Listen up, Oklahoma notaries. Screwing up isn’t just embarrassing—it lands you in handcuffs. Got a panic attack brewing? Just like me, you will not want to land in handcuffs or finally in prison because you’re trying to do your job and earn a living from it. You should read this write-up till the end and avoid the following mistakes mobile notaries in Oklahoma make to survive and excel as a mobile notary. Call us: (405) 593-3515. Before the Bar Association does.
1. Drafting Legal Docs? Go Directly to Jail.
You’re a notary, not a damn attorney. Drafting wills or deeds? Illegal. Period. Why? You’re practicing law without a license—a felony in Oklahoma (21-1588). Your conscience must have whispered into your mind several times that you’re not an attorney and should not go beyond your limit, as a notary. Feel that pit in your stomach? That’s your career dissolving. One Tulsa notary drafted a property deed last year… now she’s fighting disbarment. Coffeestains. 92% of UPL (Unauthorized Practice of Law) complaints start with “But the client begged me!”
2. Mobile Notaries in Oklahoma Giving Legal Advice: Shut Your Mouth.
“Should I sign this?” Nope. Your job: verify signatures, not play lawyer. Why? Misleading advice = shattered lives + lawsuits. You should never ever sign any legal documents that you’re not meant to sign. It’s very sinful to do that, and your conscience knows that definitely. Ever seen a family implode over bad notary guidance? I have. Sweat dripping down their necks as they realized too late.
3. Skipping ID Checks: Identity Theft Enabler.
No ID? No notary. Ever. That “nice old man” with expired DMV papers? Could be a con artist. Why risk it? If you don’t have the required means of identification to be a notary, don’t start acting like one. Oklahoma requires a current government-issued photo ID (49-115.A.4). Found using a library card? Buh-bye commission.
4. Blank Spaces/Alterations: Fraud’s Best Friend.
Notarizing scribbled-in margins or empty fields? Illegal lunacy. Why? 68% of notary fraud cases involve altered documents post-notarization. It invites forgery. Don’t be a friend to fraud or fraudulent mobile notaries in Oklahoma or society by avoiding associating with those who feel superior to the law. Picture this: A blank “loan amount” filled in after you stamped it. You just weaponized fraud. Vomit.
5. Notarizing Family: Kiss Impartiality Goodbye.
Mom needs a deed notarized? Hell no. Why? Blood = bias. Your stamp isn’t a family heirloom. It feels safe to work for unrelated clients that your relatives and the best you could do is refer your relatives to a coworker or your associate who is as good as you. Remember: Oklahoma’s ethics rules demand neutrality. Fail this? Your sister’s inheritance could vanish in court.
6. Expired Commission: Worthless Stamp.
“Forgot” to renew? Your notarizations are void. Why? No authority = legally trash. The profits you have been making from this business or the services you be divided in such a ratio that you can save some money to renew your licence. That real estate closing you did last Tuesday? Invalid. Hope you saved for the lawsuit. If you don’t want your stamp to be worthless, then always save money to renew your license.
7. Expired/Invalid ID: Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Driver’s license expire yesterday? Reject it. Your client’s means of identification should not be expired, and you still have the boldness to use it. All you can do is ask for another means of identification or ask them to renew the expired ID. Why? Stale ID = zero proof of identity. Desperation move: Notarizing for someone with a voided passport? You’re aiding crime. Period.
8. Remote Notarization Without Authority: Trap Door.
“Just Zoom me!” Nope. Unless you’re a state-approved RON (Remote Online Notary), it’s illegal (49-101.1). Why? Physical presence prevents coercion. Hear that echo? If you don’t have the required authorization, like other mobile notaries in Oklahoma, to have deals remotely, then don’t venture into it. Otherwise, it’s your credibility dying in an empty room. Oklahoma revoked 37 notary commissions in 2023 for remote fraud. You should not be trapped, and don’t let your credibility fade away.
9. Sloppy Journals: Your Only Lifeline.
No records? Career suicide. Why? When (not if) you’re sued, that journal is your shield. Lost a journal entry? Hope you like testifying with zero proof. You should have journals that record your daily experience, which will serve as a reminder for you and your incoming. Training in the near future. Oklahoma demands permanent ink logs (49-118). Ballpoint pen fails? You fail. But you should try and keep records of your training.
10. UPL: The Guillotine.
Drafting docs + advising clients = unauthorized law practice. Why? That “simple” contract you tweaked? Could void a $500K business deal. You’re stealing an attorney’s job—and risking jail. Keep doing whatever is in your job description, and don’t risk whatever just shouldn’t be risked at all.
The Aftermath
If you’re drowning in doubt, call (405) 593-3515. This ain’t paperwork—it’s people’s lives. Screw up? You wreck homes, finances, and futures. Ever comforted a client crying over your “tiny” error? The guilt crushes harder than any fine. Demand perfection. Call the number I shared and be assured that you will receive adequate attention to matters arising. Know Title 49 cold. Verify IDs like a hawk. Journal everything. Your stamp is a weapon—wield it right. We save mobile notaries in Oklahoma from the brink. No judgment. Just survival. Now go notarize. And for god’s sake—don’t become a horror story.
