Wendy E. Gosnell, Notary Public Alabama State at Large

08/03/2022

For my fellow Notaries... Stay safe!

Stay safe during Notary assignments with these five safety tips from the National Notary Association.

07/17/2022

This looked interesting... building a house is quite an endeavor. I'm not endorsing this person or their product, just sharing information I thought might be helpful.

Build Livable is a homeowner's guide to maximizing every phase of a home construction project.

07/17/2022

Good Morning Friends!

I'm taking the time to seek out Notaries on LinkedIn. We all need support from time to time, as well as advice and comradery.

Wishing you a joyous Sunday,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/notary-membership

07/11/2022

For my fellow Notaries

With so many fake ID cards on the market, how do Notaries tell if an ID is valid? These 5 security features can help you spot fakes.

07/09/2022

Hello Friends,

For anyone considering an ADU for a family member, this article gives good food for thought. Take a look, and if this is something you think might work for your family, do the research in your area!

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

ADUs—accessory dwelling units, also sometimes known as granny flats—can have a huge impact on a home's value. Here's what you need to know, whether you're building or buying a house with one.

07/01/2022

Hello Friends,

For Independence Day, I'm sharing a link to the National Archives where you can find the Preamble, the Constitution with the Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence.

Wishing you all the best my fellow citizens!

Español We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constituti...

06/28/2022

Hello Friends,

I've had some interesting calls lately, including from New York and Florida, where they asked me to travel to those states to notarize Alabama Marriage Certificates. I advised a Notary's Jurisdiction ends at their commissioned State Line. Protect yourself - know the laws and restrictions in your state. Err on the side of caution. You can refuse to provide service if something seems off.

The call from New York wanted me to do the RON (Remote Online Notary). which I respectfully declined. I'm not a fan of the Remote Online Notary. I want to physically see the person, look them in the eye, and hold their identification. We Notaries are the first line of defense against fraud.

When in doubt, check with your Secretary of State regarding how and where you can provide your services.

Wishing you peace as you serve,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

Your Notary Jurisdiction
https://www.notarypublicstamps.com/articles/your-notary-jurisdiction

06/18/2022

Dear Friends,

There are so many challenges financially when one goes into a care facility. Please speak with your attorney or financial advisor to become educated about current laws for your state.

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

When entering a nursing home, the details regarding payment can be dense, leaving you worried and confused about your retirement accounts. Fortunately, your IRA is not automatically seized or applied to nursing home expenses. You may be eligible for Medicaid … Continue reading → The post Are IRA...

06/16/2022

For my mature friends and family, to help prepare for those weather emergencies. Stay safe dear ones!

Join us next week to learn about emergency preparedness for older adults! Geared for those 55+, this 2 day virtual webinar will cover how to prepare for disasters including:

• Floods & heavy rainfall
• Severe winter weather
• Cybersecurity
• Personal health & wellness

More info and to register: fema.gov/event/region-1-older-adult-preparedness-webinar

06/15/2022

For my Notary friends...

Learn about 4 illegal acts that Notaries should never do and the potential consequences they carry.

05/07/2022

Hi Friends,

This is a brilliant strategy. I have a list of everything we keep in our coolers (used as storage), all our paperwork is in one place, and we have a way to contact family outside our area.

With this season of wild weather approaching (well, actually, this whole year has been a bit wild), make sure your personal legal paperwork is updated. Contact your family attorney to write or update Wills, Powers of Attorney and Medical Directives.

Call on me when you need a Notary. I am here to serve you! Find me on FB, IM or email, or just pick up the phone and call.

Be prepared, and stay safe!

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

The time to prepare for a hurricane is NOW, before the season begins (JUNE 1ST). Once you’re under pressure, having a written plan will take the guesswork out of what you need to do to protect you and your family.

Know where you will ride out the storm and get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a Hurricane Watch is issued. Those supplies that you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.

Being prepared now will mean the difference between your being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor.
ready.gov/make-a-plan

⚠️VISIT ALERTBALDWIN.COM TO SIGN UP FOR LOCAL EMERGENCY ALERTS!!

⚠️VISIT BALDWINCOUNTYAL.GOV/EMA FOR MORE LOCAL INFORMATION!!

05/04/2022

Hello Friends,

It's that time of year! Time to start prepping for Hurricane Season! While you are assembling your kits, make sure your personal paperwork (Wills, Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives) are updated and properly witnessed or notarized.

I'm here to serve you. Call on me by IM, email or phone.

