Thomas Murotake has found his self-employed notary niche. He has a traveling
notary service in Cypress, California. He specializes in the needs of the
terminally ill and the elderly. He's also an emergency medical technician,
National Guard medic, and a computer maintenance and repairperson.
"I was asked by a previous employer to become a notary in order to facilitate
business matters in the company. As a notary, [the] commission belongs to
the notary, [so] it went with me when I left that company."
Today, Murotake travels from client to client, notarizing important documents.
Although his business is relatively new, Murotake is enjoying the challenge.
Working with terminally ill patients and their medical problems ties in well
with his medical background. Before he notarizes any document, Murotake must
determine if his client is mentally competent. If they're not competent,
he can't notarize the document. Determining a client's competency
is the hardest part of the job.
Although notarizing documents seems simple, the duties are extremely important
and regulated. "It's often easy to forget that a notary is a valuable
service provider with a history that reaches all the way back to the Roman
Empire. Although perhaps the easiest of all public appointments to attain,
it's still not something everyone can qualify to do. It's an office
of public trust," says Murotake.
Julia Del Gatto is a freelance paralegal. Previously employed by a law
firm, Del Gatto took her business on the road and works out of her home.
She provides extra notary services for her customers and can notarize documents
on the spot for busy attorneys and clients. "My best days are when I get to
notarize adoption forms. I do my little bit to bring families together!"
Del Gatto takes her duties and notarial commission very seriously. "I attest
that the signature which I notarize is that of the person signing a document
in my presence. I will not notarize a document with blank spaces or incomplete
clauses."
Jean Russenberger has been a notary since 1980. When he originally attended
university, his first love was anthropology.
However, after examining his career options, he had a change of heart.
After spending four years in university (three years of law school and one
year of notary training) and passing a specialized exam, Russenberger set
up shop.
Being a notary is more than witnessing signatures. A typical day starts
early and ends late. "I begin at 7:30 in the morning and work often work until
about 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m."
Russenberger spends his day as a legal advisor for his clients. He specializes
in real estate, corporate and family law.
With all his long hours and varied duties, Russenberger emphatically denies
remembering a bad day since becoming a notary. "I can't
recall one -- and that's true!"