agent Sonita M Leak

Notary Sound Byte Recorded on April 6, 2018

Original Post Dated: March 24, 2017

For the Notaries Public out there in Notary Land: The past two days have seen two very different I-9 Employment Authorizations.  One took place through an ... (Click on title to read FULL blog post.)

The Notary Sound Byte

March 28, 2018

Sonita M. Leak, Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com had the opportunity to visit Waterstone on Augusta right on Augusta Street in the 29605 community of Greenville, South Carolina on today, March 28, 2018.

It was a great opportunity to view what the facility has to offer those who decide to entrust them with their assisted-living and memory care.

During the visit, Hospitality Director Adam Jennings gave several visitors a tour.

You can visit the facility by navigating to 1004 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29605.

To reach Adam Jennings directly, you can call 864-605-7236.

*Photo courtesy of WaterstoneonAugusta.com

Marriage Notary Public & Officiant Sonita M. Leak is the Author of the following information:

All requests for a Marriage License in Greenville County must be made in person by both parties getting married.  There are additional options for picking ... (Click on title to read FULL blog post.)

Tutorial on how to CHAT LIVE with your local Greenville & Upstate, South Carolina Notary Public. Continue reading →

Marriage Notary Sonita M. Leak

Springtime ‘Adventures in Matrimony’

Podcast Recorded on Location:

OJ’s Diner

907 Pendleton Street

Greenville, SC 29601

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Springtime, in my eyes, is the prettiest and most bearable of the four seasons.  This is why many couples choose to have outside-themed marriage and wedding ceremonies. Spring is here and you have plenty of season to prepare for your rightly-themed ceremony.

Having a themed wedding makes your nuptial celebration fun and inviting.  Are you a couple thinking of a ‘different’ theme from the cliché?

Have some theme ideas for my couples?

Post them in the comments section below.

Need wedding theme ideas?  You can reference the following Wedding Blogs to learn some interesting ways to make your wedding ceremony ‘POP’.

1) The Knot Wedding Themes

2) A Practical Wedding – 65 Wedding Themes that are On Point

3) Brides.com – 20 Bridal Themes

4) BridalGuide.com’s Most Popular Wedding Themes

5) Shutterfly – 100 Unexpected Wedding Themes

For more information on other themes, you can always conduct research yourself by searching over the Internet or gleaning ideas from family and friends who have already ‘tied the knot’.

Happy theme-hunting and Oh, “Happy Spring!”

Your local Greenville and Upstate, South Carolina Marriage Notary Sonita M. Leak

Did you know that many of the forms you seek that require notarization through the State of South Carolina can be found HERE. By here, we mean the State of South Carolina’s Judicial Department Form Search Site.  Why is this link so important?  Through this link, you will find resources for documents and forms related to Adoption, Probate, Incapacitation of loved ones, etc. (There is an entirely different source for Divorce Packet information.) This list is an excellent resource for those seeking answers on which forms to have on hand in particular situations.

Since this list is very extensive, it would be best for anyone conducting a search to type what they are looking for in the search field  ~ or ~ you could pull up the entire list by setting your search to ‘All Court Types‘ and clicking SUBMIT. After submitting your search, you would press [Ctrl + F] to open the Find Box. Simply type in the term you are looking for and prayerfully you get the results you are seeking.

FYI – There are over 300 forms on this list, this notary public recommends that you search wisely!

The information herein is in regard to the State of South Carolina Judicial Department’s forms submissions page.  It can be found by clicking on any of the language previous or by clicking HERE.

Originally Posted July 2, 2017

Edited to Podcast on February 22, 2018

Greenville, South Carolina

Did you know that Notaries Public in the State of South Carolina could also marry couples?  Yes, they can. As just one of the many services that I provide through GreenvilleNotary.com and WeddingsbySonita.com. In our state, there is no additional requirement past holding your Notary Commission to marry a couple. It’s true. There are only three states that allow it. Those are Florida, Maine and right here in South Carolina.

Listen in to the podcast to find out about my pricing for marriages here in South Carolina.

