2026-02-02 – Weekly Notary News : Notarizing on a freezer lid?

Last week in the notary community, members engaged in a variety of discussions ranging from intriguing anecdotes to practical advice. A humorous story about a glitter pen mishap sparked conversations on unexpected challenges in notarization. There was a lively debate about continuing education and how to choose courses that offer real value. Additionally, the community shared experiences regarding unusual notarization settings, with some members detailing their experiences with on-the-go notarizations.


This Week’s Hot Topics

The glitter pen incident
A humorous tale of a glitter pen causing chaos during a notarization. It’s a reminder of how small things can lead to big surprises in our line of work.
Read more here

Which CE actually pays off next year
Choosing the right continuing education can be tricky. This discussion dives into which courses might be worth your time and money next year.
Read more here

Notarizing on a freezer lid
Ever had to notarize in unconventional places? Members share their experiences and tips for notarizing on the go, even on a freezer lid.
Read more here

Which states let notaries marry people
A practical look at where notaries can officiate weddings. This is an interesting opportunity for those looking to expand their services.
Read more here

The ID wallet clown car
A light-hearted thread about the unexpected number of IDs found in clients’ wallets. It’s a fun reminder of the varied challenges notaries face.
Read more here

Signed the print line again
A common mistake revisited: signing on the print line. Members share tips on how to avoid this slip-up.
Read more here

Chain-of-custody checklist for loan packages
Ensuring a proper chain of custody is crucial. This discussion offers a checklist to help maintain integrity in loan package handling.
Read more here

First 30 days as a notary — what’s normal
New notaries share their early experiences and learnings. It’s a supportive thread full of advice for those just starting out.
Read more here

Looking for a CE course that actually teaches
Members discuss their hunt for continuing education courses that provide real learning, not just credits.
Read more here


Thank you for staying connected with the notary community. Your contributions and discussions make us all better at what we do. Looking forward to another week of shared experiences and support.

That “glitter pen mishap” made me stash a mini field kit: rigid clipboard, two archival pens, and a thin non-slip stamp pad so seals stay crisp even on a freezer lid — cold signatures, warm seals. Just make sure any pad doesn’t cover ID details or conflict with your state’s rules. For CE, I get the best ROI from state-specific refreshers with live mock notarizations — @Jordan, got a course you’d recommend?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‌‌⁠‍​​⁠​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍‍⁠‌‌‍‌​‍⁠‌​⁠‍​‌⁠​⁠​⁠‌​‌‍‍​‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌​⁠‌‌‍⁠‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

Notarizing on freezer lids really is a slippery slope! Maybe stashing a portable heater in that kit could help avoid any chilly surprises. Have you faced any other tricky signing scenarios?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​​⁠‌‌​​​⁠​‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌​​⁠‌​‌‌‌​‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‌⁠‍​‌​‌⁠‌​‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I’ve found that prepping for those ‘cold’ signings makes all the difference — keeping a hand warmer in your kit could save you from losing a finger to frostbite! @emma_jones84, have you ever had a signer fight you over temperature during a signing?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠‍​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌⁠‌‍‌​‌​​⁠​‌‌‍‌​​‍⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌​‍‌‌⁠​‌‌‍‌⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​