2022 Notary Notes

We have added weddings to our services this year. We can help you with your vows to help make your wedding day special. Please call us today so that we can put you on our schedule.

We can help! We can help facilitate your need to have your important documets notarized. Book an online appointment today!

In September 2021, the California Assembly passed the AB506 bill into law. This law aims to screen and train people who are working with youth in California. It is also intended to help organizations that serve young people to develop policies that will protect children from abuse and exploitation. This post explains how AB506 impacts people who work with youth in California and the requirements they must follow to be compliant with the law. What Does AB506 Do?

AB506 went into effect on January 1, 2022. One part of the law requires organizations that serve minor children to develop policies designed to protect the children they serve. Specifically, the law requires an organization like a church or a children’s activity provider to:

• Create a policy that outlines who is required to get a criminal background check through a California Department of Justice approved vendor.
• Implement a policy for completing child abuse and neglect reporting.
• Develop a policy and procedure for reporting cases of suspected abuse to authorities outside the organization.
• Inform parents and guardians in writing about their background check policy and to whom it applies.

Who Does California AB506 Apply to? AB506 requires administrators, employees, and volunteers to comply with the law if they work directly with children. This includes volunteers over the age of 18 who work with children at least 16 hours per month or 32 hours each year. The law requires volunteers who meet the threshold, employees, and administrators to:

• Undergo a criminal background check through the California Department of Justice
• Get fingerprinted via live scan
• Complete the 2-hour California Mandated Reporter training that covers child abuse and neglect.

How to Comply with California AB506 Requirements People who have to comply with AB506 requirements should check with their respective organizations before completing their requirements. Some organizations have partnered with approved background check companies and training companies to facilitate compliance with the law. If you work with children in multiple organizations or you switch jobs, you may have to go through a background check and be live scan fingerprinted again, depending on the organization’s policy.

Figuring out where to go to get your live scan fingerprinting done is typically the most difficult aspect of the background check process. The good news is that many live scan fingerprinting service providers, including notary publics, offer mobile services and appointment times that fit your schedule.

Acme Live Scan and Notary is ready to help anyone who needs to have live scan fingerprinting completed in the San Francisco Bay Area. Call us at 925-237-1475 to schedule an appointment today!

Remote online notarization has been available in some states for a long time. But for most people, it’s not something they were aware of until the pandemic began because notaries in California must meet physically with the person who they are notarizing the document for. This post explains what RON is, when it will be legal in California, and what you can do if you need a remote online notarization completed.

What is Remote Online Notarization (RON?)

Remote online notarization is when the signer of a document connects with a notary over the internet using a camera and a microphone. It is also known as virtual notarization or webcam notarization. RON is frequently confused with electronic notarization. But they are two distinctly different practices. Electronic notarizations are completed with the notary and the signer in the same physical space, meeting the physical appearance requirement of notarization. The documents being signed and notarized are simply in an electronic format. Otherwise, the notary appointment is conducted the same way as an appointment with a paper document.

Where is RON Legal?

There are RON laws in 39 states as of 2022. Of these states, a select few have temporary laws. Notaries commissioned in California cannot perform RON yet. Bill AB-1093 is currently working its way through the state legislature. As of this writing, RON is set to take effect in California on July 1, 2023, barring any delays in the process.

How to Get a RON in California

California residents can pursue remote online notarization from a notary outside the state. While California notaries cannot perform the RON, they can help to connect you to a notary in a state that can perform RON. There are some exceptions in certain states. But generally speaking, as long as the person who wants a RON (the signer) connects with a notary who is physically located in the state where RON is permitted, the notarization can proceed.

Acme Live Scan and Notary proudly offers remote online notarization facilitation for those in California, other US states, and other countries. To find out how to obtain a RON in California, call us today at 925-237-1475 to learn more!

In this world each of us age. As we age we find ourselves not able to care for ourselves. We require others to care for are basic needs.

What is a power of attorney?

Simply put a power of attorney document allows your agent to act on your behalf. The document allows you as the principle to relinquish all powers or some of them. The power of attorney is only in effect when you are alive and may be revolked at any time.

Why you need a power of attorney document?

As a notary public I have the opportunity to see people in all phases of their life. A power of attorney document will allow someone to act for you. If something unexpected happens to you such as an accident or some health issue, this document will allow your life to be uninterrupted. I have seen many people that have not had this document in place and the spouse or loved one feels hopeless to take care of matters like paying medical bills, mortgage or any other affairs that need your attention.

What to do now?

First off I am not an attorney so this is not legal advice. I would suggest that if you do not have these important documents in place that you should contact an attorney to get these documents drawn. You can also look into prepaid legal services. I am here as a resource so if you need a referral to an attorney or would like information on prepaid legal services you can contact me directly. Remeber that you are in charge of your life and want to make efforts to insure that things will be handled the way you want.

Picture it: You’ve scrimped and saved for years, eating off-brand pasta and using single-ply toilet paper to finally afford the Hawaiian trip of your dreams.
You arrive at the SFO airport THREE hours early (because airport mai-tais are the best), only to be turned away because you haven’t upgraded your identification to match the new REAL ID requirements. All that “fake” italian food and rough TP for nothing.

Hawaii will have to wait.

The REAL ID Act was passed way back in 2005, but it has taken years to implement. And of course, through the pandemic, the states and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been moving the hard deadline for you to have the new ID’s, but those days are quickly coming to an end. As of May 3, 2023, if you have any expectation of flying domestically, or being allowed access to federal buildings, federal courthouses, and military bases, you’ll need the upgraded, more secure ID from your state (or a US Passport or military ID).

So What is the REAL ID?

It’s important to note that “REAL ID” is just a collection of legislation that congress passed to help further protect government buildings and airline travel. It’s not actually called “REAL ID.” For instance, in Washington, a REAL ID compliant identification is called an “Enhanced ID” or an Enhanced Driver License.” Your state probably has something similar.

As far as your practical identification goes, AARP offers a clear definition of what to expect: “Sometimes called the Star Card, because most states are marking their Real ID cards with a gold or black star in the top right corner, it must include an encoded “machine readable zone,” like a passport’s, with a person’s scannable information. Many state driver’s licenses already have this feature. The key thing that makes the card special is that the federal government requires you to provide certain identifying documentation to obtain one from your state.” (Read their full article here)

If you don’t have your REAL ID yet, you’re not the only one. Only about half of ID’s across the country have been upgraded to meet the new REAL ID standards. Part of the jam up is that each state has their own requirements, and now with COVID restrictions, appointments are usually required.

But don’t worry!

There’s some help and guidance along the way.

If you’d like specific steps for your state, check out the state requirement map directly from the Department of Homeland Security here. This will link you to your state-specific requirements. If you’re curious about what documents you’ll need, or if you even need the REAL ID, check out the quick quiz on the DHS website here.

Be advised, evidence of state residence and your US citizenship (or legal US residency) will be required. And if your name has changed, you’ll need to be prepared with a paper trail. Don’t forget, if you have a US passport, and don’t mind using it even for domestic travel, then you’ll be fine without an enhanced ID…at least for a while.

Aloha! (Send me a postcard)

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