How do you handle a signing in ICU when it involves someone you know? How do you prepare?  How do you react?

Originally Posted December 22, 2015

Edited February 22, 2018

Greenville, SC

 

My initial intention in attending the seminar was to gain some insight into what clients and families of the clients I served dealt with on a daily basis with the grief over the loss of a loved one.  Not once in the days leading up to the seminar did I think, “How would this seminar relate to my personal life?” Today hit home for me.  Gloria and Heidi Horsley, the mother and daughter team who lost their beloved son and brother, Scott, to a tragic car accident made me question the entire grieving process, not only for my customers and clients, but for those who I interact with on a daily basis, my own family, ten years after the violent gun death of my brother, Michael.

Many situations were covered during the course of the seminar, which involved two workshop group sessions.  The seminar focused on Pregnancy Loss, Spouse Loss, Sibling Loss, Trauma, Treatment and Life Reconstruction.

The purpose for my attendance, dealing with customers and clients who are experiencing or have experienced a loss, was discussed.  I learned many things within one small group workshop led by Alice MacDonald, MSW, CACII. First, as a person who has experienced the loss of a spouse, she provided the participants of the workshop chance to speak about their experience; what helped them in their process of grieving, what didn’t, and participants offered to each other encouragement in the process.  I learned there are different levels to the grievance process and that not everyone reacts the same way.

One part of the discussion focused on myths that complicate mourning.  Another, on the different ways a spouse might be traumatized when experiencing the loss of a loved one. One thing Clinician MacDonald taught us is that there CAN be healing through positive efforts, sharing, surrounding yourself with positive people and keeping your life at a balance; sometimes gently re-writing some inter-workings of your life to fill the void.

I want to sincerely thank Gloria and Heidi Horsley for sharing Scott with all of us in attendance. I want to thank Alice MacDonald for having the courage to address her intimate story of loss and reconstruction. I also thank Speaker WYFF News 4 Anchor Nigel Robertson for closing this wonderful day with his story about his father’s battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  I would like to thank them all for allowing God to use them.

Sincerely,

Sonita M. Leak,

A Mother

A Sister

A Notary Public

The Holiday Grief Seminar was held in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Greenville, 847 Cleveland St., Greenville, SC 29601. Presented by Interim Healthcare Hospice, Mackey Mortuary, Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Dillard Funeral Home, Hillcrest Memorial Park, Greenville Memorial Gardens, Oconee Memorial Park and Palmetto Cremation Service.

Notary Blog & Podcast of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA

From Greenville to Central to Clemson… What a Night!

January 11, 2018

Greenville, SC

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking daily naps.  Because of an, ahem, lengthy nap had on this day, I was able to field three afternoon and evening assignments with ease.

Well, we won’t say with ease.

My first signing started right in the midst of Downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Although I previously assisted one of my repeat customers at her former business location, I was able to win over the business of  Robin Bylenga, Owner of Pedal Chic with three separate signature notarizations on behalf of her NEW LOCATION of 250 Riverplace, Suite B, Greenville, SC 29601.

During the printing of my next Central, South Carolina assignment (74 pages worth printed twice), another assignment was called in through the GreenvilleNotary.com telephone lines.  The call was on behalf of a Walhalla, South Carolina resident working in Greenville.  One problem with the situation is that the signer, a State of Arizona resident, had already started heading back to Walhalla after working an 11-hour shift. They needed a way to sign and to rest before their shift again at 8am in the morning. Soooooo, the page range went from 74 pages printed twice (148), to 243, with the addition of the 95 pages for our Clemson signer.

Having already the Central, South Carolina signing in early evening, it was set-up to meet the signer in Clemson, South Carolina at a mutual and public location.  That location became Starbucks Clemson.  With a couple of cups of coffee under our belt, signing on a 95-page legal sized package relating to property commenced.  The signing took approximately 45 minutes to complete.  Signature notarization was involved in this package, as there were about 6 signatures to have notarized on the documents.

My day was finalized in Clemson, and all jobs were completed by 9pm, OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Your Local Upstate Notary Public,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com