Notary Public vs. Notary Signing Agent: What Is the Difference?
A Notary Public is a state-commissioned official authorized to witness signatures, administer oaths, and certify documents. Every state has its own commissioning requirements. In Florida, a notary commission is valid for four years and requires a $7,500 surety bond.
A Notary Signing Agent carries all of that plus additional specialized training in mortgage loan documents. An NSA understands the structure of a loan package, knows how to guide borrowers through the signing process, and is trained to identify errors or incomplete sections that could cause the package to be rejected by the lender.
This is not a minor distinction. Sending an untrained notary to handle a $400,000 refinance package is a risk that title companies and lenders cannot afford to take.