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3 Benefits to Convey Digital Security Strengths to the Skeptical

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“Back in my day.”

 

You might hear that refrain quite a lot in your business. When working with people from older generations, there’s a lot of precedence to push against when trying to talk about how cutting-edge, digital tools can help—especially with end-of-life concerns like wills, trusts, estate plans, or other tasks requiring a notary.

 

They’re right though. The act of notarization has been an in-person affair for literally centuries. Most states didn’t allow Remote Online Notarization (RON) before 2020. So it’s easy to empathize, then, with folks who might assume we haven’t worked out all the kinks just yet.

 

Digital notarization, however, offers a wealth of benefits to anyone looking to sign their documents. When working with skeptical clients, be sure to highlight these three aspects of digital notary.

 

Ease of Access for All Walks of Life

 

Point out that digital notarization is both easy and accessible to those with the right tools and assistance. Anyone with an internet connection and a screen can hop into a remote notarization session and get the ball rolling on whatever agreement they have.

 

Not only is this useful for those who are busy, but it is also a vital resource for individuals who have a harder time getting around. You can drive this point home for both the elderly and for those adult children who want to take care of their aging parents in a way that is approachable while still remaining secure.

 

Ease of Access Does NOT Mean Exposed

 

Many people may feel that hitting a button to apply a digital signature to a document isn’t as meaningful or as secure as holding a pen and scribbling their years-practiced signature on a dotted line. For those who’ve signed physical documents all their life, this can feel like a huge disconnect.

 

When teaching this aspect, be careful about overwhelming your client with jargon. It’s easy to throw out terms like eSignatures and digital seals, but the most important thing to convey is that their signature is protected—no matter what it looks like on the computer. With the help of a trusted notary who is present on the remote call, everything about the digital notarization is secure and verified.

 

Digital Records and Infinite Backups

 

Describe how cloud storage combines with digital record-keeping to make sure any changes to a document are recorded. For example, after the notary confirms and seals a document with a digital certificate, you can show how the tamper-evident documentation keeps track of any activity after the documents are signed.

 

After a digital notarization, make sure to give them physical copies of the digital session. It may help ease their mind to have that hybrid documentation. The main point is helping your clients—no matter their age—make their decisions with confidence. With the right information and team, you can provide that support.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.    

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today!

Mobile Notary

How to Make Your Closings Easier on You and Your Clients

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Closing on an agreement—whether it’s for real estate, another loan, or any business process requiring a notary—involves a lot of moving parts. From involved parties to documentation requirements, there are a lot of moments when hiccups can result in delayed closings and lost time. The less efficient a closing is, the more likely things are to fall through at the last minute.

 

For your business’s sake, it’s important to make sure you’ve done everything on your end to make the closing process approachable. When you make it easier for your client—you make things easier for yourself.

 

To make that easier than ever, we’ve pulled together the 4 steps you need to take to ensure a smooth closing.

 

  1. Identify All the Documentation Your Closing Requires

 

Each closing is different, but the process is usually the same depending on the purpose. By identifying the key documents you and your client will need ahead of time, you can help get things over the finish line faster. A great way to make this easier is by having those documents ready to go through digital repositories.

 

  1. Learn How to Teach Your Client About Required Documentation

 

You’re good at your job (which is why your clients hire you), but that can lay the foundation for a lot of confusion if you’re not careful. If your client is a first-time homebuyer, they may feel overwhelmed by every step. Instead of leaving them in the dark or overwhelming them with all the nitty gritty, offer a snackable way to learn about your process. This may help them close with more confidence. 

 

Even if your clients are business savvy or they’ve been through the process with you before, they still might not understand (or remember) everything that’s involved at each step. When you’re able to walk them through it in an easy-to-understand way that shows how you’re making it simple for them, you demonstrate how you’re the expert and that closing with you is their best bet.

 

  1. Keep Your Client in the Loop When Things Change

 

There are often steps when a client is waiting for other parties to handle their end of the process. For example, after a homebuyer delivers their check, the lender typically needs to distribute funds before the next step. Whether that’s you distributing the funds or receiving them, you can help the process along by notifying your client at each checkpoint. Doing so keeps people aware of the process and lets them know when it’s time for them to act again.

 

  1. Make the Signing Steps Painless

 

At Bilingual Notary Network, our whole job revolves around the notary step. But we understand that you, your clients, and other parties involved with a closing transaction often have other things pulling at your attention. That’s why it’s so vital to make sure the signing is the easiest step. 

