Did you know there's a growing trend of people trying to use legal documents to avoid taxes, skip out on debts, or even claim the government owes them billions?
These folks, often known as "Sovereign Citizens," don’t believe they need to follow state or federal laws. Lately, they’ve been asking notaries to approve some very questionable documents.
These documents can look like the real deal but might be hiding some sneaky business. Some claim that government agencies owe them money, while others try to make their debts disappear. And here's the thing: they might come across as official, but they’re often anything but!
What’s the Deal with Sovereign Citizens?
Sovereign citizens often push notaries to do more than just witness signatures. They might ask them to copy and mail documents, create invoices, or even act like a middleman. But that's not what a notary is for!
A notary's job is to verify that signatures on documents are real—not to get involved in the content of those documents.
Real-Life Consequences:
In one case, two notaries in New York got dragged into a lawsuit because they notarized documents that falsely claimed local governments owed billions of dollars. Yikes!
It took them seven months to clear their names, all because they didn't realize what they were dealing with.
How to Spot a Problematic Document:
Here are some red flags:
Red Ink or Thumbprints: If you see signatures or thumbprints in red ink, something could be up.
Weird Address Details: Bracketed zip codes are a classic sign.
Strange Punctuation: Odd symbols or punctuation in names—think colons, semicolons, or even copyright symbols.
Bold Sovereignty Statements: Phrases like “all rights reserved” or anything suggesting the person doesn't have to follow government rules.
Anti-Government Language: Watch out for wording that declares the signer is exempt from laws or debts or claims that government agencies are illegitimate.
Strange IDs: Some of these folks might also present ID cards that sound official but aren’t recognized by law. Examples include IDs labeled as "Moorish American," "Global Citizen," "Free State Republic," or “World Passport.” If it doesn’t look like a standard ID, it’s probably not!
It's important for everyone to know these tricks and be aware of the tactics used by Sovereign Citizens.
If you or someone you know ever feels pressured to notarize—or witness—a document that seems off, it's okay to say no. In fact, it’s the right thing to do!
Notaries have a critical role in protecting the integrity of legal documents and being alert to these warning signs can help prevent fraud and maintain trust in important legal processes.
Notarization may be boring, but I'm not!
253.208.2792
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