# Notary procedure

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-procedure/853586>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 11, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-procedure/853586 "2020-05-11T16:09:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-procedure/853586/41 "2020-05-21T19:06:44Z")

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There have been cases where people died and the power bill was paid by draft from the checking account. They only found the person was dead when the balance was 0 and the power company arrived to cut the power. A few cases the person was dead for years before they were found. I remember one case the TV was still on.

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**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\
**Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-procedure/853586/42 "2020-05-21T19:46:20Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> I refinanced my mortgage last week. When I got there the notary had already signed off and stamped the documents. He took my DL to make sure I was the right person. It’s not a big deal but I assume the notary is not supposed to sign before I show up? Also due to CV I signed everything in the parking lot which did not bother me. And after I signed I jumped a guy with a dead battery. 🙂

I’m a notary and as long as you sign certain documents in my presence, it doesn’t matter if I sign/stamp/seal before or after you have signed. I am notarizing that you came before me and signed in my presence and have reasonably shown me that you are who you say you are. If you aren’t, then I’m certainly not giving you the documents to execute. It’s a moot point.

I can also, as someone else said, notarize your signature on something you signed previously. That happens quite a bit.

I can’t notarize a copy of your signature, but I can certify that it a true copy of an original and will need the original in order to do so.

You met with what is called a “closer”. The attorney handles closing of title, not your mortgage. You refinanced so there was no closing of title. While an attorney certainly can close your mortgage on behalf of your lender, it’s time consuming and expensive. Your lender or the title company sent out the closer.

Since your credit union chose the attorney and this was a refinance with no closing of title, the attorney was most likely the banks review attorney and not your own personal attorney.

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