Ten years of trust: Cranbrook Notary Public Tarralin D. Hanson reflects

For a decade, Tarralin D. Hanson has guided clients through life’s biggest milestones with professionalism and compassion

by Kerry Shellborn

Tarralin D. Hanson has spent the past decade helping Cranbrook residents navigate some of life’s most important legal milestones. A notary for 10 years, with seven years prior experience in a notary office, Tarralin has built her practice around service, compassion, and accessibility. Originally from Canal Flats, she has called Cranbrook home since grade two and has raised her family here, giving her a deep connection to the community she serves. Her journey into the notarial profession was inspired by a desire to provide meaningful, non-contentious legal support to everyday people—whether they’re buying a first home, planning an estate, or managing complex documents during difficult times.

Over the years, Tarralin has seen firsthand how much of a difference a thoughtful, responsive notary can make. From offering urgent assistance at no additional cost to clients facing serious health challenges, to staying on top of evolving legislation, she prioritizes both expertise and empathy. Beyond her practice, Tarralin has been deeply involved in the community, coaching swim club and serving on local serving on local youth sport and service club boards, reflecting the same care she brings to her clients’ lives. As she looks ahead, Tarralin remains committed to balancing professional excellence with community impact, helping people in Cranbrook plan for today and prepare for tomorrow.

What inspired you to become a Notary Public, and why did you choose to serve the Cranbrook community?

Honestly, just working in a notary office, I really liked the service to the community that notaries provide. Non-contentious legal services are really something of value to clients. You really see how impactful it is to people in the community. I was drawn to that. While working at a notary office in town here, I made the decision to go back to school to get a master's in applied legal studies. I finished a bachelor's in justice studies and then applied to Simon Fraser to do the master's program. A few (five) short years later, I finished the degrees, got admitted into the society, opened up on my own, and I haven't regretted the change of career at all.

Are you originally from Cranbrook?

I’m originally from Canal Flats, then moved around a little bit—to Marysville and I spent some time in Alberta—but from grade two on, I've been in Cranbrook. I met my husband here, and this is where we built our life and raised our kids. One is still in Cranbrook for college, and the other is attending university in Calgary. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in, close to St. Mary’s School.

Reflecting on your 10-year journey, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your profession?

All the different people that I have met throughout the community. Being a notary, you're dealing with people during important times in their lives, whether it's their first home purchase, selling and relocating, downsizing, or helping with estate documents. Often I am involved in their lives during less stressful times, but it is rewarding to be of service to the community when they are experiencing extremely stressful times. The relief people feel when we take some stress off their plate is really fulfilling.

Can you share a memorable story where your work made a significant difference for a client or family?

I have people who come in for estate documents during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Just seeing how much it's taken the stress off them, knowing their family is covered and their documents are in place—that’s really rewarding. For clients experiencing urgent medical diagnoses, we make as much accommodation as possible to get them in right away when they call and let us know their situation. Taking that stress off them, so they can focus on other things, is a small gesture we can provide for them during a time when their world seems uncertain.

The staff team, left to right: Leanne Reid, Lana von Wittgenstein, Carly Van Meetelen, Jennifer Johnson, Jason Spring and Tarralin D. Hanson, Notary Public

How do you ensure you stay current with changes in laws and best practices in the notarial field?

Our society requires continuing education hours. I really enjoy taking webinars, now that we can do most of them online. My staff participates with me, so we're all getting the same information. It helps with their learning and allows them to see what a notary does if they’re considering this career in the future. I have a few staff members who are considering becoming notaries down the line, so that's nice because they see exactly what I do and what they could potentially do and be.

You mentioned that you bring on students, can you tell us more?

In the summer we hire college or university students to assist in the office. The workload is quite a bit more in the summer with real estate transactions typically, so we hire them to help with things like file opening, scanning, just to help with workload.

They get some experience working in an office and seeing what that's like. And if that's something that they're interested in doing for a career.

How have you adapted your practice to meet client needs, such as accessibility or after-hours services?

We try to accommodate people who have urgent needs. For example, if someone is diagnosed with a grave medical condition, we will try to accommodate them as quickly as possible, which can be outside of office hours, attending the hospital or their home if they have mobility issues. We just try to be responsive and compassionate to individual circumstances.

What challenges have you encountered in your career, and how have you overcome them?

COVID was definitely a professional challenge. Recently, legislation changed: lawyers, notaries, and paralegals are now governed under the same Legal Professional Act. That was nerve-wracking at first because it changed the scope of practice, which can mean adding to or taking away what we can do, but it also expanded notary powers. I look forward to offering probate services in the future.

What’s the difference between a lawyer and a notary, for someone who needs your services?

Lawyers have a law degree and specialize in many areas, while notaries have a master’s in applied legal studies and specialize in estate planning, such as wills, power of attorney and representation agreements, real estate transactions, and document authentication. For most routine services—buying a house, wills, powers of attorney—we provide a similar service. 

Do you have a personal passion project?

I’m involved in the community—coached swim club, on the board for club volleyball, and a member of other service clubs. I enjoy helping the community and supporting youth sports.

As you reflect on your first decade in this field, what are your hopes and goals for the future of your practice?

I want to thank all my clients for their support over the last ten years. I’ve met so many great people—realtors, insurance specialists, mortgage brokers—and I consider a lot of them friends. I look forward to many more years serving the community with my amazing staff. My children keep me going, so I don’t plan to retire anytime soon!

Looking for a Notary Public rooted in professionalism, integrity and community trust in Cranbrook? Reach out to Tarralin D. Hanson today.