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

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA | Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA | Back to the Flash Marriage Ceremony – The Downtown Greenville Edition

January 6, 2018

Greenville, SC

Today was absolutely BREATH-TAKING… The day began with a freezing cold Marriage Ceremony atop the big rock at the bottom of the Falls at the Reedy River. If you are wondering where that is, all you have to do is walk to the bottom of the address known as 601 South Main Street and look toward the waterfall, the area just under the Liberty Bridge.

While the sun was still making its way up in the sky, a couple was making their commitment to one another. A commitment that will withstand sunshine, cold, wind, rain, snow, sleet, the elements and anything that comes across its path. The pair will to remain anonymous. However, I would like to give an honorable mention to Passerelle Bistro. As the couple warmed up inside of their outside patio ‘bubble’ a member of staff came out and greeted us and asked if we’d be joining them today. One thing I love to mention is EXCELLENT Customer Service, so THANK YOU!

The second signing of the day was carried out at Greenville Memorial Hospital, where I was called by a traveling friend of a patient for some very important paperwork. There are times when paperwork must be signed, but a signer is in a medical facility. The need for a mobile notary is warranted. Did you know there are various mobile notaries all across the Upstate? Yes, this is a service I provide, however, if I am not available, there are notaries public I can refer. Just call me at 864.214.6447 to see if I am available.

The third assignment of the day deserves its own post, but we’ll just sit it right here. A Flash Ceremony and Marriage License signing was conducted in the late Afternoon at the Hyatt Regency Dining Hall of the Second Floor. Congrats are in order to Ricky Burton and Janneth Guevara-Rodriguez who were joined in Holy Matrimony. All this during the Hyatt Wedding Festivals, how ironic. That was not the kicker to this ceremony.  10 minutes before time, a quick Google Translation was performed on vows that were created ON THE SPOT and it became a bilingual ceremony right then and there.

Three assignments for the day, but I must also honorably mention Kayla & Mario Ortiz on the celebration of the impending birth of their baby girl, and also Sophia & Mike Daniels on the Blessing of their new home! Sophia also owns an Upstate Notary Service titled, Daniels Mobile Notary.

Love,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com and WeddingsbySonita.com

Passerelle Bistro is a dining restaurant located on Lower Level of Fall Park.  Again, thank you for your acknowledgment.  For those who would like to inquire about their cuisine, you can visit their website at www.passerelleinthepark.com.  Photo Courtesy of Table 301 Restaurants and PasserelleinthePark.com.

Notary Public Blog & Podcast of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA

Two Transactions in Detail, Privacy, Security & Oversight-Featuring EMD Settlement Group

January 5, 2018

Greer, SC

Much like Wednesday, January 3rd, Friday, January 5th was a full day of Notary Work and travels.  A signing originally scheduled for 10am in Greer, South Carolina on behalf of EMD Settlement Group was pushed back due to pending document delivery.

Before an oversight for a seller-side, buyer’s side or refinance transaction can occur, documents must be either delivered overnight or emailed for printing, directly to the person or persons signing or directly to the notary signing agent conducting the oversight.  In today’s case, the documents needed to be emailed directly to me and printed.  The first batch of paperwork included 84 pages to execute by two signers.

By 12pm, an extra 11 pages of title documents were sent and printing ensued. 1:30pm, the signing was executed.

The day did not end there.  After completing the Greer, South Carolina oversight, over to Heartland HCR Manorcare we went, myself an another willing witness, to witness a patient at the facility sign a Power of Attorney document.  Thank you to Debbie, Stephanean and all the wonderful admins and staff at both Heartland West and East facilities off of Sulphur Springs Road in Greenville, South Carolina for your hospitality and aid during my signing processes.  Due to the sensitive nature of this signing, no further details will be disclosed.

Privacy and security are of the utmost importance in the field in which I work.  Often, notaries are called to act ONLY AS WITNESSES to a particular transaction, FOR THOSE VERY REASONS.

Signing paperwork for items such as; Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, home purchases or sales, and other types of transactions is a daily for me.  Many signers want to avoid ‘the nosey neighbor’ or they may want privacy for other reasons.  We, as notary signing agents, can help in these types of witnessing events.

Thank you to Beth Davis of EMD Settlement Group for entrusting GreenvilleNotary.com to handle your transaction today. I so appreciate your business!

