The Pennsylvania Department of State Office of Notaries, Commission and Legislation has adopted several new regulations which fully implement the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), effective March 28, 2026. A summary of the new regulations is outlined below. The full text of the regulations will be available once they are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Ø Notary Bond
· Bond amount increases from $10,000 to $25,000.
· A notary public who holds a current commission as of March 28, 2026, may continue to use their current bond until the expiration of their active commission.
· All notaries newly appointed or reappointed on or after March 28, 2026, must obtain a $25,000 bond.
Ø Notary Stamp
· The seven-digit commission identification number assigned by the Department of State to each notary is now required on the official stamp of the notary.
· A notary public who holds a current commission on March 28, 2026, may continue to use his or her stamp until the expiration of the current commission.
· All notaries appointed or newly appointed on or after March 28, 2026, must meet the new requirement.
Ø Notary Journal
· The regulations clarify that the journal may not contain any personally identifiable information about any individual appearing before the notary public.
· This includes any part of a Social Security number, full driver’s license number or government-issued nondriver identification card number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name or biometric records.
Ø Inspection and Copies of Notary Journal
· Further implementation of the RULONA requirement that a notary public must permit inspection of the journal to any person making a request to do so.
· The request may be oral or in writing, including requests for certified copies.
· Inspection must occur in the presence of the notary.
· Copies must be provided within 15 days of receipt of the request.
Ø Notary Fees
· A new fee of $5 (per signature) has been added for the notarial act of witnessing or attesting a signature.
· Electronic notaries public and remote notaries public may charge a fee not higher than $20 per notarial act performed with respect to electronic records or using communication technology.
· An itemized receipt shall be provided for all fees charged by the notary.
Ø Identification of individual/customer
· Additional types of credentials which meet the requirement for satisfactory evidence are outlined.
· Must be current, contain the signature or photograph of the individual, and be satisfactory to the notarial officer.
· Includes identification cards issued by various Federal Departments and additional Pennsylvania State identification cards.
Ø Notifications to the Department
· Notification of any changes must be submitted to the Department within 30 days of the change.
· Includes changes to name, address, phone number, email address, resignation of office, convictions or disciplinary actions, and more.
Ø Certified Copies
· Documents which a notary may or may not certify are specified.
· May NOT certify: Vital records, US Naturalization Certificates, records prohibited by law to copy or certify, government-issued records that state “do not copy”, “illegal to copy”, or similar words.
· May certify: public records, passports, driver’s licenses transcripts, diplomas, contracts, leases, bills of sale, medical records, consents or waivers, powers of attorney.
Ø Standards for approval of electronic notarization technology and remote notarization technology
· More specific rules for the approval of technologies
· Rules for when a provider ceases to provide the technology
Ø Acts or omissions providing the basis for sanctions
· Provides examples of acts or omissions that may lead to disciplinary action, including but not limited to:
o Notarizing individual’s own signature
o Notarizing spouse’s signature when notary has a direct pecuniary interest in the record
o Post-dating or predating notarial acts
o Altering records after notarization
o Altering, inserting or deleting journal entries
o Retaining a customer’s record, copies of records, or identification credentials unless permitted by law.
Ø Offenses involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit
· New and comprehensive list of crimes that involve fraud, dishonesty or deceit.
· List may be used as a basis for discipline upon conviction or acceptance of accelerated rehabilitative disposition by the applicant or notary public.
Notaries Equipment Company is able to assist with applying to be a notary public, the notary public education course as well as to order notary public supplies.