LaTonya Johnson (speaker) lists and rebuts three common myths about becoming an apostille agent: (1) that processing apostilles is difficult — she says if you can notarize and complete a Secretary of State application it's straightforward; (2) that all documents must be notarized — she clarifies state-issued records (birth/death certificates) generally do not require notarization while attorney-generated documents (e.g., power of attorney) do; (3) that all documents need certified translation — she reports most Secretaries of State she spoke with do not require full-document translation if the notarial certificate wording is in English. She encourages notaries to learn apostille processing and cites paid trainings (Apostille Domination 1 & 2).
Chapters
So just when you thought I was finished dispelling myths. Not me. Not finished. You know, there are people who are out here saying things that they don't know. They don't even do it. What the heck? Why are you talking about it? Listen, I want to talk about the three biggest myths that I'm hearing in these Internet streets about being in apostille and process. Not being in apostille, but processing Apostille documents, being an apostille agent. Okay, Number one is the difficulty. Sway. If you can notarize a document, if you understand how to fill out the notorial certificate, be it in an acknowledgment or a jurat. And if you don't know what those are, click the links above, because that's fundamental. You. You have to know that in this business, period. Not for apostille stuff, for everything. So click the links above.
As long as you know how to do that, that's really it. And then fill out this simple application that goes to the Secretary of State. Now, if you've ever filled out an application for anything where you put your name, address, phone number, the number of copies you need, that's it. It's not hard. It's easy. It's easy. I thought so, too. Hi, my name is Latonya Johnson. Hey, Latonya. How you doing, girl? I'm fine.
Yeah, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was gonna be. So don't let it. Don't be intimidated by it. Number two, second biggest myth I've heard, that all of the documents need to be notarized. Lies. Documents that come directly from the state. Birth certificates, death certificates, they do not need to be notarized, only documents that come from, like, an attorney. So a power of attorney or something like that. Those documents need to be notarized. And there's a whole list. And I'll give you all the list a little later.
And the third and last myth that I have heard.
Is that all of them need a translation. So say, for instance, somebody comes from you, comes to you, and they give you a document that is in Spanish. Do you need to get a certified translator for that?
It depends on where you are. But every secretary of state that I have talked to so far has said no.
As long as your notorious certificate is in English and that wording is in English, you're good. There's nothing to do here. You don't have to have the whole document certified as far as translation is concerned. Why? Because we are not authenticating the words in the document. We are merely saying that this person is who they said they are by verification of. Of a valid id. That's it. You can do it. You can do it. Too much money for you to miss out on, Sway. I'mma say this till I'm blue in the face. I'mma say it till you start doing it, because you can do it, too. Come on. What's up? Oh, that makes me mad. Y' all don't want to do this. It's too much money to not do it. You have any questions, let me know.
What's holding you up. I'm here for you either way. Let me know and I will help you out most definitely. Because it's one of the easiest things that you can do. I put on a whole training to show. Two trainings. Apostille Domination 1 and Apostille Domination 2. And we go in such depth, when you leave, you know how to do it. There's no certification required. None?
None. No state certification.
It's much cheaper to do this than to start off doing the notary signing agent business. Why do I say that? Because you don't need a laser printer. The laser printer is probably the most expensive thing.
You do have to have the training, but with what you have as a notary, as far as your E and O insurance and all of that stuff, you. You should be ready with just the simple things that you have to process. Apostille documents that need to be Apostille. It's not hard. If you are interested in finding out more about it going through our training, the links are below.
So take a look at it because, man, it is everything that they say it is and more, honey. I promise. All right, y' all take care. I love you. To life. Bye.
