Tips For How To Handle A Foreign Language Signer
Language is one of the most important cultural factors in the diversity of this country. We are a melting pot of people from all different backgrounds and cultures worldwide. As a Notary, you will encounter various cultures and people. Unless you are a polyglot or someone who studies many different languages and fluently understands and communicates in those varied languages, you may run into appointment situations where you and the signer do not speak the same language. Aside from one state, and I believe that is Arizona, we are not allowed to use a translator at a signing. So how do you handle a situation where you, the Notary, cannot perform the notarization because of a language barrier? That's what we're going to talk about today.
I have personally been trying to learn Spanish for a number of years. Spanish is one of the half a dozen or so languages that are spoken in my community. I was raised here, and the Spanish language is what I was exposed to the most. I understand enough to help someone perform a task, give directions, or simply express greetings. That's not enough to conduct a signing with a Spanish-speaking signer. I have to be able to understand and communicate with that signer fully, or I can’t notarize that document.
This is where having a local network of notaries helps. If you can’t communicate with the signer, then there is only one thing you can do in this situation: refer them to a notary who speaks their language. What's the best way to find a notary that speaks their language? That's to have a list of notaries to whom you can refer your client. The best way to get that list is from your community of notaries.
One of the first things I did as a baby notary was to create a Facebook group. It's called the Central California Notary Network, and this group was for Notaries that live in about four counties in our community. From this network, I have access to Notaries that speak diverse languages. You don’t have to start a group, but look around and find one. Being a part of a local group of notaries won’t just give you a better shot at finding a Notary that speaks a different language; it will create for you an instant community of like-minded people. It may offer training or coaching, networking, or business referrals.
If you don’t have a network, your next course of action in finding your signer a Notary that speaks their language is to google “Spanish Speaking Notary Near Me.” Doing this will lead you to local notaries that might be able to help your clients but also gives you a good starting point for building relationships and creating your own network or database of Notaries.
Another note: if you want to succeed in your business, don’t leave it to your signers to find another Notary. Help them out. Do some leg work for them. Will you earn any money doing this? Probably not, but what you're doing is making yourself a resource. That role can bring you more business than you can imagine.
To save yourself a trip, be sure to screen your Notary appointments well. Ask thoughtful and helpful questions so that before you book the appointment, you know if you can even service the appointment and also how to invoice. Screening clients saves you and the clients lots of time. I have an amazing resource for you that would help you ask all the right questions when scheduling appointments. Kim Flanagan Notary Ally has an amazing client screening intake form for both the General Notary and Loan Signings. These forms are amazing. She is offering them an amazing discount on my Notary Resource Page. You can get that and so much more. Check it out here.
I hope this blog post helps you in your Notary business. I have had to pass off a signing to a colleague on more than one occasion, and it will very likely happen to you. However, if you happen to be a Notary who can speak and understand a foreign language or two, make that known on your Google profile, and let clients and other Notaries find you when they need you!
Until Next Week-Get Connected.
Jennifer K. Cooper- JKC Mobile Notary
***UPDATE****
In Colorado, certified interpreters are now permitted to aid individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind in signing notarization documents.
