As a result of recent Montana law changes that significantly modernized the state’s Notary regulations & procedures, newly commissioned Notaries in “The Treasure State” must now use an inking stamp-type seal with specific information & a standardized format. An embossing crimper-type seal may no longer be used.

The regulations apply to all of the state’s Notaries who received a brand spanking new or renewal commission on or after October 1, 2009. The new inking stamp must be rectangular & about 1 inch by 2 ½ inches, & it must include an official circular seal bearing the Notary’s name, the words “State of Montana,” & the words “Notarial Seal” or “Notary Public” along with the following information in the rectangle:

•The Notary’s printed name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Commission

•The title, “Notary Public for the State of Montana”

•The words “Residing at” with the name of the city or town where the Notary lives

•The Notary’s commission expiration date, shown in Month/Day/Four-Digit Year format.

As a point of clarification, Montana Notaries may no longer print a blank space in the inking stamp as part of the commission date, & then write in the date by hand. Additionally, all inking seals in the new format must be impressed with blue or black ink.

If any of the information contained in the seal/stamp changes in the coursework of the Notary’s term of office, the stamp must get replaced. Handwritten corrections are no longer allowed.

Notaries holding commissions expiring before October 1, 2013, may use their current seals until their commission expires, after which they must get a replacement seal conforming to the new format.

Notary Law Update: Senate Bill 2322

Description:

Senate Bill 2322 prohibits a Notary from notarizing any signature without positively identifying the signer. SB 2322 authorizes the Secretary of State to deny, revoke or suspend the commission of a Notary for violating any provision of Chapter 44-06 (“Notaries Public”) of the North Dakota Century Code and to adopt rules governing the signing and submission of electronic documents with a state agency. It also prohibits a Notary from notarizing a petition filed as a prerequisite to the calling of an election or for the performance or prohibition of any act under Section 1-01-50 of the North Dakota Century Code if the petition contains the Notary’s or the Notary’s spouse’s signature.

State: North Dakota

Effective: August 1, 2010

Signed: April 8, 2009

Chapter: TBD

Affects:

Amends Sections 1-08-12, 44-06-13.1 and 44-06-13.2 of the North Dakota Century Code

Changes:

1. Prohibits a Notary from notarizing a signature on a document if the Notary did not personally know or obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of the signer.

2. Authorizes the Secretary of State to deny, revoke or suspend the commission of a Notary for violating any provision of Chapter 44-06 (“Notaries Public”) of the North Dakota Century Code.

3. Prohibits a Notary from notarizing a signature on a petition submitted as a prerequisite for calling an election or for the performance or prohibition of any act under Section 1-01-50 if the Notary or Notary’s spouse is a signatory to the petition.

Analysis:

Senate Bill 2322 is an important new law that raises the bar for North Dakota Notaries in three important ways. First, the new law specifically prohibits a Notary from performing a notarial act without positively identifying the signer. Previously, identification was expressly required only for acknowledgments (see NDCC 47-19-20). Now, a signer of a document bearing a jurat must be identified through the Notary’s personal knowledge of the signer or satisfactory evidence. Second, North Dakota’s already strong statute prohibiting a Notary from notarizing a document containing the Notary’s or the Notary’s spouse’s name has been made stronger. The new law extends to any petition filed with a state officer, governing body, board, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision as a prerequisite to the calling of an election or for the performance or prohibition of any act if the signature of the Notary or the Notary’s spouse is on the petition. Third, the new law authorizes the Secretary of State to take administrative action against the commission of a Notary who violates any provision of Chapter 44-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, the chapter of laws governing Notaries.

In Vancura v. Katris, the Illinois Appellate Court held a national photocopy chain directly liable for the misconduct of a Notary employee at a suburban Chicago store because the business failed to properly train & supervise him — even though state law imposed no such requirement.

A relatively obscure appellate ruling in the nation’s heartland carries implications that reverberate from coast to coast, potentially affecting the business practices of employers & the way liability law is interpreted by the courts.

The case centered around a real estate deal that involved a Notary’s acknowledgement of one documents containing the forged signature of plaintiff Richard P. Vancura. Notary Gustavo Albear admitted that he notarized one of the documents but denied notarizing the second. He did admit that the seal on the second document appeared to be his. During the trial, Albear testified that he only necessary signers to present an ID with a signature — & not a photo — so he could match it to the signature on the document.

