PA Notary Acts & Wording 2

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?

Accepted Answer

A statement clarifying that the signer appeared in the capacity of an attorney-in-fact.

Answer

The date the power of attorney document was originally executed.

Answer

The physical address of the principal who granted the power of attorney.

Answer

The notary's personal opinion on the validity of the power of attorney document.

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?

Accepted Answer

Administering an oath or affirmation to the witness confirming they personally saw the principal sign the record.

Answer

Administering an oath or affirmation to the witness regarding their own identity.

Answer

Having the witness sign a separate affidavit confirming the principal's absence.

Answer

Asking the witness to acknowledge their own signature on the document.

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?

Accepted Answer

Ask the signer which notarial act is required, cross out the inapplicable wording, and proceed with the correct act.

Answer

Perform both an acknowledgment and a verification and charge for two notarial acts.

Answer

Refuse the notarization because the pre-printed wording is defective under PA law.

Answer

Cross out 'Acknowledged and', proceed only with the verification, and make a note in the journal.

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:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize until the blank spaces are either filled in or lined through by the signer.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization, as the primary sections of the document are complete.

Answer

Fill in the blank addendum section with 'Not Applicable' before notarizing.

Answer

Have the signer place their initials in the middle of the blank section before notarizing.

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?

Accepted Answer

The notary administers an oath to the passport holder, who swears the copy is true and correct, and then completes a jurat.

Answer

The notary makes a photocopy, then uses a 'Certified True Copy' stamp and signs the copy.

Answer

The notary attaches an acknowledgment certificate to the photocopy of the passport.

Answer

The notary is prohibited from performing any notarial act related to a U.S. Passport.

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?

Accepted Answer

Request the original document be returned, draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial the change.

Answer

Instruct the receiving agency to make the correction on the original document.

Answer

Create and send a completely new, loose notarial certificate with the correct information.

Answer

The error cannot be corrected, and the entire document must be re-signed and re-notarized.