PA Notary Recognition of Out-of-State & Foreign Notarial Acts (Apostilles & Authentication)

Question 1

Under Pennsylvania's RULONA, a notarial act performed in another U.S. state by a notary public commissioned in that state has what effect in Pennsylvania?

Accepted Answer

It has the same effect as if a Pennsylvania notary performed it

Answer

RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. §311) says a notarial act performed in another state has the same effect under Pennsylvania law as if a Pennsylvania notary had performed it. This applies when it was done by someone authorized under that state's law, such as a notary of that state. No re-notarization, apostille or reciprocity agreement is needed.

Question 2

Which of the following is an internationally recognized certificate that authenticates a public official's signature, including a notary's, on a document going to another country that belongs to the Hague Convention?

Accepted Answer

An apostille

Answer

The 1961 Hague Convention abolished the chain of legalization for public documents and replaced it with a single certificate called an apostille. Acknowledgments and jurats are notarial certificates, not authentications.

Question 3

Who issues apostilles for documents notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public?

Accepted Answer

The Pennsylvania Department of State

Answer

Apostilles for documents bearing a Pennsylvania notary's signature come from the Pennsylvania Department of State. A notary cannot issue an apostille or authenticate their own act. The U.S. Department of State handles federal documents, not documents signed by state notaries.

Question 4

A Pennsylvania document is being sent to a country that is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Which statement is generally correct?

Accepted Answer

The Department of State issues a certificate of authentication instead of an apostille, and the destination country's embassy or consulate may also require legalization

Answer

For countries outside the Hague Convention, the state issues a certificate of authentication instead of an apostille. The document may then need further legalization, for example by the destination country's embassy or consulate.

Question 5

Under RULONA, a notarial act performed by which of the following has the same effect in Pennsylvania as one performed by a Pennsylvania notary, because it is authorized under federal law?

Accepted Answer

A commissioned officer on active duty in the U.S. armed forces

Answer

RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. §313) recognizes notarial acts performed under federal authority. These include acts by judges, clerks and deputy clerks of federal courts, commissioned officers on active duty in the military, and foreign-service or consular officers. Brokers, tellers and foreign attorneys get no such recognition just because of their job.

PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Test

PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Test

PA Notary Recognition of Out-of-State & Foreign Notarial Acts (Apostilles & Authentication)