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast via iTunes by Clicking HERE.

Sincerely,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA | Oh the Places a Notary Will Go

January 3, 2018

Greenville – Spartanburg – Pickens, Travelers Rest – If all the days of 2018 go like today, Wednesday, January 3, 2018, there are GREAT DAYS ahead. Today’s travels took this Notary Public first to the City of Spartanburg, South Carolina, also known as the city that ‘SpArKleS’. On location in Spartanburg, a Seller-Side transaction took place for a State of Florida property. The signing was approximately 30 pages long and took approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Next? Let’s head on out to Pickens, South Carolina with trailing documents for a signing that was not fully complete for a traveling signer. Turns out she was in South Carolina ‘dog sitting’. This signing was exacted at the Zaxby’s located at 2619 Gentry Memorial Highway. With only 5 pages to complete and only one notarial act performed, the signing took seconds. This signing was originally set for Sunset, South Carolina, however the signer happened to travel to the veterinarian in Pickens, South Carolina, so the scene was set.

Yet, the day was not done. How about a Marriage Ceremony in the hills of Travelers Rest, South Carolina. So the travel continued down Highway 8 then to Highway 11 to help a couple who wanted to ‘Just Make it Legal‘. They were so gracious and thankful for the service provided, they even led this Notary to find the closest gas station. (I’m not going to tell you I was on or even close to ‘E’ on the fuel gauge.)

To think that my travels started with a very special mechanic changing my brakes. I’m so glad that I had that done before I headed out. Today was a dooooooozie. Documents for both Nationwide signings were dropped ON TIME.

Your local Upstate Notary Public,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA

Rocking in the New Year with a Resolution?

Greenville, SC – It would be presumptuous for me to tell others to make a resolution list, especially since I don’t make them myself.  I haven’t for many, many years. As a matter of fact, someone asked me JUST YESTERDAY what resolutions I had for the New Year 2018.  My reply was not what they expected.  I told them I didn’t have any and that if I resolve to do something, that it is for the long haul and that there is no ‘resolution’ for that.

Don’t get me wrong, there is ABSOLUTELY NO BOTHER creating and following through with a plan that comes in the form of a resolution, whether it be to lose weight, gain weight, start a business, create a business plan, follow-through with a business plan or other venture, stop smoking, speak more gently, etc.

Just don’t rely on making a one-time  effort of creating a resolution on New Year’s Day only.  When you take steps to create a habit, to dispel a habit, create a plan and follow-through, in essence, when you do ANYTHING to make yourself a better ‘You’, you should do it at ANY   POINT    OF   TIME.  Commitment is key.

Say I didn’t stay committed to my goals and dreams?  I definitely wouldn’t be typing this here.  Yeah.  Oh, and don’t fake or front.  Some people will tell you to ‘fake it till you make it’.  Faking it only causes additional confusion in your psyche and in your mind.  Being humble will present far better than ‘faking it’.  Well, unless you want to pass yourself off as fake.  Staying grounded in what you ‘resolve’ to do is 9/10 of keeping your commitment.  Perseverance and staying motivated is a hard pill to swallow at times.  Keep your focus.  You can do it.  Sleep can help.

Sleep and giving your brain rest can do wonders for the spirit, mind, body and more.  If you are a business owner, yes YOU MR OR MRS Business-owner, when you foster relationships with others, you must know that you must foster your relationship with yourself FIRST.  Don’t take yourself for granted in spite of people-pleasing.  Yes, there are deadlines and the work you have at hand must be completed, however, if you are not getting enough rest, you are doing damage to yourself.  In the busy world of deadlines and things you ‘gotta do’, you must take some time out for that 7-8 hours of sleep at night and some ‘chump change’ with a 10 – 30 minute nap (I nap longer if I can).

Been in business 7 plus years following some of these same principles, so in my honest opinion, I don’t think the information I’ve provided above is all that bad.  Take some time, lean back, focus on what you really want out of life.  Commit yourself.  Rest yourself.  Most importantly Pray yourself.

OAN  Happy New Year Folks!

