How to keep safe as a notary loan signing agent in this covid-19 era

As you all know, we are in an unprecedented times of the killer covid virus. Notaries are considered essential workers and we have to go to peoples homes or a designated public places like banks, Fedex, or UPS offices to do a mortgage closing or notarize one document or the other. Below are the few steps, you take as a notary, to keep safe in addition to following the guidelines of the Center for disease control (CDC), that is wearing your masks, social distancing, and washing your hands often or sanitizing your hands with a sanitizer if water is not readily available.

STEP 1

When calling the signers to confirm the signing appointment time , place and date, you politely ask if the signers or anyone in the house has tested positive for covid, if yes, when and what is their status now. This should be reported to the title or signing service that gave the notary the assignment. The signing should be cancelled until the covid status is negative.

STEP 2

If the signers or no one in the house has had covid , you let the signers know that you the notary will be wearing a mask, with or without a face shield and that you will appreciate if they can put on theirs as well during the signing.

STEP 3

When the notary gets to the house, you inform them that you are in front of the house, and ask if they have pets, that should be put away during the duration of the signing, which is normally between 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours depending on the title paper work and the type of loan. You, the notary do not want to be distracted by pets, and you miss a notarization, or get covid virus from the dog, be bitten by a dog.

STEP 4

The notary should always use hand sanitizer, when you get into the house or office. There should be social distancing between the signers and the notary with everyone’s masks on. No sharing of pens to sign. The notary can have new pens for the signers , or the signers get theirs. After the signing, the notary should use hand sanitizer again.

With these steps, i hope a notary’s rate of covid-19 virus infection is reduced. Even with the vaccines available now, the notary still needs to follow the CDC guidelines at any time for safety.