PAN’s Practical Guide for Notaries Public in Pennsylvania, 30th edition, is now available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon as an electronic book. [Read more...]
Notary Who Blew Whistle on Foreclosure Fraud Found Dead
November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tracy Lawrence, the Las Vegas notary who blew the whistle on a massive foreclosure fraud scheme, was found dead in her home on Nov. 28. [Read more...]
Oaths and Affirmations: An Important Notarial Power
November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
An oath is a solemn declaration, usually accompanied by a swearing to God or a supreme being, that one’s statement is true or that one will be bound to a duty. A pledge that is equivalent to an oath—but without reference to God or a supreme being—is called an affirmation. In situations where a pledge or promise is required, persons whose religious beliefs prohibit them from swearing, or persons who have no particular religious beliefs, may make an affirmation. [Read more...]
Commission Requirements in Neighboring States
November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Pennsylvania allows non-residents to become Pennsylvania notaries if they work in the state. Here are the requirements for a Pennsylvania resident to obtain a notary commission in neighboring states: [Read more...]
Companies Make it Difficult to Spot Phony IDs
November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Online companies specializing in creating fake driver’s licenses have upped the technological ante, making it difficult to spot phony IDs.
One such company creates licenses that feature holograms and ultraviolet images which bar keepers, law enforcement and notaries public use to differentiate between legitimate licenses from fakes. Another company headquartered in China advertises Pennsylvania IDs as the most authentic one it makes. Their Web site includes a legal disclaimer saying the items it sells are for anyone and “there are no problems.” To obtain one of these licenses, the customer sends in a name, photo, and $200. [Read more...]
Notary Disciplinary Actions: November 2011
November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Sixteen notaries from 12 counties were disciplined by the Department of State for offenses involving personal appearance, registers, and other violations against the Pa. Notary Public Law. [Read more...]
Notary 101: No Exception to the Personal Appearance Rule
November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Department of State is very serious when it comes to notaries demanding the personal appearance of their customers. It’s so serious that officials will strike where it hurts … in notaries’ wallets. [Read more...]
Where Is It Written: The words “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” should be on a notary’s rubber stamp seal?
November 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When the most recent changes to the Notary Public Law took effect on July 1, 2003, notaries were no longer required to use an embossing seal along with the rubber stamp seal on documents. Unless a notary chose to add an embossing seal or a customer requested it, the words “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” which were only on the embossing seal, no longer appeared on notarized documents. [Read more...]
Don’t Notarize I-9 Forms
November 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
All U.S. employers must complete and retain a Form I-9 – Employment Eligibility Verification for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. An employer may designate someone to fill out Form I-9 for the company, such as a personnel officer, foreman, agent, or anyone else acting on the employer’s behalf, such as a notary public.
Even though you may act on behalf of an employer for this purpose, Form I-9 does not require notarization. [Read more...]
Look For Notarial Wording
November 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
One of the most common errors notaries make is simply placing their signature and seal on a document. If there is no notarial wording on a document, you cannot place your seal and signature on that document. But what makes up the “notarial wording” on a document? [Read more...]
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