We’ve all been there…

You’re on your way to a notary appointment. Coffee in hand, playlist on point, and feelin’ pretty good about life.

Then BAM.

Something weird happens. You get a text or a call from the signer. 

“Oops, Mom’s ID expired two years ago…but she’s 93, can you still do it?” 

“Oh, and this is for a POA and Last Will & Testament… for Switzerland. Didn’t we mention that?” 

“And, by the way, the attorney says we need an apostle.” 

Cue record scratch. 

Your internal dialogue:

“What in the notarized heck do I do now?” (Don’t worry, you don’t have to summon Peter, or any of the other apostles, this customer just needs an apostille) 

That, my friend, is when you need your Ladder of Support. It’s simply a list of your most trusted resources spelled out in one place for easy reference. This is especially helpful when the pressure is on and you freeze up. 

Here’s the good news:

You don’t need to know everything about everything. In fact, you’re not supposed to.

You just...

If you're in the middle of putting together your estate plan, or thinking about starting one, there’s a good chance you’ll run into a document that needs to be notarized.

• Maybe your attorney mentioned it in passing.

• Maybe your DIY kit says “sign in front of a notary.”

• Or maybe someone just told you, “You’re gonna need a stamp for that.”

But what does that actually mean?

What role does a notary play in the estate planning process, and why does it matter who you choose?

Let’s break it down in real, human terms, so you can move forward with confidence.

First, What Does a Notary Do?

At the most basic level, a notary public is a state-authorized professional who serves as an impartial witness during the signing of important documents. They confirm your identity, make sure you're signing willingly (and knowingly), and apply their official seal to complete the notarization.

That “stamp” adds legal weight to your document, so that if it ever gets challenged, there’s cl...

Over the last several months, I’ve focused this newsletter, and several YouTube training sessions, on one primary goal: making the phone ring.

We’ve covered how to boost your online visibility. We’ve explored outreach strategies that connect you with new prospects. All with one goal in mind-getting more clients.

But then what?

When those strategies work, and they will, you’ll be faced with a new challenge: What do you do when the phone rings?

That’s why I introduced the Top of Mind Method, a framework to help you confidently navigate every step of the client experience. It’s simple, but powerful. Just remember to S.M.I.L.E.:

• Solve Their Problem

• Masterfully Deliver Your Services

• Implement Ironclad Button-Up

• Leverage Long-Term Connection Strategies

• Expand Your Learning and Your Network

We just wrapped up the “Solve Their Problem” series. If you missed it, here’s what we covered:

• Why answering your phone is the highest form of marketing.

• What to...

Here’s a common scenario:

You’ve got a trust document ready to go, maybe it’s part of a new estate plan, maybe it’s an urgent update, but the person who needs to sign it is in another state.

Here go the questions:

• Can I still get this document notarized?
  
  
• Who do I call in a state I don’t live in?
  
  
• What if I don’t know any notaries there?
  
  
• How do I make sure it gets done right?
  
  

Whether you're a family member coordinating the signing, an estate planning attorney managing client logistics, or an escrow officer wrapping up a file, this situation is more common than ever, and totally solvable.

Let’s walk through exactly how to get a trust document notarized when the signer is out of state, and how to do it with confidence.

First, Can a Notary in Another State Handle It?

Yes, as long as the notary is commissioned in the same state where the signer is physically located at the time of signing.

That’s the key.

Notarizations are based on where the notary and signer are physically p...

So you've got a document that needs to be notarized, and you're thinking, “Ugh. I guess I’ll have to go to the bank or find a UPS store and hope someone’s there.”

Not anymore.

Welcome to the 21st century of notarization, where you can get a document notarized without leaving your house. No appointment roulette at the bank. No dragging paperwork across town. No waiting in line at a shipping store just to find out the notary “is out to lunch.”

Let’s break down the fastest, easiest ways to get something notarized without stepping out your front door, and how Gotary.com can help you do it right.

First, Let’s Talk About the Old Way (and Why It’s Frustrating)

You probably know the drill:

1. Find out you need a notarized signature.
   
   
2. Call your bank. “Sorry, we don’t notarize estate planning docs anymore.”
   
   
3. Try a UPS store. “Our notary isn’t in today. Maybe tomorrow?”
   
   
4. Spend an afternoon bouncing between places, hoping someone can help.
   
   
5. Give up… or delay signing something important.
   
   

Th...

