Free Practice Questions for Notary Signing Agent

A Notary Signing Agent (NSA) is a notary public who specializes in facilitating loan document signings. NSAs are hired by mortgage lenders, title companies, and signing services to meet with borrowers, present loan documents, witness signatures, and notarize documents. NSA certification, such as the NNA's, is a private credential and not a government license; your notary commission still comes from your state. Industry standards from the SPW call for following its Code of Conduct, an annual background screening, and E&O insurance.

Signing fees are set by the market and agreed with each signing service, title company or lender, and they vary by loan type and location. Neither the NNA nor the SPW publishes standard rates. State limits on notarial fees still apply to the notarizations performed during a signing.

For NNA Certification: (1) an active notary public commission in your state, (2) the NNA Notary Signing Agent training course and its built-in exam, passed with 80% or higher, and (3) the NNA background screening, renewed each year. NNA Certified agents are listed on SigningAgent.com. The SPW Insurance Standard also calls for a $25,000 Notary E&O policy, and some states restrict who may conduct loan signings (for example, requiring attorney involvement).

The Signing Professionals Workgroup (SPW) Notary Signing Agent Code of Conduct is the industry standard for NSAs. It has 10 guiding principles: Qualifications, Notarization, Impartiality, Unauthorized Advice or Services, Illegal and Suspicious Activity, Privacy and Confidentiality, Fees, Advertising, Professionalism, and Standards. The NNA training course teaches the Code.

Acceptable ID must be: current, valid, government-issued, with a photo and signature. Examples include state driver's licenses, state ID cards, U.S. passports, military IDs, and permanent resident cards (Green Cards). Unacceptable IDs include: Social Security cards, birth certificates, photocopies, digital/mobile IDs, expired IDs, and credit cards. Always verify identity by examining the ID, not just asking questions.

The rescission period is 3 BUSINESS days (not calendar days). It begins the day AFTER all borrowers have signed. Saturdays count as business days; Sundays and federal holidays do not. For example, if borrowers sign on Friday, rescission ends at midnight Tuesday (Sat + Mon + Tue). The borrower cannot sign until the Closing Disclosure has been delivered and the 3-day waiting period has passed.