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Please see the following information from the Pennsylvania Department of State regarding remote notarization updates: Until the COVID-19 epidemic, Pennsylvania law required all notarial acts, even those performed electronically with respect to electronic records, to be done in the physical presence of the notary or other notarial officer. Remote online notarization was first permitted in March 2020, but was limited to very specific transactions per COVID-19 waivers approved by the Governor. On April 20, 2020, Governor Wolf signed into law Act 15, effective immediately, which temporarily authorizes remote notarization for all Pennsylvania notaries public. This authorization will expire 60 days after termination or...

The PA Department of State requested and received a limited, temporary suspension of the statute requiring the physical presence of a notary for notarial acts relating to a signature or statement. The temporary suspension was put in place to ease the burden on parties, witnesses, counsel and notaries who may be exposed to COVID-19 while preparing and completing essential documents. Because of the potentially fatal nature of COVID-19, particularly for older persons, trust and estate attorneys have been inundated by requests to provide clients with legal instruments relating to end-of-life planning. Many people are frightened by the prospect of not...

Please see the following update from the Pennsylvania Department of State: Appointed notaries public are required by law to take the oath of office and record their oath, completed bond and commission in the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the notary’s business office is located. The applicant must also register his/her signature with the Prothonotary’s office in the county where the notary’s business office is located. Both of these steps must be completed  within forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of appointment, or the notary’s commission becomes null and void. If the Recorder’s office is closed as...

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 31, 2018 Pursuant to PA Acts 113 and 126 of 2014 the following is the list of restated fees: RESTATED FEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RECORDS   DEED Recording Fee $107.00 Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund Fee $107.00 State Writ Tax $0.50 County Fee $2.00 Access to Justice Fee $40.25 Total $256.75 DEED - Deceased Spouse/Partner DDEC State Writ Tax $0.50 County Fee $2.00 Access to Justice Fee $40.25 Total $42.75 DEED MISCELLANEOUS -Recording Fee $107.00 Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund Fee $107.00 State Writ Tax $0.50 County Fee $2.00 Access to Justice Fee $40.25 Total $256.75 MORTGAGE  -  Recording  Fee $92.00...