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

Just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane isn’t enough. You need plenty to make it through what could be a LONG recovery period too. Water and electricity could be out for a week or more. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for a MINIMUM of three days. Also make sure you have extra cash, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and a portable crank or solar powered USB charger to charge your cell phone. ready.gov/kit

⚠️VISIT ALERTBALDWIN.COM TO SIGN UP FOR LOCAL EMERGENCY ALERTS!!

⚠️VISIT BALDWINCOUNTYAL.GOV/EMA FOR MORE LOCAL INFORMATION!!

05/01/2022

Normally I don't post this type of information. When planning your estate talk to your family attorney to protect your assets and interests of the loved ones to whom you are leaving substantial gifts.

The Biden administration proposed tax changes: Here we go again

04/17/2022

Dear Friends,

When you aren't sure how to help your mature loved ones find safe living arrangements, these folks may be able to help. I had to find an acceptable living arrangement for my grandmother-in-law about 40 years ago in our new hometown during a cross country move.

This isn't an endorsement by me, just simply a possible avenue to help you during a challenging time.

If you are helping a family member, find the right place to live, know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

Talk to an advisor

04/16/2022

Good Morning Friends!

Do you feel overwhelmed when looking at your personal paperwork? When you take control of your personal business, you give yourself the gift of peace of mind.

When going through your personal information, make sure you have updated your Will, Power of Attorney and Medical Directives. Things change with major life events. Be sure to see your family attorney to keep these important documents current for your situation.

As always, I am here to serve you when you need a Notary. Call, email or PM me!

Warmly,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

Needed this 🌿

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A tweet by that says, “when you’re nervous about stepping outside of your comfort zone, remind yourself: it feels scary because it’s unfamiliar, not because I’m in capable.]

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Via

04/10/2022

Dear Friends,

This is going to sound a little strange...

When you and your future spouse are planning your wedding, are you also planning how to handle money? It should be part of your conversation about your life together. It will save a lot of misunderstandings in the long run.

While we are at it, you might also want to talk about life insurance, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives. Even if you are young, those are conversations you need to have to plan for your future. And you will find those needs will change as you go through different stages of your life - small children, older children, empty nesting and possibly caring for aging parents.

These conversations are not easy. Being prepared takes careful thought and then taking action. Protect yourselves, your home and future. Have those difficult conversations so you have a unified way to handle those bumps in the road of life.

Wishing you a peaceful, meaningful day,

Warmly,

Wendy Gosnell

Picture is our driveway after Hurricane Sally - 2020 - we were landlocked after losing our bridge. We had quite an adventure during this time!

03/28/2022

Hello Friends,

Many of us will, or have already, stepped in to help our parents with life changes.

This article was a good reminder for me. I hope you enjoy it.

Wishing you a peaceful day,

Wendy, Your Baldwin County Notary

When my mom was cleaning out her house over 23 years ago to sell it, I wasn't very sympathetic over her attachments to things. I would go over on weekends to help her and we would go through things, things for a yard sale, things to donate, things to throw away. I would usually get upset over how long it was taking her to decide. For instance, we were going through kitchen cabinets and she spent 20 minutes looking at an iron kettle with a lid. Finally I said,

“Mom, at this rate it is going to take us another 2 years.”

She told me that her mother used to make meals in that kettle and leave them at doorsteps of neighbors during the depression, mom would deliver them, and then they would reappear back to her with an apron, or a wood carving, something in return for the meal. I realized that everything that my mom was going through was really a reliving of her life.

If you are reading this and are under the age of 60, you wont get it. You haven't lived long enough. Most of you have not had to move your parents into a nursing home, or emptied their home. You haven't lived long enough to realize that the hours you spend picking out the right cabinets, or the perfect tile will not be what matters in the later years. It will be the handmade toothbrush holder, or a picture that you got on vacation.

So, if your parents are downsizing, and moving to smaller places, or selling a home, give your mom and even your dad a break. Those things that you don't understand why they can’t just pitch, and why you think you know what needs to be tossed or saved, give them a little time to make their decisions. They are saying goodbye to their past, and realizing that they are getting ready for their end of life, while you are beginning your life.

As I have been going through things, its amazing just how hard it is to get rid of objects. But, life goes on, and you realize they are just things, but sometimes things comfort us. So give your parents or grandmparents a break. Listen to their stories, because in 40 years, when you are going through those boxes and the memories come back, it will be hard to get rid of those plastic champagne flutes that you and your late husband used at a New Years party 40 years ago. You will think nothing of the tile or the light fixtures that were so important then.

As happy as they are for you, and as much as they love you, you just don't have a clue until it happens to you and then you will remember how you rushed them, and it will make you sad, especially if they are already gone and you cant say I’m sorry, I didn’t get it.

~ Original Post Melissa Vaughan

03/18/2022

"Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love."