Unhappily Forged

September 26, 2015 4:27 PM

I purchased some property a couple of months ago. One of the documents recorded with the county doesn't match the document I have (that I walked out of closing with). I think the Notary forged my signature after the fact. What should I do?

I went through a standard closing process... signed more documents than I can count, got the keys, took my copies and went on about my business. I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to document management so naturally I went home and scanned every single document into my digital filing system.

Fast forward two months and I received a package in the mail with the recorded documents in the mail. Pursuant to my process, I went about comparing the recorded documents to the documents I already had (to see if there were new stamps or info marked on them) to see if they needed rescanned and refiled. When I got to the Statement of Authority document, I noticed something unusual. My copy contained some writing from me - my address (I recall writing this) and it was notarized with a date. No signature was present on this document. The document that came in the mail (the recorded document, which also happens to be the original) was identical to the copy that I had except it contained my signature - or what looked like my signature - and other language around the specifics of the Authority (they added 'None' as answers to question 6 and 7 if you're familiar with the document). Closer examination reveals that this signature is strange... hesitated... the font is thicker than it should be, etc. Further, I haven't signed anything since the day of closing. It seems like the document has been modified post-closing.

I'm thinking that this document was inadvertently not signed as part of closing and instead of calling me back to sign it, the Notary just forged it using one of my signatures from a different document (I actually found the one they copied.. it's identical).

I feel violated but I'm not sure why. I probably would have signed this document at closing if I were asked to. That said, I feel like someone forging my signature on closing documents is a big deal and I'm considering calling the title company to let them know what I've found.

Am I over reacting? I want to share the documents with the internet but there is some personal info on there so I better not... I'd consider sharing over PM, though, if anyone is a handwriting analyst :)

posted by shew to Law & Government (6 answers total)

i think you're over-reacting tbh. there's nothing malicious here (if i've understood correctly) - they were just trying to save you time. as you say, it's something you would have signed anyway.

(more generally, what to you seem like very important docs are likely completely standard to the notary, so what feels to you like an important detail is likely, to the notary, to be just dotting is and crossing ts).

BUT i live in s america and have become more relaxed about some things over the years.
posted by andrewcooke at 4:35 PM on September 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

If I'm understanding this correctly, you left with copies of the docs, and left them with the originals, so at closing you would sign two copies of each document. Right? It sounds like you signed the original but not your copy.
posted by tybstar at 4:47 PM on September 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Hmm. Don't think so:

1) The new document has more differences than just the signature.
2) I'm fairly certain I only signed one document of everything and was given copies of those documents before I left. All the other documents I have contain signatures.
3) The document I've had all along is notarized but lacks a signature. Is it typical for documents without signatures to get a notary stamp?
posted by shew at 5:03 PM on September 26, 2015

3) Yes. Mom was a notary for years. Notary stamp can be on all pages.
posted by irisclara at 5:12 PM on September 26, 2015

If you're positive they forged your signature, then no matter what else you really should report it to the proper authorities in your state. I'm currently studying to be a notary, and forging a signature is the biggest possible notary no-no on the goddamn planet. It's like being a doctor and stabbing your patients in the face.
posted by Itaxpica at 5:33 PM on September 26, 2015 [19 favorites]

if you're not positive, maybe send back your version along with their version and ask what happened. The whole reason notaries exist is to ensure this legal process is trustworthy. Yes, there probably is no nefarious intent but I'd be creeped out by this too.
posted by selfmedicating at 10:32 PM on September 26, 2015 [5 favorites]