PA Notary Application & Appointment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Pennsylvania notary's commission expired two days ago. To be reappointed, the individual submitted a renewal application the day after expiration. Which of the following is now required for this individual to be reappointed?
- Pay a late fee in addition to the standard application fee.
- Complete the basic education course and pass the state exam. (Correct answer)
- Only complete the continuing education course as their lapse was minimal.
- Submit a letter to the Department of State explaining the reason for the lapse.
Correct answer: Complete the basic education course and pass the state exam.
Under Pennsylvania's RULONA (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts), if a notary's commission has a lapse of even one day, they are no longer eligible for the standard reappointment process. They must re-apply as if they were a new applicant, which includes taking the three-hour basic education course and passing the state-administered exam again.
Question 2: A notary public moves their primary office from Montgomery County to neighboring Delaware County. Which of the following actions is specifically required within 30 days of the move?
- Retake the notary public exam for Delaware County.
- Obtain a new notary bond for the increased risk profile.
- Resign their Montgomery County commission and apply for a new one.
- Register their official signature in the Recorder of Deeds office of Delaware County. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Register their official signature in the Recorder of Deeds office of Delaware County.
When a notary moves their office to a new county within Pennsylvania, they must notify the Department of State of the address change and register their official signature in the Recorder of Deeds office of the new county within 30 days. This ensures that the new county's officials have the signature on record for verification purposes.
Question 3: An applicant for a notary commission was convicted of a misdemeanor for deceptive business practices seven years ago. How will the Department of State likely handle this application?
- The application will be automatically rejected due to the criminal conviction.
- The conviction will be considered in determining the applicant's honesty, integrity, and reliability.
- The conviction is irrelevant as it occurred more than five years ago. (Correct answer)
- The applicant must obtain a special waiver from the county court before applying.
Correct answer: The conviction is irrelevant as it occurred more than five years ago.
While there is a presumption of ineligibility for offenses involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit within five years of the application, convictions older than five years may still be considered. The Department of State will evaluate the nature of the crime and related facts to determine if the applicant possesses the requisite character for the office of notary public.
Question 4: A newly appointed notary receives their Notice to Appointee from the Department of State on May 1st. They successfully record their bond, oath, and commission at the Recorder of Deeds office on June 20th. What is the status of their commission?
- The commission is active and they can begin notarizing.
- The commission is null and void because the deadline was missed. (Correct answer)
- The commission is placed on a probationary period for 60 days.
- The commission is active, but they must pay a late filing penalty.
Correct answer: The commission is null and void because the deadline was missed.
A newly appointed notary has exactly 45 days from the date of appointment to take the oath, and record their bond, oath, and commission. Since the notary completed these steps more than 45 days after May 1st, their commission became null and void. They must start the entire application process over again.
Question 5: Which of the following individuals is explicitly INELIGIBLE to be appointed as a Pennsylvania Notary Public, regardless of meeting all other qualifications?
- A practicing attorney licensed in Pennsylvania.
- A retired federal judge receiving a pension.
- A current member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. (Correct answer)
- A permanent legal resident of the United States who is not a citizen.
Correct answer: A current member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Pennsylvania law specifically prohibits members of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania from holding the office of Notary Public. The law also restricts certain federal office holders, but a member of the state legislature is a clear disqualification. Attorneys and permanent legal residents who meet other criteria are eligible.
Question 6: A notary gets legally married and changes their last name mid-commission. Which course of action is NOT compliant with Pennsylvania notary law and regulations?
- Notifying the Department of State of the name change within 30 days.
- Continuing to notarize using the name on their commission until it expires.
- Immediately starting to use the new last name on notarizations without taking any other steps. (Correct answer)
- Registering the new signature with the county Recorder of Deeds before using the new name for notarial acts.
Correct answer: Immediately starting to use the new last name on notarizations without taking any other steps.
While a notary can choose to continue using their old name or adopt the new one, they cannot simply start using the new name without following procedure. To use the new name, the notary must first notify the Department of State, register the new signature with the Recorder of Deeds for their county, and purchase a new official stamp with the new name.
PA Notary Application & Appointment 2
A Pennsylvania notary's commission expired two days ago.
To be reappointed, the individual submitted a renewal application the day after expiration.
Which of the following is now required for this individual to be reappointed?