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As a notary, you are obligated to follow the laws of the state in which you were commissioned. But does this mean you can only notarize documents issued from that state? Or are you authorized to notarize out-of-state documents? It is not uncommon for notary publics to be approached about notarizing documents from another state. To accomplish your duties as a notary, you should know whether you are permitted to handle the client’s specific notarial requests. Can a Notary Legally Notarize Out-of-State Documents? Yes, a notary public can legally notarize documents from any state as long as the notarial act...

Pennsylvania Court Reports, please review the following update from the Pennsylvania Department of State office:   Guidance for Pennsylvania notaries who are court reporters – September 2021   The COVID-19 pandemic emergency declaration waiver issued March 20, 2020 will expire on September 30, 2021. The waiver authorized the suspension of personal appearance (i.e. physical presence) before notaries who are court reporters/stenographers participating in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings in this Commonwealth. This enabled court reporters to administer oaths and affirmations to individuals by telephone or videoconference.   Since the March 20, 2020 waiver was issued, Pennsylvania notary law has changed...

Have you heard the term “notary embossing seal” used alongside the phrase “notary stamp”? Are you confused about the difference between these two notary supplies? If you are, you would not be alone. Many new notaries are unsure how notary embossing seals differ from rubber stamps and are curious about which one is better. Here is an overview of notary rubber stamps and embossing seals to help you buy the right one for the job. Notary Stamps vs. Notary Embossing Seals A notary embossing seal is an important tool for a notary public because it authenticates the notary’s signature and...

Protecting your notary tools is of the utmost importance for notaries. If their stamps or journals get into the wrong hands, this could expose the notary and their customers to potential fraud and privacy breaches. Avoid fees and fines from negligence and the risk of losing your notary commission by using these best practices for protecting your notary stamp. Do Not Let Others Use Your Stamp Keeping your notary stamp out of the hands of the wrong people starts with making the conscious effort not to grant permission for others to use your tool. It is illegal to allow an...