Your Friendly, Neighborhood, Upstate South Carolina Notary Public,

Sonita M. Leak, CNSA

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com and WeddingsbySonita.com

Just for fun, here are some sites with some pretty good New Year Resolution Ideas:

NewsWeek’s Resolution Ideas

Pinterest PIN of Ultimate Resolution Ideas

Daring to Live Fully’s Resolution List

LifeHack.org’s Resolution List and How to Achieve Them

Read my previous years’ posts for New Year’s Eve/Day by CLICKING HERE

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA – Christmas Edition

December 25, 2017

Today’s post is dedicated to my extended, immediate family in Hawthorne, Nevada.  I pray you are all safe and warm and that nothing befalls you in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ today.

To take a complete vacation without posting, for me, would be absolute blog sin. So, without further ado, here goes…

Without Love, without Patience, without Kindness, my business wouldn’t BE at all.  I am truly grateful for all of the paths that I have crossed along my journey.  And I may cringe as I say this, good… or bad.  I have truly been taught by good experience and not-so-great experience, that life’s journey is shaped and formed by each and every instance in life.  You humble yourself slowly but surely with each, if you are a good learner.

With Love, you give of yourself, without wondering if you are being taken advantage of, without wondering if all of your efforts will fail. You just give.

With Patience, you take things as they are.  People may rush, situations may rush, but to stand still and let God and see it all work out in the end is the greatest feeling of accomplishment.

With Kindness, TRUE KINDNESS without expectation in return, you are treating others as you wish to be treated.  Many situations fluster us, can have us in a bind, holding grudges, bringing tension to situations and leaving relationships estranged.  Leave petty at the door.  Have a grievance?  Meet it where it lies, discuss, move on.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT.

With that said, enjoy today and the days which are to follow and BE and STAY BLESSED into the New Year 2018!

Sincerely,

Your Local Upstate Notary Public,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com and Faithful Servant

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA | Duress Me Not, Tales from Hodges, South Carolina

December 19, 2017

Point Blank, Period, Duress in ANY situation is not good. Duress against a Senior, or should we say, ‘Seasoned’ Citizen? Sonita don’t play that!

Today, of all days of my entire seven years’ service as a Notary Public for the State of South Carolina, I experienced my very ‘first’ blatant case of Duress.  If you know how I feel about signers’ rights, and you can place me in the midst of a Duress-type situation, you pretty much know that tempers flared.  You can meet tempers with revenge, oooooor, you can bounce back with professionalism, as much kindness as possible given the situation and with kit gloves (you want to make sure the task is accomplished and you leave the premises unharmed).

Today’s signing was SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED using the methods above.  It is with great humility and a professional presence myself and a willing additional witness were able to escape with signatures.

Some tips for other Notaries Public when performing signings in which Duress may be a factor:

1) Separate the signer from other relatives and ask them if they are signing under their own free will and deed.

2) Keep some form of protection with you at all times.  I am in no way, shape or form a member of law enforcement, so you will have to seek those resources on your own.

3) Know when to say, “NO!” to a signing situation.

4) Report Elder Abuse (if the person signing is a Seasoned Citizen).  There are several agencies you can seek assistance from should you feel someone may be in danger or may be under the coercive deception of a loved-one.

Here are some resources:

American Psychological Association’s Link on Elder Abuse

ElderAbuse.org

A Place for Mom’s Link on Elder Abuse

US Department of Health and Human Service’s Link on Elder Abuse

FindLaw.com’s Link on Elder Abuse

Nursing Home Abuse Guide’s Link on Elder Abuse

Whichever the case, NEVER LET ELDER ABUSE GO UNREPORTED!

Your Local Upstate Notary Public,

Sonita M. Leak

Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com

Notary Public Blog of Sonita M. Leak, CNSA-

Greenville, SC

Originated on Saturday, November 25, 2017

Blog Post Updated and Podcast Recorded on March 20, 2018

Recorded ON LOCATION at:

6134-D White Horse Road

Greenville, SC 29611

Yes,  everyone loves the fact that the day after Thanksgiving Day, you can go to the major retailers and shop ad-naseum for those Black Friday deals, right?  Well, did you know that us (well, I never like to refer to my business as small), but Small Business Owners can’t wait for the following Saturday? Why?  Because it’s Shop Small Saturday.Yes, today is the day!

