Signing agents are notaries who have been trained to work with loan documents, especially mortgage loans. They typically work for lending agencies (banks, mortgage loan companies) or title agencies to help borrowers understand loans and prevent fraud.

What Do They Do?

Certified notary signing agents help borrowers complete the loan closing process. Lenders or title agencies hire signing agents to print loan documents to bring to the closing. Signing agents guide borrowers through the loan documents (think of those drawn-out “sign here” scenes in movies), witness and notarize signatures, and return the notarized loan documents for processing.

What’s the Difference Between a Notary Public and a Notary Signing Agent?

An easy way to understand the difference between a notary signing agent and notary public is to think of them as doctors. Notaries are like physicians, while signing agents are like cardiologists. Both finished medical school, but the cardiologist went through specific, additional training.

Due to the increased complexity of loan documents and the sensitive information they contain, signing agents must complete more training than traditional notaries and complete a comprehensive background check.

Both signing agents and notaries can do the following:

• Verify identity of the person signing a document
• Witness signatures
• Notarize documents

However, thanks to their additional training, signing agents can:

• Guide borrowers through loan documents
• Point out the places that need signatures
• Answer questions about loans, such as the term length, interest rate, or total borrowed amount

How Do They Make Money?

Signing agents make money by charging fees for their services. Unlike traditional notaries that usually make less than $20 per signature, signing agents act as independent contractors and can earn between $75 and $200 per signing appointment.

Another benefit unique to signing agents is the ability to charge additional fees while guiding a client through a loan contract. These additional income opportunities include charging for notarization, mailing the loan package, printing loan documents, and transportation expenses (if applicable).

Why Become a Notary Signing Agent?

If you’re looking for a job opportunity that puts you in control, becoming a notary signing agent is a great option. You can set your own schedule, decide how many appointments you want to do per week, and set your own rates. Essentially, being a signing agent makes you your own boss!

Becoming a notary signing agent also has a relatively low up-front investment. Exact costs depend on your state or employer, but here’s a cost breakdown example:

• Notary Public Commission (if needed) — $75 to $189. Our online packages include supplies and certificates.
• Notary Signing Agent Training Course — $99
• E&O Insurance — $25 to $100 for $25,000 of coverage. The cost varies depending on the level of coverage you select.
• Background Check — $15 to $100+ on average. The cost varies greatly depending on the type of check needed.
• State Notary Application Fees — $10 to $30+

Does A Loan Signing Agent Need to be a Notary Public?

All signing agents are notaries, but not all notaries are signing agents. This is because in order to become a notary signing agent, you already need to be a certified notary public.

Thankfully, in most states, becoming a notary consists of two basic steps:

1. Meet state qualifications
2. Complete the notary application process

Interested in becoming a signing agent, but you're not a notary? Our goal is to make becoming a notary easy. Learn more about the process here, then choose your state to get started.