 

With the right team, you can organize your documentation, inform your client of their responsibilities, and arrange for a conventional or digital notarization to wrap things up with a nice bow.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.    

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

 

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today!

 

Remote online notarizations

Notarial Certificates: From Wax Seals to JPEGs

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One of the number one ways to ensure an agreement holds up under scrutiny is the notary certificate. Obviously, it’s important to get all the right signatures in the right places, but if you can’t prove that the signing occurred at a specific time and place, it is easier to doubt a signature’s authenticity.

 

Imagine a family fighting over a will or a company backing out of an agreement. Without proof that people agreed to what they did at a certain time, there are a half dozen angles for bad actors to exploit the confusion. Notarial certificates provide some of the strongest defense against rogue claims.

 

So What Is a Notary Certificate?

 

A notarial certificate is how any notarial act is evidenced. It is a document or written statement that affirms all the facts or information involved in a signing.

 

There are nine things that every notarial certificate needs:

 

  1. Venue details where the notarization takes place
  2. The notarization date
  3. The person whose signature is being notarized (the principal)
  4. The public notary’s signature
  5. The name of the notary
  6. What type of notarial act taking place
  7. Any identification types (whether the notary public confirms the principal’s identity through personal knowledge or examination)
  8. The notary seal
  9. Indication whether it was conventional or a Remote Online Notarization (RON)

 

Some states have meticulous requirements for a notarial certificate while others only require that all nine aspects of a certificate be present. However, some things shift when you take notary to the digital world.

 

The Digital Difference

 

One aspect that might jump out right away when you shift to digital notary certificates is the lack of a venue. With a remote notarization, the whole point is that you, your clients, and the notary are all in different locations. This means your location involves a secure communications platform.

 

There’s also not an easy way to go embossing and stamping a digital file. This is when the notary’s custom, digital seal comes in. These seals typically mimic real-life stamps or seals in the form of a PDF or JPEG. However, they come with a few other strengths of digital security. 

 

A remote notarial certificate often comes with digital protections that verify the notary’s identity. It also makes whatever document signed “tamper-evident.” Once a notary signs and secures your digital signature, it will persistently keep track and record instances where anyone opens or makes changes since the completed notarization.

 

Tackle Both the Old and New with Expert Help

 

Believe it or not, remote notary is still a relatively new aspect of efficient transactions and closings. Many states only legalized remote notary around 2020, and each one has its own particular requirements.

 

When you need a RON, whether due to distance, expense, convenience, or high volume, it is important to make sure you have everything organized and streamlined. With the right team, you can pave the way to easier closings and more secure notarizations.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.    

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

 

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today!

Mobile Notary

Time and Money in the Notary Business

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While the act of notarization can be as simple as confirming a single signature, there is a lot that leads up to that moment—as well as many costs that go into the process. In the case where you’re running a large business in need of several signatures and notarial certificates over potentially hundreds of contracts, this gets expensive fast.

 

You don’t want to miss key details when it comes to ensuring easy, reliable notarization. But cutting costs doesn’t have to involve cutting corners.

 

Typical Costs in the Notary Process

 

Notaries often charge by the signature or certificate. When organizing a face-to-face appointment with a notary, some notaries have offices while others drive out to a place of your choosing. Depending on the commute to your location, they may charge extra for the distance.

 

Unseen Costs of the Notary Process

 

There may be other costs and factors to consider, such as which state you’re in. Some states regulate how much a notary may charge while others leave it up to the notary’s preference.

 

Opportunity costs are important to recognize here as well. While you spend your time on the road getting to the notary or waiting on the notary to fight traffic to get to you, you could be doing something else.

 

In the event you have a difficult client, it can feel like herding cats trying to get your business, your client, and the notary all in the same place at the same time. Every hiccup is more lost productivity on your end.

 

Reducing Costs with Remote Online Notarization

 

One key method of avoiding these costs is keeping it all digital or using hybrid notarization. When you lean on remote resources, you can meet your notary anywhere and avoid travel fees.

 

Remote online notarization also allows you to organize everything in a way that makes parsing through dozens or hundreds of signatures at a time easier. Rather than a stack of physical documentation, you can work through the notarizations with the press of a button.

 

All of this comes with additional, encrypted security thanks to dedicated applications that allow for safe, trusted notarization that can be easily kept on a file for your long-term records.

 

When you make the decision to notarize your documents with RON, it is vital to ensure you get it done right the first time. With notary experts who have years of experience with the new and evolving state of remote notary, you can prepare ahead of time rather than waste manhours and money reversing a remote mistake. 

