| These are some of the questions most frequently asked by our notary and attorney signing agents:
Do I need to have loan document signing experience to be in your network?
How do I sign up?
If I'm overbooked, can I have one of my associate notaries fill in?
Should a husband and wife working together sign up under one account or two?
What is your payment policy?
Do I need a fax machine?
What's the difference between a closing agent, a notary, and a signing agent?
Do you have work in my area?
How do I get you to call me with signing opportunities?
Do I need to have loan document signing experience to be in your network?
Almost all of our business involves mortgage loan documents. It is very unlikely we'll be able to call you with an assignment if you have no familiarity with loan documents.
Please note that we are not a training company or notary association.
If you're just starting in the business, you may benefit from the information at NotaryLinks.com.
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How do I sign up?
The only way to be included in our database is through our website. Click here for the first step. After completing this short form, you will receive a reply with further instructions. Please do not call, fax or mail information to us until you have done this.
Although we do turn some signing agents down for inclusion in our database (due to saturation and other factors), this is NOT an “application” or “employment” process. Being included in our database is merely an indication that you, as an independent contractor, are soliciting work from us. It does not guarantee we will call you to offer an assignment.
If you have questions that must be answered before signing up, send an email to status@usasigning.com.
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If I'm overbooked, can I have one of my associate notaries fill in?
Generally, no. We are set up to deal with individuals, rather than local signing services, and our guidelines prohibit subcontracting without written permission. Farming out assignments undermines our ability to do the kind of job our clients demand, and creates liability you may not want to assume. The notary who completes the signing MUST be named on the assignment sheet. Emergency situations are to be resolved by the scheduling department at USA Signing Services.
The best way to avoid this, is by scheduling responsibly, with ample spacing between appointments.
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Should a husband and wife working together sign up under one account or two?
We do allow husband-and-wife (and similar family relationships) teams to sign up under one account, but this must be noted in the file, and both persons must be capable signing agents. Generally, both names will be listed on the assignment sheet.
Spouses contracting in this manner must designate ONE person/entity as payee.
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What is your payment policy?
Fees may be negotiable at the time of the assignment for distance and other reasonable factors. Routinely demanding fees higher than what we offer may decrease your chance of getting work from us.
Your fee is noted at the top of the Assignment/Completion Summary form, and will be paid within approximately 30 days of our receipt of the completed form. We do not require an invoice other than this ACS form.
If you have a question concerning an outstanding invoice, contact accounting.
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Do I need a fax machine?
A fax number, like an email address and a cellphone, is a virtually essential tool of this trade. Confirmations may need to be faxed, and sometimes additional loan documents are faxed by the lender/escrow after the main package has already shipped.
If you do not have access to a dedicated fax number, we highly recommend that you obtain a free fax number from one of the services listed on our links page.
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What's the difference between a closing agent, a notary, and a signing agent?
Although some in the industry use these terms interchangeably, they are not necessarily the same. Here are the distinctions:
A Closing Agent is the person, usually from a title or escrow company, who is coordinating the assembly of the documents, disbursement of funds, and other duties associated with CLOSING a loan. Although the closing agent may also be a notary, he or she will often locate a suitable signing agent through a service like USA Signing Services, Inc.
Even though that time when everyone is sitting down to sign papers is often referred to as a “closing,” this signing is really only a PORTION of the closing process.
A Notary Public is someone who has been commissioned by their state to be an impartial witness to certain kinds of transactions, which vary from state to state. Although notarization is an essential element to real estate transactions, merely being commissioned does not automatically qualify a person to recognize and identify various elements of loan documents.
A Signing Agent is a duly commissioned notary public who has become skilled, through experience and/or education, in the facilitation of the signing portion of the mortgage loan closing process. There are some “certification” programs available for this designation, some of which are very good (check our links page), but none are a legal requirement for doing this type of work.
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Do you have work in my area?
Our needs are shifting all the time. Our client list and their marketing areas change continuously, so we really can't predict where we'll be calling next.
Some areas, like Southern California, are saturated with signing agents looking for work. Though we have fairly liberal policies on who we allow in our database, the chances we'll be able to call you, even if you are experienced, are limited in these saturated areas.
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How do I get you to call me with signing opportunities?
Most services prefer to deal with notaries who are easy to reach, available, and flexible. Demanding more than the base fee of a service will generally decrease the likelihood you will be called.
Since we do not demand exclusivity, we allow and recommend that you sign up with as many services as you can, with the understanding that most will call you rarely or ever.
Keep your information up-to-date with every service, including changes to your experience level.
Remember that no signing service can guarantee a certain amount of work to any contractor. Dozens of signing agents ask to be included in our database every week, adding to the 12,000+ who are already there.
Please do not call to ask if we have assignments available in your area.
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