Fees, Misconduct, Prohibited Acts, and Penalties
Fees
Pennsylvania caps the fee a notary may charge for each notarial act-a small per-act amount-and permits a separately disclosed travel charge where applicable. A notary may charge less or waive the fee, but exceeding the cap, or charging for a service not performed, is misconduct. State the fee before performing the act.
Prohibited acts
- Notarizing your own signature, or a record in which you are a party or hold a direct beneficial interest.
- Notarizing for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.
- Notarizing a blank, incomplete, or unattended document, or one from a signer who is not present.
- Certifying copies of public or vital records.
- Using the title "Notary Public" to promote products, imply official endorsement, or advertise misleadingly.
- Giving legal advice, drafting documents, or holding yourself out as an attorney.
- Lending or delegating the seal or signature, or acting after the commission expires.
Enforcement and penalties
The Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew, reprimand, suspend, or revoke a commission and may impose civil penalties for misconduct-fraud, dishonesty, negligence, recordkeeping failures, or lapses in bond coverage. Criminal exposure exists for impersonating a notary, unlawfully obtaining or using a seal, and notarizing with intent to defraud. Defectively notarized documents may also be rejected or challenged in court.
Traps
- Assuming fees are negotiable or that a "rush" or "convenience" premium is allowed.
- Believing a suspended or expired notary may finish pending work-authority ends immediately.
Rule of thumb
Disclose the fee, stay inside the authorized acts, and never profit from the transaction beyond the statutory cap.