What Is a Pennsylvania Notary Acknowledgment?
A Pennsylvania notary acknowledgment form confirms that a person signed the document in the presence of a notary. The notary checks the signer’s identity and completes the certificate (57 PA Cons Stat § 302).
This form does not prove that the information in the document is true. It only confirms that the signer acknowledged their signature before the notary. Use a jurat when the signer must swear that the document’s contents are true.
Documents That Typically Require Notarization in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, certain legal documents require notarization to be accepted and recorded. Here are some common documents that typically require notarization in Pennsylvania:
Other documents that may benefit from notarization in Pennsylvania include:
Legal Requirements For Pennsylvania Notary Acknowledgments
A Pennsylvania notary acknowledgment form must meet the following basic legal requirements:
Elements of the Certificate
A Pennsylvania notary acknowledgment must include key details about the notarization. Under 57 PA Cons Stat § 305, the certificate must include:
- The state and county where the notarization took place.
- The date of the acknowledgment.
- The name of the signer.
- The notary’s signature.
- The notary’s official title.
- The date the notary’s commission expires, if required.
Personal Appearance Requirement
The signer must complete the PA notary acknowledgment before a notary (57 PA Cons Stat § 306). In most cases, this means meeting with the notary in person.
Identification Requirements
The notary must verify the signer’s identity before completing the acknowledgment as per 57 PA Cons Stat § 307. In most cases, the signer must present a government-issued ID, passport, or another approved form of identification that is allowed under Pennsylvania law. A credible witness who is personally known to the notary may also appear before them to verify the signer’s identity, or the notary may verify the signer’s identity if they are personally known to the notary.
Notary Seal Requirements
Pennsylvania notaries must use an official stamp when completing notarial acts under 57 PA Cons Stat § 317. The stamp should clearly show:
- The notary’s name.
- The words “Notary Public.”
- The words “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
- The commission expiration date.
- The notary commission number.
The notary stamp should be clear and readable. County offices or other agencies may reject your documents if they have missing or illegible notary information.
Is Remote Online Notarization Legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania allows remote online notarization (RON). This allows a notary and signer to complete the notarization form using approved audiovisual technology rather than meeting in person (57 PA Cons Stat § 306.1).
Even when notarization takes place online, the notary must still verify the signer’s identity before completing the acknowledgment. Some organizations may still ask for in-person notarization for certain documents. A notary who completes an online notarization must maintain a record of the act for at least 10 years.
Pennsylvania Notary Acknowledgment Sample
Review the sample Pennsylvania notary acknowledgment below to see what information a notary certificate should include under state law. When ready, complete Legal Templates’s step-by-step questionnaire to complete and download your form in PDF or Word format.