While the appellate court rejected a quantity of the trial judge’s findings against Albear’s employer, it upheld what may turn out to be the most far-reaching conclusions — that the employer was liable for damages because it had a broad, legal responsibility to make sure its Notaries followed notarial best practices above & beyond what state law necessary.

The court specifically cited the standards of conduct & training detailed in the National Notary Association-crafted Model Notary Act. A legal opinion penned by the prestigious national law firm Proskauer Rose concluded that the Vancura ruling could have a national impact because courts in other jurisdictions can apply the same principles used by the Illinois court.

According to the appellate ruling, the employer “knew or should have known that [the Notary’s] failure to positively identify persons requesting notarizations through pictorial identification & signature documents such as local driver’s licenses would, sooner or later, permit fraud or forgery to occur. When the purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud & forgery, adequate identification involves over accepting a customer’s personal statement & signature exemplar.”

“The (Illinois) Court relied on the standards set forth in the Model Act with respect to what constitutes satisfactory evidence of identification, proper maintenance of a notary’s seal, & what constitutes consent of an employer to a notary employee’s misconduct,” writes Arthur F. Silbergeld, a partner in Proskauer Rose. “The Court reasoned that because the state statutes were silent on those issues, it was reasonable to look to industry standards to decide what is thought about reasonable conduct by a Notary.” The appellate court was impressed with the “expertise & representative breadth of the Act’s drafters,” comparing it to model acts & codes of conduct drafted by the American Bar Association & other professional organizations.

In other words, where the law fails to set a standard, the Model Notary Act should act as a guide — not for Notaries, but for their employers, the public officials who regulate them, & the courts that ultimately pick liability when a transaction goes wrong.

Those who supervise Notaries also should have some knowledge of what they can & cannot do, & should periodically check up on Notary employees to ensure they’re following the right procedures.

The Act offers a clear outline of what constitutes nice Notary training, which should be conducted by a knowledgeable professional & culminate in some sort of check that gauges the trainees’ understanding of what they have learned. Additionally, the Notary Code of Professional Responsibility provides a solid set of guidelines for ethical behavior by Notaries.

One fact that emerged during the Vancura case was that Albear’s supervisor had no knowledge or training, & lacked any guidelines to ensure Notary employees adhered to sound procedures. These include verifying the signer’s identity through a government-issued identification card that includes a photograph, signature & physical description of the bearer; storing the journal & seal in a secure place; making sure the journal is a bound book that can’t be altered by removing pages; & ensuring that the signer personally appears before the Notary.

As a newbie mobile notary one of the challenges you face is where to go to get work. Though there are many ways to get your business off the ground the best place to start is to get signed up as a vendor with as many signing services as possible.

When signing up with these vendors as a mobile notary, make sure you’re following all the company instructions and providing all the information that the signing service is requesting. Make copies of all the contracts that you sign as it will provide you with valuable information you will need when partnering with the service provider.

A signing service will provide you with the opportunities you will need to gain valuable experience as a mobile notary professional, so it’s important that you get signed up with as many of these services as possible.

Take your time when signing up with these vendors, read through all the signing companies’ requirements and provide them with all the documentation that they are requesting this will help to insure that you are properly included into the signing services database.

Below is a list of signing services that you can get signed up with as amobile notary provider.

