Phantom Notaries: Ghost Listings, Missed Calls, and the Exit Problem No One Talks About

I called over 200 notaries listed on my own platform about paid estate signing jobs.

Two called back.

That experience — and the painful decision it led to — is at the heart of this episode.

For years I ran Gotary.com, a premium notary directory I personally built, marketed, and stood behind. I put my name, my face, and my phone number on it because I believed in the professionals listed there. And when hiring parties started telling me they couldn't reach those notaries, I tested it myself.

The pattern was the same every time. Calls unanswered. Voicemails unprofessional or missing entirely. Texts and follow-ups ignored. For paid jobs.

That's when I made the decision to shut Gotary down.

But here's what that experience revealed that goes far beyond one directory:

Most of those notaries didn't ghost hiring parties because they were careless. They ghosted them because they had quietly stepped away from the business — and never properly closed it.

Ghost listings. Phantom profiles. Phone numbers that ring into the void. And hiring parties who find those listings, make those calls, and hear nothing — they don't know the person quit. They just know they got ghosted by someone who called themselves a professional notary.

Multiply that across thousands of inactive notaries who never closed properly, and you start to understand where the responsiveness crisis in this industry is actually coming from.

This episode is about that problem. And the solution.

Whether you're thinking about closing your notary business, already stepping away, or still actively building — this one is for you.

What we cover: — Why quiet, graceless exits are fueling the notary responsiveness crisis — The real cost of ghost listings, dead profiles, and inactive voicemails — A complete step-by-step checklist for closing a notary business with integrity — How to protect your reputation, your relationships, and the profession on your way out — The one question worth asking before you close the door for good

This episode is for you if you're: — Searching for how to close a notary business the right way — Wondering what to do with your notary seal, journal, or commission — Feeling burned out, discouraged, or ready for a different season — An active notary questioning why responsiveness in this industry is broken — A mobile notary, signing agent, or loan signing agent wondering whether to continue

Resources mentioned: — Join the free community: skool.com/notary/about

The Sign & Thrive Podcast is hosted by Bill Soroka, founder of NotaryCoach.com and the High Performance Notary community — helping notaries build sustainable, professional businesses through relationship-based marketing, better systems, and a higher standard of service.