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COVID-19 Safety Updates
In Houston, we are concerned about possible contact with the COVID-19 coronavirus when meeting face to face during loan signings and notarizations. For safety precautions, our Houston notaries will conduct window-separated signing” or “porch signing” (when possible), until further notice. These type of loan signings are conducted through a window or doorway at a safe physical distance. This is for your safety and the safety of the Notary. The notary public will practice precautions during all signings.
- The Notary and signer must be able to communicate with each other by sight and sound through the window and by normal means. Cell phones, FaceTime, Skype or other electronic communication tools must not be used for a “window-separated signing.”
- The Notary must follow all federal, state and local (Houston) guidelines for social distancing, health protection and sanitization for COVID-19 purposes when meeting with signers and handling documents, IDs or other materials. When items are passed between the signer and Notary Public, one person should place the item in a neutral area and then step back and provide safe distance to allow the other person to pick it up.
- The signer must give their actual ID to the Notary to view and inspect. The ID may not be viewed at a distance or through a window. The Notary should retain possession of the ID until the end of the signing, and then return it to the signer.
- For jurats (called “verification's on oath and affirmation” in some states), the Notary must directly witness the signer sign the document in direct line of sight. This may be done through a window or doorway. Any required oaths or affirmations must be administered by the Notary Public to signer in direct line of sight and sound.
- The Notary must complete all journal entries before handing the journal to the signer in an appropriate social distancing manner. The signer should sign in the appropriate journal entry through a window or doorway in direct line of sight of the Notary.
- The Notary must complete all notarial certificates in direct line of sight of the signer through a window or doorway before leaving the signing.
- The Notary must take reasonable steps to ensure the same documents handed to the signer are the same ones handed back to the Notary. The Notary should compare all signatures on notarized documents with the signatures made in the journal entries, and with the signature on the ID that the Notary has retained throughout the entire signing, to ensure the same person signed the documents.