Errors found before funding
The reviewer at the lender or title company may spot a missing initial, an incorrect date or an incomplete notary certificate. They send a correction request, and the signer re-signs the affected page or a replacement. The notary may need to redo the act with a new entry in the journal.
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Errors found after recording
If a recorded deed has a misspelled name or wrong legal description, a corrective instrument is often needed. It may be a corrective deed, an affidavit or a re-recorded document with a notation. The rule differs by county and by type of error.
Title companies know the local process and can guide you.
Who fixes what
The party who prepared the document owns the fix. A signing agent cannot alter a document. A notary can correct a minor error in their own certificate in some situations, but only under the law and the sender's instructions. Never write over a stamp or use correction fluid.
If the error is in the notary certificate, the notary usually must redo the act.
Common error types
Name variations such as a missing middle initial. Wrong dates caused by pre-filled forms. Missing signature lines on a page of a rider. Incorrect property description. Wrong notary county or state. Missing page numbers. A certificate that does not match the signer's role. Each has a typical remedy, which the lender or title company will describe.
Checking the package at the table prevents most of these.
What you should do
If you notice a mistake, report it immediately in writing to the title company and keep a copy. Do not sign a replacement page unless it comes from them. Ask what the corrective document is called and whether it will be recorded. Corrections may need ID again. Ask an attorney if the error could affect ownership or lien priority. MCC Solutions can handle a re-signing visit, but the fix must be supplied by the document's preparer.
Keeping records of the fix and preventing the next one
Save emails that describe the error and the corrective step. Keep both the original and the corrected document. Note the date when the correction was recorded. These records help if a future buyer or lender asks questions about the history.
If the error involved a notary certificate, the notary should add a new journal entry for the new act.
A slow, page-by-page review at the signing table beats a rush. Verify names, dates and property descriptions. Ask the preparer to confirm what pages need notarization. Notify the title company at once if anything looks wrong. The few minutes spent checking can save weeks of correction.
Not every error needs a fix. Some are immaterial, such as a minor typo that does not affect names, amounts or the property. The title company decides which matter. Ask them to explain their reasoning, and ask whether leaving the typo uncorrected could cause trouble for a later sale. A short, written answer is a useful piece of your closing file.
Common questions
Who pays to fix a clerical mistake?
It depends on who made the error and what the contract says. The title company can explain.
Will I have to sign everything again?
Usually only the affected pages or a corrective document.
Can a notary correct a date on a certificate?
Only within the law and the notary's own training, and often the act must be redone. Never write over a stamp.
More notary guides
- Out-of-State Closings: How Mail-Away Signings Work
- What to bring to your loan signing (and what to expect)
- Purchase Mortgage Signing: What Happens at the Table
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change; check with the office involved or an attorney for your situation.