• ABC Loan Signings, 951-235-1009

• AL Signing Services, 616-784-1063

• All Business Solutions, 661-322-7174

• All State Signings, 870-642-2312

• Allstates Document Service, 949-858-5886

• American Mortgage Signing Service, 888-990-3470

• American Signing Connection, 770-205-5788

• American Title, 800-589-7329

• American Title Insurance, Wendy, 1-866-991-6900 xt 4207

• American United Closing, 239-768-0136

• American West Financial, 1-800-792-3863

• Americash, 800-483-6565

• AmeriComm, 866-306-3100

• Ameristar Information Network, 214-634-9270

• AMR Notary, 405-378-7999

• AMS Notary Signing Services, (949) 636-8510

• ASAP Pro Notary Services, 817-421-2171

• ASAP Signing Service, 916-729-2727

• At Home Signings Inc., 877-901-7950

• At Your Convenience Signings, 251-554-2227

• At Your Fingertips, 888-467-3339

• Atlantic Closing Services, 888-358-8170

• ATM Corporation of American, 877-472-5719

• ATS Document Services, 866-493-2599

• Bancserv, 800-721-5558

• BCN Solutions, (541) 726-3111

• BMK Signing, 231-275-6985

• Bridgespan Title, 888-485-2432

• California Notary Express, 951-789-9712

• CB Documentation, 888-422-3627

• CDS Signing Services, 1-800-222-7094

• Central Signing Service, 925-680-1073

• Central Valley Documentation, 888-376-9492

• CJ Signing Services, 678-924-0709

• Classic Signing Services of California, 559-322-9699

• Closersonthego, 321-206-6228

• Coast to Coast Signing Service, 714-685-0139

• Cochran Investment Company, Inc., (949) 759-1209

• Congressional Title Group, 856-520-1313

• Cypress Signatures, 877-285-2525

• DJ Services, 760-754-2650

• Doc Signers, 866-362-7446

• Docs2u, 714-552-2183

• DocPros, 877-304-7738

• Documentation, 888-422-3627

• Document Assistance Company, 800-896-2727

• Documents on the Run, 714-730-3496

• Executive Closing Services, 561-262-6200

• Express Financial, 412-922-7700

• Express Signers, Inc., 1-800-750-5950 xt 103

• First American Signature Services, 1-888-270-3630

• FloridasBestClosers, 813-286-8683

• Fox Signing Service, 1-877-266-6959

• Gold Coast Document Service, 1-888-816-4653

• Great Lakes Notary, 810-733-9481

• Guardian Loan Company of Massapequa, 800-400-1704

• Hawaii First Signature, 808-965-8444

• HDS Document Signing Services, 1-800-611-1771

• Heritage Closing Agency of KY, 859-854-0029

• I Mortgage Service, 888-575-8555

• Integrated Loan Services, 800-842-8423

• Integrity Notary and Loan Signing Services, 954-907-5829

• ITA Financial Document Services, 1-888-252-4354

• JMT Loan Docs, 1-800-610-3169

• Just Documents, 707-839-9700

• Leading Edge Mortgage Service, 888-740-9696

• Lender’s Services Inc., 800-756-3524

• Lender’s Signing Service, 1-800-745-3627

• Liberty Signing Services, 860-376-7779

• MBT Signatures, 626-919-1330

• Mobile Signing Service, 916-797-8800

• Mortgage Information Services, 402-496-2200

• MTR Services, 310-285-8200

• N3 – Nationwide Notary Network – 503-243-5610

• National Document Signing Services, 877-766-6884

• Nations Direct, 800-969-7779

• Nations Signature Closers, 913-383-8185

• Nationwide Document Service, 1-888-520-4601

• Nationwide Signature Services, 714-505-7646

• New Century Abstract, 732-892-6200

• NMD Notarial Services, 720-482-2809

• Norcoast Loan Documentation, 760-436-5474

• Northeast Abstract Title Agency, 1-800-338-1344

• Notary Delivery, 305-828-8304

• Notary Direct Nationwide Signing Service, 1-888-228-7705

• OPCS Inc., 614-866-3623

• Opportunity Knocking, LLC, 719-591-6190

• Pacific Document Services, Inc., 877-722-3627

• Pinnacle Real Estate Services, 949-955-2447

• PMC Executive Signing Agency Inc., 941-316-0118

• Precision Closing Services, Inc., 877-934-7800

• Premier Consulting Services, Inc., 727-859-9825

• Premier Lender Services, 949-585-1973

• Professional Loan Signing Services, 888-689-2383

• Professional Notaries of California, 949-623-8274

• Professional Settlement Services, 888-491-1118

• Property and Appraisal, 800-837-6488

• QUICKdocs, 877–933-6362

• Radian Express, 877-270-1003

• ReliaClose, 614-866-3623

• Residential Signatures, 1-800-625-8810

• Right Now Notaries, 866-714-0266

• Scriba, 336-294-9499

• Secured Signatures, 866-547-2347

• Select Signing Services, 949-305-7510

• Service Provider PLUS+, 888-545-7587

• Shannon’s Document Services, 559-692-2015

• Signature Service, 1-888-697-4463

• Sign M Up Mobile Signing Service, 714-960-3907

• Sign On Services, 800-809-3627

• Signature Service, 888-697-4463

• Signatures on the Move, 336-510-0832

• Signed and Sealed, Inc., 727-372-0574

• Signing Carolina, 336-420-3484

• Statewide Document Services, 888-288-0572

• Statewide Documentation, 800-297-4545

• Sunrise Side Process Service, 989-739-1645

• Superior Notary, 888-660-1778

• Surf City Mobile Notary, 714-840-0567

• Take Care of Business, 805-450-4500

• TDS Document Services, 816-516-3455

