Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to The Notaryous LLC. By engaging our services, whether in-person, mobile, or through remote online notarization (RON), you ("Client," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and The Notaryous LLC ("we," "us," or "our"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our services.

Services Provided

Notary Services: mobile notary services (traveling to your location in the Portland Metro area); Remote Online Notarization (RON) via the Blue Notary platform; general notarization (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, affirmations); loan signing services; estate planning document notarization; apostille services; notarization for incarcerated individuals (when permitted by the facility); and witness services.

Fingerprinting Services: live scan fingerprinting; ink fingerprinting; FBI background checks; state background checks; professional licensing fingerprinting; and employment screening fingerprinting.

Service Areas: Portland Metro area, Oregon statewide, and Clark County, Washington.

Professional Qualifications

The Notaryous LLC is a Licensed Notary Public commissioned in Oregon and Washington; NNA (National Notary Association) Certified; LSS (Loan Signing System) Certified; insured with $100,000 Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance; and background checked and bonded as required by state law.

Client Responsibilities

For Notary Services

You agree to provide valid, current, government-issued photo identification; be physically present (in person for mobile services or online for RON — no third-party representation); sign willingly and without coercion; have read and understand the documents you are signing (we cannot provide legal advice); provide complete documents ready for notarization; be of sound mind; provide accurate information; meet technical requirements for RON (working device with camera, microphone, and stable internet); arrive on time; and provide a safe, well-lit location for mobile services.

For Fingerprinting Services

You agree to provide valid government-issued photo ID; complete all required forms accurately; follow fingerprinting procedures and technician instructions; ensure hands are clean and dry for best print quality; and understand which agency is requesting your fingerprints and for what purpose.

Limitations of Service

As a Notary Public, we CANNOT provide legal advice or interpret documents; recommend what type of notarial act you need; prepare legal documents (unless specifically requested as a separate service); notarize documents in which we have a beneficial interest; notarize incomplete documents; notarize for individuals who cannot be properly identified, who appear under duress, or who lack capacity; notarize documents with blank spaces (unless specifically permitted); or guarantee document acceptance by third parties.

As a Fingerprinting Service, we CANNOT guarantee fingerprint quality acceptance by receiving agencies; provide legal advice regarding background-check results; modify or falsify fingerprint records; or guarantee processing times by receiving agencies.

Appointment Scheduling and Cancellations

Appointments can be scheduled via phone, email, or online booking. We request at least 24 hours' notice for mobile appointments when possible; same-day and emergency services may be available for an additional fee; and availability is subject to our schedule and location.

Client cancellations: 24+ hours' notice — full refund or free rescheduling; less than 24 hours — 50% cancellation fee; no-show — full service fee charged; RON sessions must be cancelled at least 2 hours in advance to avoid fees. Our cancellations: we may cancel due to unsafe conditions, weather, or unforeseen circumstances, with a full refund issued. Late arrivals: for mobile service, if we arrive at the scheduled time and you are unavailable, a $25 trip fee applies; for RON, if you are more than 15 minutes late, the session may be cancelled and rescheduled with fees applied.

SMS/Text Messaging Communication

By providing your mobile phone number, you expressly consent to receive text messages (SMS/MMS) from us, including appointment confirmations and reminders, service status updates, scheduling changes or cancellations, payment receipts, important service-related notifications, and emergency communications regarding your appointment. Message frequency varies; message and data rates may apply; we are not responsible for carrier charges; consent is not a condition of purchase.

Opt-out: text STOP to (503) 536-2326 to unsubscribe from all text messages, text HELP for assistance, or contact us at shavon@thenotaryousllc.com or (503) 489-8519. After texting STOP, you will receive one final confirmation message.

A2P 10DLC — Mobile Information Sharing: No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We may share mobile phone numbers with SMS service providers (such as Twilio, EZ Texting, or similar) solely to deliver appointment reminders, updates, and communications you have consented to receive. These subcontractors are contractually obligated to protect your information, use it only to deliver messages on our behalf, and not share it with any other parties. Your text-messaging opt-in data will never be sold, rented, or shared with any third party for any purpose.

No guarantee of delivery: we do not guarantee delivery of text messages, which may be delayed or undelivered due to carrier issues, network problems, or device settings. You are responsible for keeping your phone number current, and we are not liable for missed appointments due to undelivered text messages.

Security: SMS is not a secure form of communication. We will not send sensitive personal information (SSNs, credit card numbers, passwords) via text, and you should not reply with such information.

TCPA Compliance: by providing your number and consenting, you certify that you are the owner or authorized user of the number, are 18 or older, understand consent is not required as a condition of purchase, and understand this consent applies to recurring automated text messages, consistent with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

Fees and Payment

Notary fees are set according to Oregon and Washington state maximum allowable fees; travel fees for mobile services are based on distance and time; rush or after-hours services incur additional fees; fingerprinting fees vary by service type and agency; and all fees are communicated clearly before service is rendered. Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements are made. We accept cash, credit/debit cards, Venmo, Zelle, and other electronic payments. Returned checks incur a $35 fee plus any bank fees.

Refund Policy: services rendered in good faith are non-refundable; refunds for cancellations are governed by our Cancellation Policy above; if documents are rejected by the receiving agency due to our error, we will re-notarize at no charge; and if fingerprints are rejected due to a technical error on our part, we will re-print once at no charge.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) Specific Terms

By using our RON services, you confirm you have a device with camera and microphone, a reliable high-speed internet connection, a well-lit and quiet space, and a valid email address. Identity verification uses credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication; sessions are audio-visually recorded as required by Oregon and Washington law and retained for 10 years; you consent to being recorded; we use Blue Notary as our RON platform provider; and technical difficulties may result in rescheduling without penalty. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your login credentials and should not share your RON session link with unauthorized parties.

Fingerprinting Specific Terms

We submit fingerprints electronically or by mail to the requesting agency; processing times are determined by the receiving agency; we are not responsible for delays or rejections by the receiving agency; and multiple attempts may be needed for worn or damaged fingerprints. If prints are rejected due to quality issues not caused by our error, additional fees apply for re-printing. We do not receive or have access to background-check results; results are sent directly from the agency to the requesting party, and you must contact that agency regarding your results.

Record Retention and Access

We maintain a notary journal as required by law (10 years minimum) and RON recordings for 10 years. Clients may request copies of journal entries related to their transaction (fees may apply), and entries may be disclosed pursuant to legal process. Fingerprint records are retained only as long as necessary for transmission to the requesting agency. SMS opt-in records are retained for 5 years minimum for compliance.

Liability and Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the amount paid for the specific service; we are not responsible for the legal effect, validity, or enforceability of documents we notarize; we are not responsible for third-party rejection of notarized documents; we are not liable for consequential, indirect, incidental, or punitive damages; and our E&O insurance coverage is $100,000. We do not guarantee acceptance of notarized documents or fingerprints by third parties, specific background-check outcomes, or that documents will achieve your intended legal purpose. We do not review documents for legal sufficiency and only verify identity, willingness, and awareness of signers — consult an attorney for legal questions.

Refusal of Service

We reserve the right to refuse service if you cannot provide satisfactory identification; appear under duress or coercion; lack the mental capacity to understand the transaction; present incomplete or apparently fraudulent documents; are disruptive, threatening, or create unsafe conditions; the notarization would violate state law or our professional obligations; you have an outstanding unpaid balance; or the technical requirements for RON cannot be met. No refunds are issued for services refused for the above reasons.

Confidentiality and Privacy

We maintain the confidentiality of your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We do not share your information with affiliates, partners, or subsidiaries (we operate as an independent business with no affiliates), do not disclose transaction information except as required by law or to complete your requested services, and do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information for marketing purposes.

Intellectual Property

All content on our website, marketing materials, and business documents — including text, graphics, logos, and software — is the property of The Notaryous LLC and protected by copyright and trademark laws. You may not reproduce or distribute our materials without permission, use our business name, logos, or branding without authorization, or scrape or collect data from our systems.

Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Oregon without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Washington County, Oregon. Before filing any legal action, you agree to contact us to attempt informal resolution. For disputes involving amounts less than $10,000, you agree to binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in class-action lawsuits.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Notaryous LLC, its owner, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including attorney fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, your violation of any law or third-party rights, your misuse of our services, false or misleading information you provide, or your failure to maintain confidentiality of sensitive documents.

Force Majeure, Modifications & Severability

We are not liable for failure to perform due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, pandemics, government actions, power or technology failures, labor disputes, or transportation disruptions. We may modify these Terms at any time; changes are effective when posted with an updated "Last Updated" date (and emailed or texted for material changes if you have provided contact details). If any provision is found unenforceable, it will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions remain in full force. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Notaryous LLC.

Contact Information

The Notaryous LLC
20001 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97003
Email: shavon@thenotaryousllc.com
Phone: (503) 489-8519
Hours: 24/7 (we respond within 24 hours)

Legal Disclaimer

These Terms of Service are provided for informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. The Notaryous LLC recommends that clients consult with their own legal counsel regarding any legal matters. Professional credentials: Licensed Notary Public — Oregon & Washington (Clark County); NNA Certified; LSS Certified; $100,000 E&O Insurance.