Notary Services Available

We have two notaries in our office.  I am one of the notaries available should any of our clients need a notary.  We offer our services free of charge and we are here during working hours.  Often our clients or the bank will tell others that DGK has two notaries available.

Being a notary comes with legal requirements.  All notaries must carry a bond for Two Thousand dollars ($2,000.00).  When I notarize a document, I must either know the person or have a picture form of identification.  I have turned people I do not know away if they did not have their identification with them.  It is a crime for me to notarize something incorrectly.  Identification is the first requirement I check. 

The document is also very important.  I cannot notarize a copy of a birth certificate.  The only copy of a birth certificate that is valid is from the Division of Vital Records.  In fact, it is illegal in all fifty (50) states for a notary to certify a copy of a birth certificate.  I have been asked to certify a copy of a birth certificate for a person that lost the original certified copy and unfortunately, I had to decline.  I would also be unable to certify a death certificate or passport.  

If the document is an affidavit, the signee or signatory must understand the document and sign of their own free will, not be coerced into signing it.  I once notarized a document for three people; one of the parties was from another country.  The document was in English and I had asked several questions to ensure the person understood the document and the implications that went along with signing the document.   I, as notary, must feel confident that I am affixing my notary seal on a properly executed legal document and all parties are fully aware of the corresponding implications of the document.

The seal is the notary stamp in the United States and if going out of the country the stamp and the actual seal is used.   The date of my notary expiration must be legible and my signature must be clear.  The last item for a notary act is noting the registry of the transaction.  The notary must keep record of every notary transaction.  The notation must include whom appeared, how identity was established, what was signed, where it was signed, and monies charged if any.  

My notary expires in September.  I will begin the process for renewal three months before expiry.  I send a form to our representative for his/her endorsement that is already signed by two people I know that will vouch for my character.  I then obtain a bond or renew a bond.  I forward the renewal application with our state representative’s signature to the state for the approved notary renewal which is filed at the courthouse.  This process occurs every four years.  During one renewal, every notary was to complete a three-hour course of education before appointment as notary.  I did complete the course however, the state no longer demands the course completion for renewals.  

If you are interested in becoming a Notary Public, please see http://www.dos.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/become_a_notary/12614

Where Would You Like to be Stranded?

After watching the cruise ship over the course of several days, being stranded has crossed my mind.  Would I enjoy being on THAT cruise ship?  How would I behave?  Could I endure no customary comforts like food?  A cruise ship is supposed to be romantic.  I can imagine that many took this cruise to celebrate Valentine’s Day.   Is a cruise the the best way to celebrate? 

Today is Valentine’s Day.  Whether you have been together for many years or just a short time getting to know your partner is one of the best ways to show you care.  When couples are together for many years, the questions and talks that you once had tend to diminish.  When was the last time you asked your partner, “If you had a choice to be stranded somewhere, would you choose a museum, a library or a zoo?” 

People change over the course of a lifetime.  Our likes and dislikes change as well.  The pizza that you loved when you were 20 years old may no longer be your favorite food; you may love avocado spring rolls at 40 and oatmeal with raisins, almonds and chocolate chips at 50.  To know a person over many years one must become an investigative reporter.  

A simple question at dinner or while traveling in the car can start a conversation that could last for hours.  I was very shy as a child; I rarely spoke.  Whenever I traveled with my uncle, he would not turn on the radio so that I would eventually answer his questions with more than a one-word response.  I learned to do the same thing with my quiet children.  With my husband, turning off the radio while traveling in the car signals conversation time.  With no distractions other than driving of course, we can concentrate on the conversation at hand.

While I do not know the secret to a lasting relationship, I do know that the people we love want us to pay attention to them.  They do not want to sit and watch us with our ipod, book, tv, newspaper, smart phone or any other distracting object.  They want our undivided attention, this includes our partner, children, and friends even our pets.  The answer to “How are you” or “What did you do today” becomes meaningful when we look at the person, hear the response and reply to the response.   It becomes a conversation where ideas and thoughts are still interesting to each other.

“If you had a choice to be stranded somewhere, would you choose a museum, a library or a zoo?”  On Valentine’s Day and every day, I hope the answer will be, “Anywhere as long as it is with you.”   

Gas Price Is Almost $4.00 a Gallon

In one-week, gas prices went from $3.49 to $3.75 in Factoryville.  What is the price where you get gas?  Has the price changed where you live?

 When I see the increase in gas price, I immediately stop spending money on non-essentials.  I want a plum colored duvet cover for my bed; I will not be buying one.  I want to go out to dinner at least once during the weekend, which is not going to happen.  I have a spending freeze due to increase in gas prices. 

 

 I look at areas where I can save money.  While I have tried generic products from the grocery store, I cannot buy some items.  I like Uncle Ben’s brown rice; I tried generic just last week and it is still a gummy blob.  I buy organic canned kidney beans I do not like generic or any other kind.  I do like Weiss ketchup and their French salad dressing.  It takes some experimenting.  To save money on groceries I buy from the perimeter.  The inside of the store carries higher price convenient foods, which tend to be calorie high and nutritionally low. 

 

This is the time of year that you can find deals on clothes.  Winter items are on clearance.  I can also find clothes I squirreled away in my closet, which saves even more money.  I clean my closet addressing a New Year resolution and a trip to Interfaith to donate what I know I will never wear.  If I do need to replace any clothing, there is no impulse buying.

 After I look at consumables, I follow the money trail.  I spend money on utilities.  I already changed my electrical service.  I still am not convinced there is a savings with the change.  I shop around for the lower price for heating oil and then ask my provider, Newell, to match it and they do.  Some expenses I shopped previously like the mortgage or my car loan so I already have a good rate.  I carry only the first 13 cable channels of tv; I have the internet which can be used for entertainment and I use the library for other entertainment which I give a tax deductible donation.

 Lastly, I look at insurance.  I have an umbrella since I am on a few non-profit boards.  I carry higher liability limits to meet my umbrella criteria.  Where can I save money?  I have a higher deductible than a standard deductible on my home and automobile insurance.  Higher deductibles result in a slightly lower premium.  I had to weigh the savings vs. paying a higher deductible should I have a claim.  In addition, I am paying for smaller damages instead of turning the claim to my insurance since those are under my deductible.  The other items involved researching my car before I bought it.  A symbol on a car determines the historical or estimated cost of repair: the higher the symbol, the higher the cost to repair and to insure.  I looked for a lower symbol car. I try to drive defensively and not to speed; a good driving record saves money.  I insure my home and auto with the same insurance carrier so I can get a discount.  I also inspect my car and home doing repairs as needed to keep both in tiptop shape like updating the plumbing in my bathroom to avoid claims.  I added safety features to both my automobile and my home like fire, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, an auto alarm, and dead-bolt locks.  When I am 55 I can take the 55-Alive course to get a discount on my automobile insurance.   I can 100% guarantee that I will take the course as soon as I turn 55.

 I know my spending freeze does not help our economy.  I would like to put money back into circulation.  I would love to go shopping and out to dinner.  I live on a budget.  If a cost goes up in one area, I look for ways to save money in another.  Let me know how you are budgeting the increase in gas price.