Question #1: Is there a difference between being appointed and being commissioned?
YES. Being appointed confirms your qualification for the office of
... [Show More] notary public, and being commissioned means that you are authorized to conduct notarial acts.
Upon appointment and prior to becoming a commissioned notary public, you will need to take an oath of office, and record your oath, bond, commission, and official signature in the County where you maintain a business or work address, within:
45 days.
What is the purpose of a notary public's surety bond?
The surety bond is a financial guarantee to the Commonwealth and the notary's customers. If a customer suffers a financial loss due to a notary's failure to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, the state or the customer has the right to remedy the matter by seeking compensation from your bond.
How many notarial acts is a Pennsylvania notary public authorized to perform?
six
It is a conflict of interest if a notary public performs notarial acts as:
For the direct benefit of their spouse.
As a Pennsylvania notary public, you may only perform notarial acts:
Within the geographical borders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
What would NOT constitute a conflict of interest?
Being a shareholder in a publicly traded company that is a party to a notarized transaction.
What would constitute a direct or pecuniary interest?
Receiving monetary compensation other than a notary fee, that is contingent upon you notarizing a document.
A notary public may establish the fee for the following service:
Copying a notarized document.
What form of identification would NOT be classified as satisfactory evidence?
Student ID.
When a notary public provides a customer with a receipt for notarial and related services such as making a copy of a notarized document, all of the fees should?
Itemized separately on a receipt.
In addition to verifying an individual's identity, what else should you determine about an individual before performing a notarial act?
If the individual has the competency and capacity to execute a record.
The fees for notarial acts are established by:
The Department of State.
With the exception of certifies copies, before conducting a notarial act, are you required to verify the identity of the persons who appear before you?
Yes
Joe has been your next door neighbor for more than 20 years. Joe misplaced his government issued ID and wants to know if you would be able to notarize a document for him. Before performing the notarial act, how could you verify Joe's identity?
Through personal knowledge. [Show Less]