ART GABOT MADLAING: Notarization and proof of life

Rosemary, an old client, called and text me last week requesting help and assistance in the notarization and apostille of Special Power of Attorney (SPA) prepared by her lawyer for the sale of some real estate properties in the Philippines. 

The SPA covering the sale of properties owned by her widowed mother, now confined at the Jewish Home in San Francisco, California, must be signed by her mother before notarization and then be submitted to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California for apostille. 

Rosemary arranged with the nursing staff at the Jewish Home in San Francisco, California for me to visit her Mom in her room for the signing of the three copies of SPA last Wednesday, 12 noon, March 1, 2023. In addition to the signing of the SPA, Rosemary requested that I’ll bring the latest copy of a local newspaper for her Mom to hold while I’ll take her picture holding the newspaper as PROOF OF LIFE because she is already old. Accordingly, this is required in the Philippines. I was surprised to know the new requirement because I’ve notarized so many SPA through the years without PROOF OF LIFE as additional requirement for the signed SPA by an elderly client. 

Before meeting the widowed mother of Regina at the Jewish Home, I went first to Wallgreens and bought a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle dated March, 1, 2023, Wednesday. Then, I drove to the Jewish Home in San Francisco. The security guard at the Gate Entrance told me to see and meet the parking attendant which required me to pay $10 for one-hour stay with my elderly client. 

Before 12 noon on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, I  meet the nursing registry  staff at the lobby, who instructed me to sign the Visitors’ Registration Log. After showing my proof of two  COVID 19 Vaccination  shots and one Booster shot issued by Kaiser Permanente, the lady at the registry took my body temperature. With everything normal and okay, I was allowed to see Rosemary’s mother in her room in the second floor of the Jewish Convalescent Hospital, for just one hour as strict requirement in the convalescent hospital. 

Rosemary’s widowed mother was smiling when I met her. After some preliminaries, I had the elderly widow sign the three copies of SPA and then had her sign my Journal of Notarial Acts and put her right thumb marks. 

Then, I had Rosemary’s mother hold the front page copy of San Francisco Chronicle dated March 1, 2023, Wednesday. With the widow smiling, I took her picture holding the newspaper using my iphone.  One Friday, March 3, 2023, I drove to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, California and submitted the notarized SPA inside the Apostille Box in the lobby of the Secretary of State building, for apostille. 

As further instructed by Rosemary, I sent the screenshots of the signed and notarized SPA with the picture of her smiling Mom holding the front page copy of the San Francisco Chronicle, to her cousin in Metro Manila by email.  

When the apostilled SPA will be returned by the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section, in Sacramento, I was further instructed by Rosemary to send the apostilled SPA through LBC Courier, to her cousin in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines. Rosemary texted  to me her cousin’s address and telephone number as required by LBC. 

As can be observed from the foregoing processes of notarization, apostille follow-up and the additional requirement of PROOF OF LIFE for elderly client, our complete and unique services at Mobile Signing Services (MSS) is not just the ordinary notarization of signatures. 

We, at MSS, “ walk the extra mile” doing beyond what our old and new clients expected us to do. 

We, at MSS,  are committed, dedicated and will continue to help and assist old and new clients, particularly the elderly, veterans and those physically handicapped, in the notarization and apostille follow-up of Affidavits, Special Power of Attorney, DEED OF DONATION, Proof of Life, DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE, Waiver of Rights and other documents needed in the Philippines and the other member nations of the Hague Apostille Convention. 

For immediate help and assistance, just write or contact: MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email:  artmadlaing@hotmail.com

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE#00635976) in California since 1981. He is founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA )