SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6227

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge and Halsan

Revising provisions on acknowledgments.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1988; January 26, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Halsan, Hayner, Madsen, Newhouse, Niemi, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Jeanne Cushman Scott (786-7461)

                  February 15, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1985 the notary forms were changed by a statute which became effective January 1, 1986.  With use since January 1, 1986 a need for corrections to the new forms has become apparent.

SUMMARY:

Technical corrections to notary or acknowledgement statutes are made.  Either the post-January 1, 1986 form or the pre-January 1, 1986 form may be used for real property conveyances.  The notary may use means of identification other than personal knowledge to evidence that a person is the person whose name is signed on the instrument.

The forms are amended to require the personal appearance before the notary of the person whose name is signed on the document.  The recitation below the signature line is changed from "notary public" to "title" to allow for acknowledgment by persons other than notary publics, e.g. judges.  A date line is added and the statutes are made gender neutral.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Warren Olson, Washington Land Title Association; David Rockwell, Real Property Section, Washington Bar Association