 

With Bilingual Notary Network, you have access to a list of professionals trained in every aspect of the notary industry at your disposal. We can walk you through the potential costs and help you identify when RON serves your bottom line better.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.    

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

 

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today!

Customer Service

What Makes a Difficult Notary Client?

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Successfully closing a deal requires you to manage a lot of logistics. You need to have everything organized and documented. Everyone needs to do their part in a timely manner so all parties can leave satisfied with the end results.

 

However, there are simply no guarantees that every signing will go smoothly. Sometimes, it’s completely out of your hands too. No matter how well you organize everything, a difficult client will inevitably come along every now and then.

 

What can complicate the notary process?

 

There are many aspects that can go pear-shaped in a complex process like securing a signing. If a client is disorganized, it can make gathering up the documentation feel impossible. If a client is hard to reach, that’s a natural bottleneck that can cause your process to grind to a halt. If a client is… let’s say obstinate… anything they perceive as a flaw in your plan may make them frustrated or angry.

 

How can you help solve the problem?

 

You can curb these risks with proper preparation. Making sure your digital tools and documentation are all ready for a signing can help lower the hurdles for your client to interact when you need them to. By remaining professional and polite, you can establish a sense of control throughout the process.

 

Having the answers available when necessary is useful when a disorganized client is not certain what to do. By listening to their needs, you can tailor your responses to their situation.

 

Remind them of what’s at stake

 

One of the major ways to help a difficult client is to lay out what they’re accomplishing through the process you provide. Digital notarization is a convenience that helps minimize fraud. That security requires their ID, several steps of authentication, and digital certificates for verification. No matter who they get help from, that process doesn’t change. By reminding them that you have the skills, information, and tools (or the connections) to help make all that easy, you may encourage them to do their part in keeping things moving forward smoothly.

 

Communication remains one of the most important aspects of the notary business. Organization of schedules and documentation is just as important as understanding the intricate legalese of a contract or agreement. When dealing with a difficult notary client, it may be helpful to lean on resources with deeper experience within the industry. 

 

At Bilingual Notary Network, we’ve provided vital services for years and know a thing or two about de-escalating a difficult situation. Our team is always available to help advise when the notary process gets sticky.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.  

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

 

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today! 

Remote online notarizations

Remote Notary Legal Basics

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Whether you’re a single consumer in need of a notary or are a large enterprise looking to close on dozens of deals at any one time, it pays to understand the legal arena surrounding notaries and remote notary services in particular.

 

While the history of official notary is hundreds of years old, the concept of a digital notary is barely decades old.

 

Remote Notary vs. Standard Notary

 

The global economy has required contract security for centuries, and notaries play an important role. They have acted as documentation organizers, key witnesses to signings, and more. Notaries served a key role in educating individuals and organizations signing contracts by making sure all parties were aware of the details in these agreements.

 

One of the most important aspects of this has historically been face-to-face confirmation. A notary public needed to be in-person and confirm that whoever was signing or closing a deal was informed and capable of making their mark.

 

A remote notary is the same official with training in digital documentation and security. This allows official notarization to occur in secure, digital channels, allowing for a wider range of accessibility for people and businesses.

 

Legal Requirements for Remote Notary

 

As there is no physical meeting during a Remote Online Notarization (RON), states have had to come up with various ways to enforce security and confirm that all parties are acting within legal bounds. While these laws vary from state to state, you can expect to find the following:

 

  • A notary registration with the state in question
  • Communication through audio-visual technology
  • A process using verified credential analysis technology
  • An application of electronic signatures, seals, and certificates
  • Established storage and record-keeping
  • Adherence to local, state, and federal data privacy principles

 

Most of these requirements are to make sure the finalized document assures trust and identity. Digital solutions to these legal requirements include robust audit trails and tamper-evident seals. Many states also require a digital certificate for every transaction.

 

Digital Notaries Are Still Very New

 

The earliest state to legalize remote notarization was Virginia in 2011. Before the pandemic—despite many companies, governments, and consumers needing to close their signings remotely—only 21 states allowed it. In the last three years it’s gained wider acceptance with RON now federally legal and allowed in 47 states. 

 

That is a lot of legal upheaval to navigate all at once! No matter where you are, it is important to understand the nuances of remote notary services. You can rely on resources whose business it is to know the ins and outs of every state’s statutes revolving around this tricky subject.

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services  

 

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers, and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.  

 

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” every file 8 to 9 times, ensuring the process moves forward free of delays. That is why we have completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.  

 

Ready to experience the BNN Services Difference? Get started today! 

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