PA Notary Commission Maintenance 3

Question 1

A Pennsylvania notary's office of record is in Lycoming County. They move their residence to Dauphin County but continue to work at the same office in Lycoming County. Which of the following actions is required?

Accepted Answer

Notify the Department of State of the new home address within 30 days.

Answer

A notary public must notify the Department of State within 30 days of any change to their home or office address. Since the office of record remains in Lycoming County, there is no need to re-register the signature in the new county of residence. The commission is valid statewide, and moving one's residence does not require resignation as long as the notary still works or resides in the Commonwealth.

Question 2

A notary is commissioned under their maiden name, 'Jane Smith.' After marriage, she legally changes her name to 'Jane Doe' but wishes to continue her established professional practice under 'Jane Smith.' According to Pennsylvania law, what is she permitted to do?

Accepted Answer

Continue notarizing as 'Jane Smith' for the remainder of her commission term after notifying the Department of State of the legal name change.

Answer

After a legal name change, a notary must notify the Department of State within 30 days. However, they have the option to continue performing notarial acts using the name under which they were commissioned ('Jane Smith') until the commission expires. Application for reappointment must be made in the new name.

Question 3

Due to a sudden job relocation, a Pennsylvania notary moves out of the Commonwealth and no longer works in the state. What is the status of their notary commission?

Accepted Answer

The notary is considered to have resigned their commission as of the date they ceased to live or work in Pennsylvania.

Answer

If a notary public neither resides nor works in the Commonwealth, they are deemed to have resigned from the office of notary public as of the date the residency ceases or employment terminates. The notary must then notify the Department of State in writing of this resignation.

Question 4

A notary's stamping device is stolen, but their journal is secure. After promptly notifying the Department of State of the theft, which of the following is the notary's next required step before performing further notarial acts?

Accepted Answer

Obtain a new stamping device.

Answer

While filing a police report is a prudent step, the essential requirement for continuing to perform notarial acts is to obtain a new, compliant stamping device. A notary cannot perform a tangible notarization without their official stamp.

Question 5

Upon resigning a notary commission mid-term, what is the specific requirement regarding the notary's journal?

Accepted Answer

It must be delivered to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the notary last maintained an office within 30 days.

Answer

Pennsylvania law explicitly states that upon resignation of a commission, the notary must deliver their journal to the office of the recorder of deeds in the county where they last maintained an office within 30 days. The journal is the exclusive property of the notary and is not surrendered to an employer.

PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Test

PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Test

PA Notary Commission Maintenance 3