My ex-attorney's wife is a notary public for the state of Texas. She notarizes all his documents that he sends to the Texas courts. Whenever I signed any of these documents his wife was never there. The attorney apparently had her sign the documents before I did. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether the case I am involved in is at risk for being thrown out? And should not the attorney be reprimanded by the courts for this? Is this criminal conduct? What does everyone think and should I report it to the courts? Thanks Jim

I'm in New York having employment problemns with an attorney. I was asked this week to notarize a deed that was signed by client with the attorney and office manager as witnesses. Office manager asked me to notarize the deed, I refused to notarize it. The client was not in fornt of me when she signed the deed. There was no date as to when the deed was signed and witnessed (usually in the first sentence of a deed). I refused. This is not proper and I could lose my standing as a notary public and probably get fined for notarizing a document to be recorded in the county clerks office stating that so and so appeared in front of me personally known to me or produced such and such identification that I could determine that the person was whom he/she said he/she was. Check into your local state laws as to requirements for notary public, a Notary is commissioned in the County where he/she resides. There are specific guidelines and a database to track commissioned notaries by last and first name. I hope this helps you, or gives you somewhere to start. As a notary public I do not notarize documents unless the person is in front of me and/or provides me with satisfactory identifiication that they say who they ay they are. Good luck to you. Be careful.