Here's something we regularly experience on the signing service side. A notary reaches out asking about a payment they believe they haven't received. We check our records, confirm that the payment was issued, and sometimes discover that it has already been deposited or even cashed. Of course, payment questions are completely valid, and mistakes can happen on either side. But situations like these are a good reminder of something important: Keeping track of your assignments is just as important as completing them. If you're handling multiple signings for different companies, it's easy to lose track of what's been paid, what's still pending, and how much you've actually earned. Fortunately, there are tools that can make this easier! Apps like Notary Gadget, Notary Assist, QuickBooks, and other business tracking platforms can help you organize your assignments, monitor payments, and keep track of your income and expenses. Knowing your numbers helps you follow up on genuinely outstanding payments and avoid unnecessary confusion. 💬 Do you use Notary Gadget, Notary Assist, or another system to track your payments? What would you recommend to other notaries?

One thing we always want our notaries to know is... If it's an emergency, please call us. If you're at the signing table and something unexpected happens, if the signer refuses to sign, there's an ID issue, or you need an immediate answer, we want you to pick up the phone. But for non-urgent questions, a text message or email is often the better option. Our team is usually managing multiple closings at the same time, speaking with title companies, coordinating appointments, reviewing scanbacks, and assisting other notaries. A non-urgent phone call can interrupt a conversation that's time-sensitive for another transaction. Using the right form of communication helps us respond more efficiently and keeps everyone's closings moving forward. We're always happy to help, we just ask that phone calls be reserved for situations that truly require an immediate response. 💬 What types of situations do you consider a "phone call" emergency during a signing?

We recently received a request from a notary asking for a fee increase because the buyer package was 150 pages. The thing is... For a buyer closing, 150 pages is actually pretty normal. Of course, there are assignments that truly require extra work, but understanding what is typical for each type of transaction helps set realistic expectations before accepting an order. A standard buyer package shouldn’t automatically become an “extra fee” simply because it has more pages than a small seller package. 💬 What page count do you usually consider normal for a buyer package?

The Code says you decline an assignment when you can reasonably foresee that you cannot meet what the company expects. On time. Printed. Complete. Reasonably foresee, not know for sure. Most of us have accepted something we could already see was tight. I have. The order comes in, you do the math fast, you tell yourself the first appointment will probably be short, and you click accept. Then 9.2 shows up. Same day appointments stacked too close. And 9.3, which almost nobody talks about: you cannot send another notary in your place without the company's express approval, even if that notary is excellent. Here is my honest position. I said yes to everything for years, and it built my business. Yes to hard is how you become the notary they call first. Yes to impossible is how you become the notary they call once. Tomorrow I am dropping the four question check I run before accepting anything. It takes about twenty seconds. So tell me here, and be honest, because this room is for growing not for performing: what is the shortest gap you have ever left between two signings, and how did it go?

How do you handle when you haven't received payment on time or not at all from a signing company. After sending emails and no response.