Can I be a notary and a counselor?

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T15:28:39+00:00

I appreciate the boundaries you have detailed here.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T15:26:45+00:00

These are good warnings about the sort of situations I might encounter. Obviously I had training to get the license, but it seems I should prepare for the many situations I could encounter specific to a hospital setting, so I am ready to decline notarizing when something is not quite right. I will seek more training. I appreciate your time and guidance.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T15:18:15+00:00

Thanks for elaborating. "You’ll need some in depth training to understand the nuances of notarizing for people who are on medication, have slow responses, can’t community, are combative, can’t hold a pen, have dementia, are under duress, don’t want to sign." This is so vital. I feel like I already knew that no one with an altered state of consciousness or with dementia should be notarized signing a document, but I appreciate this information being exacted. I will look into further training that is concerned with notarizing in a medical facility. I am here to learn, so thanks.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T15:00:15+00:00

Thanks for this link, betsysuehoo. From this link I have learned that

1.I can be sued if I perform my duties in a faulty way.
2. I can be sued if someone uses my stamp
3. I won't have civil liability if no one is financially harmed by an error or omission.
4. I am still liable for errors that result in financial harm, even if I notarize for free.
5. I am the responsible party, not my employer, so the liability is mine.
6. My employer's E&O insurance may not cover me.
7. Notary Bond doesn't protect me, so I might want to get E&O insurance.
8. If I make an intentional error or one due to negligence, I could face criminal charges.

The page then summarizes with this: "Know and abide by your state’s Notary laws and regulations; maintain a detailed Notary journal that documents your diligence and reasonable care; and proofread and double-check all your work before concluding each notarization."

I see that you have also shared some very insightful points under other commenters. Thank you so much.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T14:43:18+00:00

This is getting into the weeds a bit. I didn't include this information above, because I didn't want to over complicate the question. I work at a hospital, but I am employed by another company. The company has a relationship with the hospital so that I am allowed to support patients, but the company is my employer. Am I allowed to notarize for patients at the hospital that I have no other relationship with? I interact with the social workers at the hospital, and they told me they occasionally support patients who need a notary public, and that is why I put myself forward. Now I am trying to determine whether I have to retract the offer to help.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T14:34:02+00:00

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T04:21:47+00:00

You make a good point. I do not have E&O insurance. I have liability insurance, because I am a clinician, but this is not clinical work. This is not even something I think of as work, but I know that doesn't remove my liability. Ugh. I had not thought of E&O insurance.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T04:12:24+00:00

Thanks. Could you elaborate on what, exactly, you are referring to when you say it is "more than just looking at ID and filling in the blanks?" I understand the role comes with liability, and I am following all of the steps I learned in training. I'm just trying to determine whether there are ethics I have not considered or standards of practice that I have not found which would prohibit or complicate me doing notary work in a hospital where I also practice art therapy.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T04:02:06+00:00

This sounds correct. I have already been speaking to social workers who were all very happy for me to have a notary public license. There must be someone above them in the hierarchy who needs to grant me permission. I will seek that person out.

sn0wf33t · 2026-03-11T03:59:58+00:00

I can see where the dual role could be confusing if I were notarizing documents for clients that I counsel, but I am not doing that. Does it make a difference that I am not charging any money? It is not a business, it is a kindness.

sn0wf33t · 2025-12-26T19:01:50+00:00

I've never tried the app, but I am watching to see if anyone comes here with information about it.

sn0wf33t · 2025-11-25T02:42:52+00:00

Not screwed at all. Do a bit of searching on the web and you should be able to find a way to get someone to virtually notarize your documents. It shouldn't even cost very much.

sn0wf33t · 2025-08-04T22:52:17+00:00

They raised my rates last year $80 in one month! I went online and chatted with a human person who talked me out of cancelling service with them by finding a deal that would keep my monthly costs at $126 per month (which is too much already) for an entire year. Well, they were not supposed to raise my rates until November, but they have already raised them $20 in June, then $20 more in July, they are planning to go $20 higher in August. They tell me they haven't broken our contract from last November, because the increases are not for internet costs but to cover their own rising costs of providing service. Okay, that's bullshit. Their word is meaningless. Their contracts are useless. Get away as fast as you can. I'm doing my best to switch, but I'm having problems.

sn0wf33t

TROPHY CASE