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

This post is for each and every one of the Certified Notary Signing Agents out there in Notary-land.  It is very easy to get scammed in our business.

There are many assignments out there for us to partake of, however, if you aren’t choosy and don’t have certain methods on vetting companies, then you can be taken.

My advice?  Watch out!

During my Notary Public Signing Agent Seminars, I tell current and potential Notaries to be aware of potential threats to their business, one of them includes companies that aren’t on the up and up.  They seek out notaries because they feel it is easy to compromise their secure nature by using it against them.

I provide many methods of advice, however, here are my main two when it comes to Signing Services providing jobs:

1)  Thoroughly vet a company before agreeing to work with them.

There are several resources out there on the World Wide Web that will allow anyone to look up information on a company.  The Better Business Bureau is one resource.  Word-of-Mouth is one.  There are multiple sites out there that provide information on various companies that seek our assistance.  Many of these sites offer a grading scale for the companies as well.

2) Never agree to perform work via an initial email.

I tend to not work with a company unless I have first, AT LEAST received a phone call from someone from the company.  There is just something really shady about receiving an email about a very delicate signing, as opposed to receiving a phone call for it.  Over the years, I’ve received piggy-back calls for some of the same signers I’ve dealt with in the past from predatory lenders that were up to no good in their dealings.

So, fellow Notaries Public, while you’re out there trying to make a $1 out of $ .15, don’t sell yourself short.

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Sincerely,

Sonita M. Leak, GreenvilleNotary Owner

Your Notary Public for the State of South Carolina

I would like to wish all couples I’ve married, couples of the vows I’ve renewed and all couples I’ve served in my tenure here at Weddings by Sonita a Happy Valentine’s Day! Today, I would like for you all to look back on how you came to meet, why you decided to become one and focus on what steps you should follow to stay as one.

In a world full of strife, grief, ignorance and hate, today (as should everyday) should be a day of love, honor and upholding what you see as true and honorable.

There are couples that are going through rough times, and for those, I say be strong, stay strong, fight for what you know is worth the fight. Lay down those things that are not worth the fight. Sometimes you have to give up things ‘you’ as a person hold dear as a sacrifice for what ‘is’ actually worth it.

I leave you all with love today. Cherish each moment. I know that sounds cliche-ish, but it is definitely a phrase to go by.

May you all go in peace today. And again, Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sincerely,

Sonita M. Leak

Your Wedding Notary

A party well-known to GreenvilleNotary.com called in to the notary line on late evening, February 6, 2017.

The party and their soon-to-be former spouse were set to meet in a mutual location in the early morning hours of February 7, 2017.

The only thing is, they needed a Notary Public. So, without further ado, no complaints, no issues, we ran to the rescue!

At 3 o’clock a.m., the State of South Carolina resident and State of New York resident met mutually at the Pilot/McDonald’s of Highway I-85 to finalize their Uncontested Divorce paperwork.

The assignment on this morning is our earliest assignment in the history of GreenvilleNotary.com!

Assignment completed by Sonita M. Leak, Owner.

Evening notary service shouldn’t be a hassle to accomplish; not one bit.  A local party who needed a Very Important Document expedited met with me late evening to Coffee Underground, 1 East Coffee Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601.

It helps quite a bit to know that a particular service will be available when one needs it.  This is where we come in.  Did you know that not only can I notarize your documents, I can also scan, fax and/or email your document to the party that needs it?  Yes, I do that too.  Does it cost an arm-and-a-leg… No.  So, call me at 864.214.6447 for “One Stop Shop Service.”

Service for our new customer was provided by GreenvilleNotary.com Owner and State of South Carolina Notary Public Sonita M. Leak.

This service was provided on Monday, September 26, 2016. Photo courtesy of the Coffee Underground Facebook Page.

