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North County San Diego Spotlight: Carlsbad

In the 1882 Captain John Frazier dug a well near the coast in what was then called Rancho Agua Hedionda. He began offering his water at the train station and soon the whistle-stop became known as Frazier’s Station. A test done on a second fresh-water well discovered the water to be chemically similar to that found in some of the most renowned spas in the world. Once the Carlsbad Land and Mineral Water Company formed, the town was named Carlsbad after the famed spa in the Bohemian town of Karlsbad.

Carslbad is one of the many cities in North San Diego County that I bring my notary and Live Scan services to.  Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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Community Care Background Checks 

The California Health and Safety Code requires a background check of all community care license applicants, community care licensees, adult residents, volunteers under certain conditions and employees of community care facilities who have contact with clients. Moonlight Mobile Notary sends your prints to the Department of Justice and the results of the DOJ fingerprint check are sent electronically to the Caregiver Background Check Bureau (CBCB) of the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD).

For more information visit the California Department of Social Services: http://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Community-Care/Caregiver-Background-Check/LiveScan

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Encinitas

Encinitas got its name In the year 1669 when the Governor of Baja California, Gaspar de Portola traveled through California. He was looking for places to build presidios where the population could learn and attend religious services. The expedition was traveling through City of Encinitas when Gaspar de Portola named the area Encina Canada for the groves of small oak trees in the area.

Encinitas is one of the many cities in North County San Diego I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Vista

The serpent is created by local Southern California artist, Ricardo Breceda, and is located in the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens in Vista. The mission of the gardens is to "bring together people, nature and art” and provides an interactive living classroom for North San Diego County students. Learn more about the gardens at: http://www.altavistagardens.org

Vista is one of the many cities in North County San Diego I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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The Importance of Healthcare Directives

It is important to have your wishes recorded regarding your health care. Advance care planning is not just about old age. At any age, a medical crisis could leave you too ill to make your own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now, planning for health care in the future is an important step toward making sure you get the medical care you would want, if you are unable to speak for yourself and doctors and family members are making the decisions for you.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Ramona

The first building constructed in present-day Ramona was the Amos Verlaque House in 1883. It was built as a store and post office on a two-acre tract of land on the road to Julian. The building still stands today and houses the Guy Woodward Museum which exhibits historic treasures of early Western culture. 

Ramona is one of the many cities in North San Diego County that I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Escondido

Before Escondido incorporated in 1888, the area was known as Rincon del Diablo (the devil's corner). The Escondido Land & Town Company acquired it in 1886, and the city began to take shape — starting with the 100-room Escondido Hotel. It was built at the eastern end of Grand Avenue, on the present site of Palomar Hospital. For many years it served as the social center of the community, and many well-known people were entertained there as guests.

Escondido is one of the many cities in North San Diego County that I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Rancho Santa Fe



Rancho Santa Fe was originally called Rancho San Dieguito. The ranch was held by several families over the years but was sold to the Santa Fe Railroad in 1906. The railway’s intent was to use the land to grow lumber for railroad ties, and planted 3.5 million Eucalyptus trees from seed on 3,000 acres. The venture proved unsuccessful because Eucalyptus didn’t have the structural capacity needed to underlay the rails for the great trains coming West. By 1921 Santa Fe filed a subdivision map in which they decided to retire the name of Rancho San Dieguito for their namesake, Rancho Santa Fe.

Rancho Santa Fe is one of the many cities in North San Diego County that I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the north county San Diego cities I visit.

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North County San Diego Spotlight: Moonlight Beach

Some say that the “moonlight” in the name of the beach comes from the fact that local residents used to come to the area for midnight picnics early in the early 1900s. Another popular theory is that Moonlight Beach got its name during prohibition and the bootlegging era of alcohol.  Al Capone ran a big operation in Mexico, and his crews would make rum-runs to the beach because it was easily seen by boats offshore.

Encintas is one of the many cities in North San Diego County that I bring my notary and Live Scan services to. Visit my FAQ page to see all the cities I visit.

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Jail Visits

Saturday Tip - California Notaries

A Notary no longer has to wait during visiting hours. They are allowed to notarize a document for an inmate outside of visiting hours. Similar to Attorney's, Clergy or Medical.

  1. As of 2016, an Inmate will be wearing a picture ID on their wrist with physical description, birthdate, issue date. This is acceptable ID.
  2. You are required to register with the Jail/Prison each time your commission renews. They will review your stamp and ID. After that you are only required to check in.
  3. You are only allowed to bring your stamp, journal, pen and document that will be notarized. Nothing else.

Customer tip: Prepare your client (person who made arrangements) by telling them to speak with their loved one before hand. My policy is that they will pay whether the inmate signs or not. Be sure to make them aware of this before appointment. Some inmates may be on a drug withdrawal or there may be other circumstances that render them incompetent to sign.

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Attorneys - Get Your Live Scan for the State Bar

Attorneys - Time is running out to get your Live Scan for the State Bar! The deadline to get fingerprinted for the California State Bar is April 30, 2019. California Rule of Court Rule 9.9.5, requires all active California attorneys to be re-fingerprinted to ensure that the State Bar is in compliance with Business and Professions Code Section 6054. Until last year, the State Bar was out of compliance with this statutory mandate. The only way for the State Bar to come fully into compliance is to re-fingerprint licensed attorneys. Schedule your Live Scan today!

For more information visit the State Bar website: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Attorneys/Attorney-Regulation/Fingerprinting-Rule-Requirements/Fingerprinting-FAQ

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Wearing a Name Badge

Saturday Tip - California Notaries

Wearing a name badge exhibits many positive traits. 

  1. Appearance of Professionalism
  2. Accountability - some will say a badge will show that you are accountable because you are showing your name.
  3. Trust - I find a sense of trust between you and the signers as I have noticed they start to call me by my first name. It puts them at ease especially if they don't remember my name. 
  4. More people are likely to give feedback on Yelp, Google or other as a follow up. 

Of course - if you don't feel comfortable, don't wear one. I found the best pricing at Best Name Badges.

 

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Setting Up Your Notary Accounting Books

Saturday Tip - California Notaries

Right off the bat, I am going to disqualify myself as a CPA or registered Tax Consultant. However, I will provide information that can be easily found in the IRS Tax Code or your State. If you have additional questions, please consult with a professional.

  1. Separate your Notary Income from Other - such as travel, wait time, courier service.
  2. All Notary Income must be reported income on on Form 1040 Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ. However, notary income is exempt from self-employment tax on their notarial income because they are public officials. This means you are exempt from paying Social Security and Medicare but you are taxed at full rate on your profit. example - I earned $15 per signature x10 = $150 Notary Income (exempt from Self Employment) and I earned $100 travel fee (must pay self employment and income tax on profit). This means that I will pay income tax on $250 and I will pay self employment tax on $100 of the $250.
  3. "Self-employment tax is also called "SECA" tax (from the Self-Employed Contributions Act). The tax rate for self-employment income is 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare, based on the net earnings of the business. ... And, of course, self-employed people also pay income taxes on the profits from their self-employment."

State Income tax is another topic.

You can find more information on this topic in Chapter 12 of the IRS Publication 17 (listed as “Notary Public” beneath the “Other Income” category: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf