What is a Notary Public?
A person that is appointed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a witness on the basis of integrity, to act on their behalf to serve the community by authenticating signatures on writings and agreements. The responsibilities of a notary includes:
- Properly identifying the signers of the document that will be notarized
- Serve as an disinterested witness
- Administer oaths and affirmations
- Take Acknowledgements
- Execute Affidavits and other verifications
- Properly identifying the signers of the document that will be notarized
- Serve as an disinterested witness
- Administer oaths and affirmations
- Take Acknowledgements
- Execute Affidavits and other verifications
What is a Notary Signing Agent?
A commissioned Notary Public that concentrates on notarizing client(s) signatures on loan documents for the purpose of closing the real estate transactions. The Signing Agent is relatively new to the notary profession. In the past, a client would go to the bank or title company to sign all the loan and closing documents for purchasing property. Due to the recent increase in the buying and selling market, banks and title companies now use third party Notary Signing Agents to complete this process by coming to the client(s) location to explain the loan documentation and complete the paperwork.
Why are notarizations performed?
- The documents must be notarized based upon current Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Laws and Regulations.
- To provide a higher level of authenticity to a signature or document which
can be accepted on the face of the documents by the courts.
Pennsylvania Laws and Regulations.
- To provide a higher level of authenticity to a signature or document which
can be accepted on the face of the documents by the courts.
What types of notarial act a Notary Public cannot notarize per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania law?
- Notarize a signature on a document without the present of the client in front
of the Notary Public
- Notarize documents that the client(s) did not complete
- Cannot prepare documents that the client wanted to be notarized
- Cannot notarize a document of an incapable person
- Cannot notarize their own signature on documents
- Notarize the document with another Notary Public's stamp
- Certified copies of marriage records, birth records, death records, and
corporate records
of the Notary Public
- Notarize documents that the client(s) did not complete
- Cannot prepare documents that the client wanted to be notarized
- Cannot notarize a document of an incapable person
- Cannot notarize their own signature on documents
- Notarize the document with another Notary Public's stamp
- Certified copies of marriage records, birth records, death records, and
corporate records
What is the difference between an oath and affirmation?
An oath is when the client(s) swears to a higher being that they are telling the truth versus an affirmation is when the client(s) swears on the perjury that the information is correct.
What forms of identification are acceptable?
Before the Notary Public can perform a notarial act, the client(s) are required to present in front of the Notary Pubic a valid form of identification which contains a photograph, a signature, and a written physical description. Acceptable types of identifications includes:
- Valid state issues driver license
- Military identification
- Passport
- State issued identification
- Resident alien identification
- Valid state issues driver license
- Military identification
- Passport
- State issued identification
- Resident alien identification
Can Notary Publics Give Legal Advise?
Per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Notary Publics cannot give legal advice on any documents that is notarize.
What is a Power of Attorney?
A representative that have been given the authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financials matters.