PA Notary Acts & Wording — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person acting as an attorney-in-fact for a parent signs a real estate document in your presence. Which detail is most critical for the notary to include in the notarial certificate for this specific act?
- The date the power of attorney document was originally executed.
- A statement clarifying that the signer appeared in the capacity of an attorney-in-fact. (Correct answer)
- The physical address of the principal who granted the power of attorney.
- The notary's personal opinion on the validity of the power of attorney document.
Correct answer: A statement clarifying that the signer appeared in the capacity of an attorney-in-fact.
Pennsylvania's RULONA requires that the notarial certificate accurately reflect the circumstances of the notarization. This includes stating the representative capacity of the signer, such as 'attorney-in-fact for [Principal's Name]', to ensure the record is clear and legally sound.
Question 2: A document's principal signer cannot appear, but a subscribing witness who saw the principal sign is present. When notarizing on the basis of this witness, what is the core component of the verbal ceremony?
- Administering an oath or affirmation to the witness regarding their own identity.
- Having the witness sign a separate affidavit confirming the principal's absence.
- Administering an oath or affirmation to the witness confirming they personally saw the principal sign the record. (Correct answer)
- Asking the witness to acknowledge their own signature on the document.
Correct answer: Administering an oath or affirmation to the witness confirming they personally saw the principal sign the record.
The notarial act of taking a verification on oath of a subscribing witness (also known as a proof of execution) centers on the witness swearing or affirming that they personally witnessed the principal signer execute the document. This sworn testimony is what the notary is certifying.
Question 3: A client presents a document with a pre-printed notarial certificate that ambiguously states, 'Acknowledged and Sworn before me this day...'. What is the compliant course of action for a Pennsylvania notary?
- Perform both an acknowledgment and a verification and charge for two notarial acts.
- Refuse the notarization because the pre-printed wording is defective under PA law.
- Cross out 'Acknowledged and', proceed only with the verification, and make a note in the journal.
- Ask the signer which notarial act is required, cross out the inapplicable wording, and proceed with the correct act. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ask the signer which notarial act is required, cross out the inapplicable wording, and proceed with the correct act.
A notary must not make the decision for the signer. When faced with ambiguous wording, the notary's duty is to explain the different notarial acts (acknowledgment vs. verification) and ask the signer to choose. The notary then amends the certificate by lining through the incorrect text to accurately reflect the act performed.
Question 4: A client requests notarization of a contract. The main body is complete, but an addendum section at the end is entirely blank. According to Pennsylvania notary law, the notary should:
- Proceed with the notarization, as the primary sections of the document are complete.
- Fill in the blank addendum section with 'Not Applicable' before notarizing.
- Refuse to notarize until the blank spaces are either filled in or lined through by the signer. (Correct answer)
- Have the signer place their initials in the middle of the blank section before notarizing.
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize until the blank spaces are either filled in or lined through by the signer.
Pennsylvania law requires notaries to refuse to notarize a document if it contains blank spaces where information should be. This rule is in place to prevent the fraudulent addition of information after the notarization has been completed. The signer must either complete the spaces or cross them out.
Question 5: A customer needs a 'notarized copy' of their original U.S. Passport. Which of the following describes the authorized notarial act a Pennsylvania notary can perform in this scenario?
- The notary makes a photocopy, then uses a 'Certified True Copy' stamp and signs the copy.
- The notary attaches an acknowledgment certificate to the photocopy of the passport.
- The notary administers an oath to the passport holder, who swears the copy is true and correct, and then completes a jurat. (Correct answer)
- The notary is prohibited from performing any notarial act related to a U.S. Passport.
Correct answer: The notary administers an oath to the passport holder, who swears the copy is true and correct, and then completes a jurat.
In Pennsylvania, notaries are not authorized to certify copies of vital or publicly recordable documents like passports themselves. However, they can perform a 'copy certification by document custodian.' This involves the passport holder (the custodian) presenting the original and a copy and swearing under oath that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction. The notary then notarizes the custodian's sworn statement with a verification on oath or affirmation (jurat).
Question 6: A week after notarizing a deed, the notary realizes the county in the venue section was incorrectly stated. What is the proper procedure to correct this ministerial error?
- Instruct the receiving agency to make the correction on the original document.
- Create and send a completely new, loose notarial certificate with the correct information.
- Request the original document be returned, draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial the change. (Correct answer)
- The error cannot be corrected, and the entire document must be re-signed and re-notarized.
Correct answer: Request the original document be returned, draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial the change.
For minor, non-substantive (ministerial) errors in a notarial certificate, the best practice is to correct the original document. The notary should have the document returned, make the correction by neatly lining through the error, adding the correct information, and then initialing and dating the change. A note of this correction should also be made in the corresponding journal entry.
Question 7: An individual who is physically unable to sign their name appears before a Pennsylvania notary. They direct their unimpaired adult child to sign the document on their behalf. Two disinterested witnesses are present. What is the correct way for the designated signer (the child) to sign?
- The child signs their own name and prints 'by [Parent's Name]' next to it.