• The Closing Agency Texas, 832-715-1699

• The King’s Notary Service, 561-585-8563

• The Mobile Notary Services, 856-662-0095

• TL Signing Service, 707-746-0345

• Trans State Closers, 727-738-5001

• Traveling Professional Notaries, 562-434-5627

• Tri-State Mobile Notaries, 513-931-7448

• Twin Cities Mobile Notary, 949-940-0000

• UFSS Notary Network, 570-842-1500

• United Signing Services, 619-271-3700

• US Property and Appraisal, 1-800-837-6488

There comes a time in a person’s life that they will need a Notary Public.Whether it’s expected as in the cases where loan documents, contracts, or legal documents need to be signed or unexpectedly when a loved one is ill or is hospitalized and there is a need for a power of attorney or medical directive document to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public.Perhaps your car has been impounded and you need to have a vehicle release authorization notarized.

In some cases you can simply head downtown to your local mail store or bank, meet with a Notary Public, have your document notarized and then be on your way. However there are times when taking a trip downtown is either unrealistic or it’s just not convenient. This is when the services of aMobile Notary can help you.

Below are a few examples of when to use the services of a mobile notary public.

1You and your spouse need to sign a trust document and have it notarized, however you both work late and are unable to get to your local notary during the day at the same time. On top of that it’s much more convenient for the two of you to sign the paper work while you’re at home together. This is a great time to use the services of a mobile notary public as most notaries are available to meet with you at your convenience, day or night.

2You own or work for a company that regularly or occasionally needs to have documents or contracts notarized, such as equipment leases, vehicle delivery forms, or legal documents for lawsuits or probate matters. When using the services of a mobile notary in these situations, you not only speed up the process of having your documents notarized by setting the time table for when your client will meet with the notary, you also show that you go the extra mile by providing a value added time saving service.

3There are those times when it becomes physically impossible for someone to go and meet with a notary public, such as when loved ones fall unexpectedly ill, are in a nursing home, or are in a tragic accident. In these situations documents may need to be signed and notarized at a moment’s notice, and using the services of a mobile notary can make a critical difference. A mobile notary public is able to travel to hospitals, nursing homes, and just about any other location they are needed and there services are available at a moments notice.

Knowing when and why you need a notary public will help you to determine if using the services of a mobile notary is the right decision for you, your business and your clients. Remember that most notaries will charge additional travel fees for their services so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing to use the services of a mobile notary public.

Notary Public: The Short Answer

A notary public is a certified official that is capable of acting as a reliable, impartial witness for the signing of important documents. A notary public is also able to administer oaths and may have other official capacities depending on the jurisdiction.

In the United States, most notary publics charge a nominal fee for their services.Notary publics dispense their official duties by marking documents with their signatures and a distinctive embossed stamp or inked seal. A document which has been witnessed by a notary public has been notarized.

Notary Public: Benefits

The benefits of using a notary public are simple. By certifying the veracity of the signing parties, the notary provides an inexpensive way for organizations and individuals to enter into contracts and conduct business with a reasonable assurance that the notarized documents will be recognized in court.

Using a notary public is a way to protect against fraud, as the notary is responsible for requiring the signer of a legal document to establish his or her identity. Although this is not conclusive proof of identity, it provides reasonable evidence of identity so that every day business can be conducted. A notary also acts as a disinterested third party for parties entering into a legally binding agreement.

Notary Public: More Info, Please

HISTORY

The concept of a notary is as old as the Western concept of civil law, which has its beginnings in the courts of Rome. As the Roman legal system became more codified, the law courts became more and more reliant on the use of scribes for maintaining the court records. These scribes developed a system of legal shorthand, called notae. In time, a legal scribe earned the name notarius.

