Comments on: California Assembly Bill 5 (2019) and how it affects Notaries

By: Monica Rachelle Johnston

Monica Rachelle Johnston — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 03:32:39 +0000

First, I would like to point out that it’s not title companies that hire notaries it is escrow officers. Must escrow officers are also notaries, not well trained.

Overall the industry has been degraded and undermined by escrow and also lenders and borrowers who feel the fees are too high, without considering the fees the mobile notaries encounter to do their job. It’s a frustrating juxtapoint.

I’m a notary and loan signing agent, but also now work in the capacity of operations for a private lender and see all the struggles. Many times, escrow doesn’t even have the instructions right for the lender to close the deal but then they go back to the notary to fix the problem that they caused. I don’t want to sound like I’m hating on escrow officers, because there are many I choose to work with, but I feel like if everybody paid attention to the instructions and move forward it would be seamless given all the checklist and instructions I make sure to provide.

Given the legislation in California, there’s no real hard line on contract work versus employment. The industry should go on as planned from a legislative perspective however it’s vague when it comes to virtual. I don’t know I’m kind of at a loss for this industry and it makes me sad.

By: Robert Dibbell

Robert Dibbell — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:03:33 +0000

AB 5 was passed because there were employers who were making their employees work as IC’s rather than employees to save on payroll taxes, 941 reporting, etc. Unfortunately, the side effects of this law encroached upon industries where IC’s were commonplace and not a problem. Rather than draft a law that attacked the actual problem, a wide-sweeping law that encompasses everyone was written and passed. We are now seeing this hastily created action being undone through various “exceptions” either passed by state legislative action, or voter propositions. Independent notaries are just that..INDEPENDENT. We aren’t employees of the Notary signing companies even though rules are set down that we have to follow. Most of these “rules” have their basis in the law anyway. When we contract to do a signing, we accept the T&C of the job, including the fax back. I don’t accept the low fees offered by the signing company. I always counter with a higher amount. They are fee to accept or reject my fee. If they reject, they have to keep searching for a notary.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:00:01 +0000

HA You didn’t know this would happen? You put socialists/elitists in power! Watch your taxes go up and your income go down. Reap what you sow!

By: Guadalupe Ruiz

Guadalupe Ruiz — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:01:23 +0000

I did write to NNA, which is the one that is trying to have the notaries removed from this law. Address it to Lorena Gonzalez,

By: Dawn McCloud

Dawn McCloud — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 19:29:33 +0000

This would be HORRIBLE for signing agents. I run a signing agent team, and work very hard to help provide the best possible service to my clients aka title agencies. Myself and my teammates make more as independent contractors than any title agency is willing to pay to full time employees. Myself and my group would all take a pay cut, and that’s assuming that all of us could actually find full time positions. Not to mention, the whole reason that signing agents exist is because the cyclical nature of this business does not justify title agencies hiring full time people for year round work. It simply isn’t there. In my opinion, all this would do, is create longer closing timelines due to reduced staffing. Thanks for posting and bringing this to my attention. I will be doing my best to speak to my local officials to let them know the negative impact this would have on my business.

By: Miguel Buchwald

Miguel Buchwald — Wed, 06 May 2020 18:48:28 +0000

You have the right to express your opinions. I don’t agree with them. I gather you’d rather that business run this country rather than the people and their deleted officials.

By: Jim Morgan

Jim Morgan — Wed, 06 May 2020 18:40:42 +0000

I believe Lorena Gonzalez introduced AB5 to help Uber/Lyft drivers not realizing how it would affect hairdressers, Notaries, etc..
I 100% agree with your assessment.
Thanks for posting.

By: Jean Meyer

Jean Meyer — Wed, 06 May 2020 17:50:07 +0000

Can you say RON? This is the future.
I am RON certified within my State.

By: Ray Diallooooo

Ray Diallooooo — Wed, 06 May 2020 17:39:32 +0000

Signing agents are nothing but a cancer, and un-necessary middlemen. Most exist , because there is some senior employee in the title company is hiring his relative or friend and there could be kickbacks involved.

This law might be a good thing. As lot of notaries are barely making ends meet, this might create a new position as a closer EMPLOYEE and might give them a steady income.
So all those part time notary stragglers might end up with no part time income , while some of them might gain full time.

WHat sort of loss of jobs are you talking about? All the Title Closing jobs might be concentrated in a few EMPLOYED NOTARIES.
THat could be a good thing. This means, employers will only seek GOOD & EXPERIENCED NOTARIES.

JEREMY, you have yourself been trying to weed out those “UNQUALIFIED” notaries.
Isnt that your pet peeve.

What did CONTRACT EMPLOYMENT Provide to notaries? Low wages, Unpaid and stifled mptaroes. Signing agencies, micromanaging for one thing or another.
LOOK UP IRS code for what fits to be an employer and what fits to be a contractor. Micromanaging is actually a definition of employer.

FREE MARKET IS ANOTHER TERM FOR ” THe STRONG AND INTELLIGENT who prey and exploit the WEAK & STUPID”

By: Ardel Richter

Ardel Richter — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:43:39 +0000

As you are located in CA, please let your thoughts be known to the CA legislators, if you haven’t already done so.