- The child attempts to replicate the parent's signature as closely as possible.
- The child signs their own name, and the notary prints the parent's name underneath. (Correct answer)
- The child signs the parent's name and then signs their own name below it.
Correct answer: The child signs their own name, and the notary prints the parent's name underneath.
When a principal directs a third party to sign on their behalf due to a physical inability, the designated individual should sign their own name. The notary or another party should then print or type the name of the principal (the person unable to sign) beneath the designated signer's signature. This clearly indicates who performed the physical act of signing and on whose behalf it was done.
Question 8: A Pennsylvania notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in Spanish, a language the notary does not understand. The signer is fluent in both Spanish and English. The notarial certificate is in English. Which of the following is the correct procedure?
- Refuse the notarization because the notary cannot read the document.
- Require the signer to provide a certified English translation of the entire document before proceeding.
- Proceed with the notarization as long as the notary can communicate directly with the signer in English and all other requirements are met. (Correct answer)
- Insist that an independent, third-party interpreter be present for the notarization.
Correct answer: Proceed with the notarization as long as the notary can communicate directly with the signer in English and all other requirements are met.
Pennsylvania law does not require a notary to understand the language of the document being notarized. The notary's primary duties are to properly identify the signer, ensure willingness, and complete the notarial certificate. As long as the notary can communicate directly with the signer in a shared language (in this case, English) and the notarial certificate itself is in English, the notarization can proceed.
Question 9: A notary performs a remote online notarization (RON) for a signer located in another state. According to Pennsylvania's RON laws, which specific statement MUST be included in the notarial certificate?
- "This notarial act was performed for a remotely located individual."
- "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology." (Correct answer)
- "This remote notarization is valid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
- "The signer's identity was verified remotely using an approved vendor."
Correct answer: "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology."
Pennsylvania law requires that when a notarial act is performed using communication technology for a remotely located individual, the certificate of notarial act must include a statement indicating this fact. The suggested wording is often similar to 'This notarial act involved the use of communication technology.'
Question 10: A signer presents a document that requires an acknowledgment but was signed two days ago. The signer, however, now expresses uncertainty about the terms and says they may have been pressured into signing. The notary has properly identified the signer. What is the notary's proper course of action?
- Proceed with the acknowledgment since the signature is authentic and was previously made.
- Refuse the notarization because the signer cannot acknowledge the signature as being made willingly. (Correct answer)
- Administer a jurat instead, as it involves an oath about the truthfulness of the content.
- Advise the signer to cross out the old signature and re-sign the document in the notary's presence.
Correct answer: Refuse the notarization because the signer cannot acknowledge the signature as being made willingly.
A core component of an acknowledgment is the signer declaring they executed the instrument willingly for the purposes stated within it. If the signer expresses that they were under duress or are no longer willing, the notary cannot truthfully complete the acknowledgment certificate. A notary has the authority to refuse a notarial act if they are not satisfied that the signature is being knowingly and voluntarily made.
Question 11: Which of the following scenarios requires the use of a credible witness for identification under Pennsylvania notary law?
- When the signer's driver's license expired last week.
- When the signer has a valid U.S. Passport but the photo is ten years old.
- When the signer is personally known to the notary but has no identification with them.
- When the signer is a stranger to the notary and possesses no form of acceptable government-issued ID. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When the signer is a stranger to the notary and possesses no form of acceptable government-issued ID.
A credible witness can be used only when a signer does not possess an acceptable form of identification. The credible witness must be personally known to the notary, must personally know the signer, and must swear or affirm that the signer is the person named in the document and does not possess other forms of ID. If the signer is personally known to the notary, there is no need for a credible witness. An expired license is not an acceptable ID, but the key reason for using a credible witness is the complete lack of acceptable ID.
Question 12: A notary is notarizing the signature of an attorney-in-fact who is signing a real estate deed on behalf of a principal. The notarial certificate is an acknowledgment. How should the notary complete the certificate?
- Stating that the principal personally appeared and acknowledged the signature made by the attorney-in-fact.
- Stating that both the principal and the attorney-in-fact appeared before the notary.
- Stating that the attorney-in-fact personally appeared and acknowledged signing in their representative capacity. (Correct answer)
- Refusing the notarization unless the original Power of Attorney document is recorded with the deed.
Correct answer: Stating that the attorney-in-fact personally appeared and acknowledged signing in their representative capacity.
The notarial certificate must reflect exactly what occurred. The attorney-in-fact is the individual who personally appeared before the notary. Therefore, the certificate should name the attorney-in-fact as the person appearing and state that they acknowledged executing the document in their authorized capacity on behalf of the principal. The notary only needs to identify the person who is physically present and signing.
PA Notary Acts & Wording
A person acting as an attorney-in-fact for a parent signs a real estate document in your presence.
Which detail is most critical for the notary to include in the notarial certificate for this specific act?
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Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- pa.gov — Eligibility, fees, registration deadline, retake policy, renewal · verified Oct 2026
- pearsonvue.com — Test delivery · verified Oct 2026