I was told that at my job, if I prepare a document for notarization, I am not able to notarize the same document. I am not notarizing my own signature, of course, but another employee's signature. I am just preparing the document to be sent for recording to the Riverside County and indicating on the top left it should be returned to me after recordation. I am assuming this is just a checks/balances policy at my employer, not a notary requirement. Any thoughts?
I'm not sure where you're located so here's my best shot:
Are you preparing this document under the supervision of your employer. Why is the document being returned to YOU after recordation rather than to your employer?
Do you have a direct financial interest in the document or the transaction - you're not named in the document are you?
If your employer is directing you to prepare this document, and you are not named in it or have no financial interest in it, and you are not the signer and the signer is not related to you in a way where your notary laws prohibit you from notarizing for relatives (like here in FL) then yes, you absolutely CAN notarize it.
Knowing what state you're from would help. I'd suggest you refer to your notary handbook, but it's my belief that yes, you can notarize. I used to prepare legal documents for my attorney boss all the time and I notarized the client's signature.
I'm in CA, and I prepare documents for my employer routinely. I handle the "lien" desk for my employer, so the recorded documents come back to me for filing. I am not named in the document nor have any financial interest. It just sounded strange that they have this so called policy.
