WHY NOTARIES NEED THUMBPRINTS!

As some of you may know, I am also a Notary Public.  I have been asked, on occasion, why I request a thumbprint from every signer.  The simple answer is that it is just another level of security to insure that the person signing is who they say they are.  It deters impostors from trying to commit fraud, because they will be reluctant to leave behind evidence that could link them to a crime.  Furthermore, recording the thumbprint for every signer also protects the Notary if the notarization is ever contested.  Surprisingly, California and Illinois are the only states with any kind of thumbprint requirement.  I expect this practice will gain a lot of traction and will be adopted by most states in the coming years.