As a State of South Carolina Notary Public and a Nationwide National Notary Association® Ambassador, I am honored to have contributed to various articles on behalf of the Notary Bulletin and flagship magazine of the association in the past.  Did you know that your local Greenville, South Carolina Notary Public contributed to the following articles?

Click on the links below to read each:

WEB AND INTERNET MARKETING DON’TS (Author) – November 2018

BUILDING YOUR NOTARY BUSINESS ONE BYTE AT A TIME (Author) – September 2018 (As Author)

BY FLUKE AND DESIGN: HOW THREE NOTARIES BUILT THRIVING BUSINESSES (Contributor) – May 2016

NSA TIPS: THE BEST AND WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTICES FOR NOTARIES (Contributor) – October 2015

CUSTOMER SERVICE: TRUST, INNOVATION, INTEGRITY, ACCURACY, PROTECTION (Contributor) – December 2014

TO DO IT YOURSELF OR NOT: THAT IS THE QUESTION (Contributor) – 

THE TRUTH ABOUT OFFERING I-9 (IDENTITY VERIFICATION) SERVICES WITH YOUR BUSINESS (Contributor) – September 2014

HOW ONE NOTARY USES SEO STRATEGIES TO GROW HER BUSINESS (Contributor) – September 2014

Throughout my career, I’ve been humbled and been so appreciative of all those that I’ve helped, not only in my practice locally as a Notary Public and Signing Agent, but also as a colleague to all those Notaries and Signing Agents nationwide!

Thank you so much for a wonderful 9 years,

Sonita M. LeakOwner of GreenvilleNotary.com

Thanks to the always cordial staff at OJs Diner, which makes an EXCELLENT neighborhood setting for a signing by the way; a simple and private Scan Capture & Fax transaction took place. The transaction occurred on the afternoon of March 29, 2016.

We love the down-home feel of the people we meet at OJ’s Diner. The food? Nothing short of wholesome, good-hearted, RIGHT INTO THE SOUL! Looking for catering ideas? They do that too… Recently, I had the chance to experience the catering capabilities while in attendance of waitress Shakira and her wife Shay’s wedding ceremony at D&D Fiestas. I can’t speak for anyone else there, but I was VERY impressed. Great event with good folks, and of course OJ’s Diner’s “Just Good Food”.

The Scan Capture and Fax of 13 pages of  private paperwork facilitated by GreenvilleNotary.com Owner and Notary Public Sonita M. Leak at 907 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC 29601.

Jimmy and Misty were originally married on May 4, 2015.  We are congratulating these two again for their recent Re-Dedication to each other at Falls Park on the Reedy in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina on this past Sunday, February 28, 2016!

Jimmy and Misty, WE LOVE YOU!!!

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.

In addition to your wedding package, we will also render your wedding video at no additional charge!

To have Wedding and Marriage Notary Sonita M. Leak officiate and to get YOUR wedding video created, call 864.214.6447

We Promise to Have and Hold Your Ceremony With Care!

Photography for our Featured Image above by CY Photography

 

Holiday themes available to cater to:

New Year’s Day

Valentine’s Day

Cinco de Mayo

Election Day

Halloween

Veteran’s Day

Thanksgiving

Independence Day

President’s Day

Cyber Monday

Black Friday

Kwanzaa

Christmas

New Year’s Eve

A local resident who called into the GreenvilleNotary.com notary lines earlier on Friday, December 18, 2015, met with National Notary Association Ambassador and Notary Public Sonita M. Leak same day in the early evening.  When his original call was placed, our signer was at his place of employment and could not have the document taken care of.  However, once he was free to roam into the wilderness of Friday, the task was accomplished.

Why go to a separate place of business to have your notarized document faxed when we can do it for you, usually ON THE SPOT?  Call on GreenvilleNotary.com to assist you with your notary, scanning, emailing, and yes, FAX service.  Call us at 864.214.6447!

Today’s assignment was conducted at the Berea Wal-Mart, 6134 White Horse Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29611.