Frequently Asked Questions

 What are your rates?

General Notary Work:  (Listed on Home Page) $35.00 which includes one signature; each additional signature $15.00.  If travel is required outside SCV additional mileage is charged.  
Direct Loan Signing Fees - Vary Please call to schedule appointment
Living Will Trusts Fees - Vary  Please call to schedule appointment.

What is a 'Power of Attorney' document? 
(answer can be verified by an attorney)

Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal authorization that gives a designated person, termed the agent or attorney-in-fact, the power to act for another person, known as the principal.  The agent may be given broad or limited authority to make decisions about the principal's property, finances, investments, or medical care. 
There is also a Limited POA - Lets you specify the areas of your life to which the agent has access.
Durable POA - the authority granted to an agent ends in the event of incompetency or incapacitation of the principal.  It protects against unauthorized use of a POA by an agent taking advantage of an incapacitated principal.
Medical POA - lets an agent make health-care decisions on behalf of a principal.

What is an 'Acknowledgement' document?

A Notary acknowledgement is a statement that certifies and individual has legitimately signed a form.  Common for legal documents, the individual that is signing will have to show some type of identification.

What is a 'Jurat' document?

The California notarial certificate (jurat) is used by a notary public when one (1) or more individuals wish to swear to, or affirm, the authenticity of a document.  The notary's duty is to witness the signature and administer the oath of affirmation.

What is a revocable living trust?            (answer can be verified by an attorney)                          

A revocable living trust is a legal document that gives someone the authority to make decisions about someone else’s money or property that’s held in a trust. People set up a revocable living trust in order to give someone else the power to make financial decisions on their behalf, in the event they become unable to because of injury or illness. People also often use trusts to retain control of their property and to designate who will receive money and property once they die. They can also avoid going through the probate court system.

What is an Irrevocable Trust?                                (answer can be verified by an attorney)

An irrevocable trust is a type of trust typically created for asset protection and reduced federal estate taxes. They are designed so the creator of the trust (the grantor), can designate assets of their choosing to transfer over to a recipient (the beneficiary). Once established, irrevocable trusts can’t be changed or canceled by the grantor (hence the “irrevocable” in their name). The grantor forfeits ownership and authority over the trust and is unable to make any changes or amendments to the terms of the trust without permission from the beneficiary or a court order. A third-party member called a trustee is responsible for managing and overseeing an irrevocable trust.

What is Probate?                                         (answer can be verified by an attorney)    

 The legal proceedings by which the probate court is given full jurisdiction over the assets of the decedent. Probate starts with the filing of the decedent's will with the court, and ends after all taxes and debts of the decedent have been paid and the assets accounted for distributed in accordance with the terms of the decedent's will. Probate usually lasts for at least nine months and can often endure for two years or more.

What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?(answer can be verified by an attorney)  

This document empowers the person you name to make certain medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Usually you will also name one or more backups in case your first choice is unavailable. 

What type of identification is required?

An Identification card or driver's license issued by the CA Dept of Motor Vehicles; A United States Passport; An inmate identification card issued by the CA Dept of Corrections/Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody in CA state prison; Any form of inmate identification issued by the sheriff's dept, if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility; or a valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant's country of citizenship, or valid passport from the applicant's country of citizenship; A driver's license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue driver's licenses; An identification card issued by another state; A United States military identification card (containing all required information); An employee identification card issued by an agency, or an office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, or county in California; An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government.