The name has been handed down through the centuries, living on past the fall of theRoman Empire. During the Middle Ages, the role of the notary public was often taken by the clergy, who were charged with recording private and public transactions, as well as drawing up official documents.

ROLE

Today, a notary public’s duties are somewhat different than the duties of a notarius. In the United States, a notary public has been authorized by a specific body, usually a state government, to perform the services of a notary. These duties are usually confined to the witnessing of documents and the administration of oaths. Some states also allow notary publics to certify copies of official documents

Two of the most common documents that a notary public will witness have to do with the sale or transfer of real property and the granting of power of attorney. A few examples of the documents that a notary public can officially witness include the following:

•Acknowledgements

•Affidavits

•Jurats

•Oaths

•Formal protests

Some states give notary publics significantly more duties. For example notary publics in Louisiana are able to perform most of the duties that a lawyer can provide with the exception of representing another person before a court. Three states–Florida, Maine and South Carolina–allow notary publics to solemnize a marriage ceremony.

Some states will require the notary public to maintain a record of official acts. Although keeping a journal of official acts performed is not mandated by all states, many professional notary organizations recommend that all notaries keep records of their actions.

SIDEBAR: Legal Language

Ever wonder why legal documents are about as clear as mud?

The wording of legal document has to abide by certain customs and restrictions in order to have any binding effect in a court of law. This wording is called acceptable language.

SIDEBAR: Documents and Definitions

Know your jurat from your acknowledgement? Here are the definitions of some of the common documents handled by a notary public.

Acknowledgement: A legal declaration of an act.

Affidavit: A sworn statement of fact

Jurat: A part of an affidavit containing the oath or affirmation.

Becoming a Notary Public

In the United States, each state is responsible for commissioning notary publics to practice within its jurisdiction. In general, the requirements for becoming a notary public are relatively easy to meet. In most states, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age. Most states charge a small fee as part of the application process. Some states require satisfactory performance on an exam before commissioning the notary officer. In some states, the notary is required to hold a bond as insurance in case of a lawsuit leveled against the notary public.

Many mobile notaries are out there right now wondering why they ever got into the mobile notary signing agent business. Lured, no doubt, by fancy advertising promising easy money with flexible hours, they have come to find that mobile notary money doesn’t comes easy. Flexible means that they are available to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not like that “rigid” Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 gig they used to have.

It’s not that the mobile notary business is all bad. In fact, it can be quite rewarding, fun and profitable. But is it right for you?

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before starting up your mobile notary business.

1. Am I willing to work long hours for very little to no money?

It’s not fair but it’s true. When starting out your mobile notary business be prepared to make very little money for the first few months while working 12 to 16 hour days. From marketing to sales to taxes, there is always something to be done when starting out as a mobile notary, and you won’t be paid for it. In fact, the only time you will make money is when you make a sale, which leads to my next question.

2. Do you enjoy sales?

If you don’t, you’re going to have a very hard time getting your mobile notary business off the ground. As a mobile notary you are in the business of selling a service, and when you’re selling your services as a mobile notary public, you’re really just selling yourself.

3. Do you have a fuel efficient vehicle?

Being a mobile notary means putting a lot of miles on your car, sometimes 5000 or more. On top of that, gas prices are through the roof. Estimate your miles per month at about 2,500. Divide that by the miles per gallon your vehicle gets, for example, 12mpg comes to 208 gallons of gas. Multiply that by the cost of gas, $3.30 in some areas, which comes to a grand total of $684, out of pocket, before you collect a dime.

4. Got Commitment?

What happens if you make 75 bucks as a Mobile Notary in your opening month? Are you going to quit? What if all you make is 75 bucks for the first 3 months as a mobile notary, what then?

Being a mobile notary is not easy. At first it’s all work all the time, but after a while you might take a full weekend off and even make some money. Ask yourself, do I have the commitment to get through the worst of the worst just to see it get worse, because the truth is it does and it will. Like with everything, in time you learn to love it and become good at it, if not great.

Spend some time talking with friends and family about your plans and be realistic about what to expect when first starting out as a mobile notary.