There’s a moment that makes or breaks your business on every call you take. 

Think about how hard you work to make the phones ring:

• Google Business Profile optimization

• Building and paying for a high converting website

• All the platforms and directories to manage

• Wracking your brain for social media content and distribution

• The networking meetings

• The sales emails

• The pop-ins

And then the phone rings…

You’ve answered the phone (good start). You answered it professionally (even better). You built rapport. You asked smart questions. You understand the job. You stacked your value.

You quoted your price.

And then…

You just let it hang there, like a bad joke. An awkward silence… lingering. 

Like they’re going to chase you down to give you money. 

I hear it all the time, “If they really want it, they’ll tell me.”

No they won’t. Consumers are strange. Sometimes they need a little push. They need someone to show them the way. 

Listen, I get it. Y...

If you need a notary, the first instinct is usually to open a browser and type “notary near me.”

And sure, Google might show you a few options: a UPS store, a random listing on Yelp, maybe someone advertising on Craigslist who also “does notaries.”

But here’s the real question:

Do you want just anyone with a stamp… or someone you can actually trust with your most important documents?

Because when you're dealing with estate plans, loan packages, apostilles, or other legal documents, the difference between just any notary and a trained professional can mean the difference between smooth sailing and a full-blown headache later.

Let’s take a closer look at the difference between Google and Gotary.com, and why it matters.

Google Is a Search Engine. Gotary Is a Trust Engine.

Google is great at showing you options. But it doesn’t vet them for you.

You’ll get a mix of:

• Corporate chains that may or may not have a notary available
  
  
• People who do notarizations on the side
  
  
• Retired nota...

If you want a successful notary business that actually pays the bills, supports your lifestyle, and makes you proud, you’ve got to make peace with a simple truth:

You are not just a notary. You’re a marketer.

Most folks don’t sign up for this business because they want to write email campaigns or post to social media. They sign up because they love helping people. Or they want freedom. Or they want out of the corporate grind.

But none of that matters if your phone isn’t ringing.

And your phone won’t ring just because you passed your exam, paid for a commission, or made a Canva flyer once in 2022.

It rings because people know you exist, trust that you can help, and remember your name when the time comes.

That’s marketing. 

Start With These 12 Marketing Moves

1. Adopt the Marketing Mindset

You have to think like a marketer. Every single day.

That doesn’t mean becoming manipulative. It means becoming visible, valuable, and intentional about telling your story.

You don’t have to...

So you’ve finally decided it’s time to get your Last Will & Testament in place.

Maybe you’ve been putting it off for years, or maybe a recent experience like a death in the family, a close call with someone’s health, or a messy probate situation, shook you into action.

Whatever brought you here, welcome. This is one of the most loving and responsible things you can do for your family.

But now you’ve hit the next question:

“Do I need a notary for my will?”

And if so… how do I find one who can help me get this right?

Let’s walk through it together, step by step.

First Things First: Do You Need a Notary for Your Will?

Here’s where it gets a little tricky: It depends on your state.

Not all states require notarization to make a will valid. In fact, in many states, a will only needs to be:

• In writing
  
  
• Signed by the person creating the will (called the testator)
  
  
• Witnessed by two people (usually not named in the will)
  
  

But other states have different rules, and some offer an opt...

Let’s face it, most notaries are still grinding through $75 signings, hustling from one appointment to the next, hoping the phone keeps ringing tomorrow.

But what if you didn’t have to start over every single day?

What if your notary commission could be the foundation of something bigger, a true business that serves families deeply, earns you recurring income, and makes you the go-to expert in your community?

You don’t need to become a lawyer, and you don’t need to ditch what’s already working. And you definitely don’t need to start from scratch.

Here’s how you build your estate planning empire, step by step.

Step 1: Get Certified as a Notary Trust Delivery Agent

The Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent (CNTDA) program trains you to handle estate planning appointments with confidence, accuracy, and professionalism.

Why does this matter?

Because the easiest way to create repeat business is to do the job right the first time.

When you show up as a polished professional to help ...