What exactly is Shop Small Saturday?  Well, it’s a day to take a look at all of your local retailers and see what they have to offer.  Did you know that when you pour into your local community and #shopsmall, those dollars tend to stay in the community?  Yes, it’s nice to be able to go online, order something quick and simple from Amazon, have it delivered and be happy with your purchase, but there are so many other retailers that are sometimes RIGHT NEXT DOOR that can do the exact same thing, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

There are plenty of locals in the Greenville, South Carolina area that cater to their neighbors.  As a matter of fact, there are a plethora of what are considered Main Street vendors that have businesses in places other than Main Street that you may want to try out before you reach out to that Major Retail Store.

Here are just a few Small Businesses you can patronize on your venture.  Enjoy Shop Small Saturday and make sure you SHARE their information to others wherever you go. SHOP SMALL! Click on the text by each of the businesses to visit them:

Latisha Miles

BOE Photography ( Beauty of Essynce)! Owned and operated by Latisha Miles

Latisha will capture your Engagement, Wedding, Family, Prom, any occasion moments.  Latisha specializes in capturing your personality by photo.

Diana Jean 

Our Lemongrass Spa

Browse all organic and natural spa skincare, makeup and essential oils and contact me for a BOGO at 50% off!

 

 

Clara Davis Cook

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling near or far contact 

So, with a new Fall Season, comes a new Safe-Deposit Box drilling.

When a party has either 1) lost the key or keys to, 2) has passed away (and I’m sure there are other circumstances that a safe-deposit box may have to be drilled), it is required to have the box drilled open by a professional, certified driller.

During the transactions, the purpose of the Notary Public is to witness the contents of the safe deposit box as it is being opened. Many states already require a notary, separate from the bank for safe deposit box openings. Due to changes in the law for banking regulation implemented within the last two years, it is now required for a notary to act as a witness for safe deposit box openings.

Should you have any questions about safe deposit box openings and if they require a Notary’s presence in your state, please refer to your state law. The names of the banks where the safe-deposit box drillings are performed will always be excluded from posts as to protect the identity of all requesting parties involved.

Post by State of South Carolina Notary Public Signing Agent and Owner of GreenvilleNotary.com, Sonita M. Leak.

 

         Call or Text 864.214.6447

 

 

Services We Offer:

General Notary Work: Simple documents acknowledging truth or providing a statement for the courts or another third party may require notarization. Usually only requires one signing, stamp/seal and may require witness signatures.

I-9 Authorizations: Employers who hire remote employees (employees who work from home or another location) will at some point issue those employees and I-9 form to have filled out and signed by a company representative. Many times, the company representative lives in another state.

Loan Mods: Although South Carolina is an Attorney State, as Notaries Public, we have the authority to notarize Loan Modifications for South Carolina property.

Marriage Services: As one out of the three states that give Notaries Public the ability to conduct marriages without additional certifications nor licensure (Those three are Maine, Florida and YOU GUESSED IT, South Carolina), GreenvilleNotary.com takes pride in being one of the best services to get it done and get it done for less! Also, if we are not available to conduct your ceremony, we can find somebody who will, given you have the proper documentation.

Refinance Oversight for Out-of-State Property: The fee includes transaction oversight, travel, printing and any or all faxbacks required. OVERSIGHT TRANSACTION ONLY.

Not only will I notarize your document for you, I can also…

1) Scan your document into PDF format so that it is printable;

2) Securely send the document to a recipient by either email or fax;

3) Accept Credit and Debit Cards;

4) Provide Early and After Hours service for any of the options above.

This isn’t Multiple Choice Folks, call GreenvilleNotary.com today at 864.214.6447!

Below is a list of some of the documents and situations we either oversee, sign  or notarize for:

Closings

Reverse Mortgages

Refinance

Loans

Loan Modifications

Mortgage Lending

Residential Homes

Foreclosures

Short Sales

Debt Settlement

Title Insurance

Mortgage Banking

Witness Location

Real Estate Transactions

REO

Witness Statements

Affidavits

FHA

Weddings

Investment Properties

Real Estate Financing

Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs)

VA loans

Sellers’ Packages

Powers of Attorney

First Time Home Buyers

Mobile Signing Agent

HUD

1031 Exchanges

Legal Documents

Witness

Loan Origination

Real Property

Loss Mitigation

Wills

Residential Mortgages

Construction Loans

Deeds

Identity Verification

The Notary is “IN”

Call today to 864.214.6447!