One of the challenges facing the mobile notary business is trying to keep costs down, a feat not so easily done with ever rising gas prices and 200 page E-doc files. What follows are 3 cost cutting tips that will help your mobile notary dollars go further.

One of the challenges facing the mobile notary business is trying to keep costs down, a feat not so easily done with ever rising gas prices and 200 page E-doc files. What follows are 3 cost cutting tips that will help your mobile notary dollars go further.

1. Buy a Laser Printer

When making a purchasing decision with a printer, don’t go out and buy the cheapest ink jet printer you can find. It might seem better to save yourself a few hundred bucks by buying that $99.00 printer over a good quality laser printer but the truth is your cost per printed page is cheaper with a laser printer. That all adds up when you’re printing a few thousand pages of loan documents each month. Plus there is nothing like the speed and ease of a dual tray laser printer when printing out e-docs at the end of the month. Just ask any mobile notary signing agent that’s been around for awhile.

2. Get a new phone service

There are many choices in phone services these days for a mobile notary and VoIP is one of the most cost effective solutions available, however it’s not for everyone and you’ll need a high speed internet connection. Some local phone companies are offering good discounts for bundling services. Give them a call and see what options are available to you. If you take the time to research what options are available in your area, you could save hundreds of dollars each year.

3. Buy a Hybrid car

$3.60 a gallon! Say no more. Gas is one of the largest expenses that we incur as a mobile notary. Buying a hybrid vehicle makes sense. This is a long term purchasing decision, and if you know that you’re going to be a mobile notary for years to come, a hybrid car could be quite a benefit to your long term business objectives.

Being a mobile notary can be a very costly business, but if you take the time to think ahead when making purchases you will see more mobile notary service dollars in your pocket.

N3 Notary for information use only, not to be used as legal advice.

VII

THE NOTARY SHALL AFFIX A SEAL ON EVERY NOTARIZED DOCUMENT AND NOT ALLOW THIS UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF OFFICE TO BE USED BY ANOTHER OR IN AN ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION.

Whether in traditional or electronic form, the seal is an essential tool of notarization and an important symbol of the Notary’s authority. A mishandled or misused seal can enable fraud and cause severe financial and legal damage to both the public and the Notary. It is critical that Notaries use seals in accordance with best practices, and to ensure that they are secured against potential misuse. Guidelines for the proper care and use of seals are detailed in Guiding Principle VII of The Notary PublicCode of Professional Responsibility.

VII

THE NOTARY SHALL AFFIX A SEAL ON EVERY NOTARIZED DOCUMENT AND NOT ALLOW THIS UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF OFFICE TO BE USED BY ANOTHER OR IN AN ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION.

Because using a seal outside of notarization can enable fraud, Guiding Principle VII instructs Notaries to make sure seals are not affixed to a document in advance. Notaries should never allow another person to use or handle their seal and, when it is not in use, the seal should be stored in a secure place only accessible to the Notary.

Additionally, Notaries should not allow others to use or reproduce the seal in commercial endorsements or testimonials. A seal is used solely for official notarial acts; to use a seal in an endorsement could mislead the public into thinking a product or event has been officially certified or approved by a government agency when it has not.

Effective July 1, all Puerto Rican birth certificates will be invalidated as part of a sweeping move by the U.S. commonwealth to combat fraud. That means the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent in the U.S. will require of new proofs of birth & may approach Notaries to assist them in obtaining such documentation. Federal & Puerto Rican officials warn there will be a wave of attempts to commit fraud amid the confusion, as Puerto Rican birth certificates are in high demand on the black market for those seeking to receive unlawful passports, driver’s licenses & other government benefits.

Notaries approached with a request to help receive proof of birth in Puerto Rico should keep in mind that they have no power to “certify” vital records such as birth documents.

The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) reports that they took this aggressive action because lots of Puerto Rican businesses improperly asked for certified copies of birth certificates for common transactions, & then stored the copies in unsecured areas. Lots of were stolen & sold for use in generating fake IDs. Approximately 40 percent of passport cases inquired in to by the U.S. Department of State in recent years have involved fraudulent use of Puerto Rican birth certificates. More information about the Puerto Rico law & where to receive a lawful certified copy of a Puerto Rican birth certificate can be found at the PRFAA Web-site.

N3 Notary for information use only, not to be used as legal advice.