Signing Agent

A signing agent — usually called a loan signing agent — is a notary public with additional training and certification specifically for handling mortgage and real estate closing document packages. It's a specialization layered on top of the base notary commission, not a separate license: every signing agent is a commissioned notary first, and the state's own notary rules (bond, journal, fee caps) still apply underneath the specialized role.

The certification (commonly through the National Notary Association or Loan Signing System) demonstrates familiarity with a full closing package — typically 100-200 pages, with a specific signing order and initials required throughout — rather than teaching anything legally different from what a standard notary commission already authorizes. Signing agents typically charge a flat package fee ($75-$200) rather than the per-signature rate a standard notarization uses, reflecting the length and complexity of a full closing appointment.