How must every Pennsylvania notarial act be evidenced?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 315: Certificate of notarial act
Pennsylvania Notary Exam · Records
Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Questions: Certificates, Stamp and Journal (2026)
Every Pennsylvania notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate under 57 Pa.C.S. § 315, and on a tangible record that certificate must carry the notary's official stamp near the signature in a form capable of photographic reproduction. The certificate states the venue, the date, the notary's title and the commission expiration date. Pennsylvania also requires a journal, kept under 57 Pa.C.S. § 319, recording every act in chronological order. The short forms in § 316 satisfy the rules.
Practice
Free practice questions
When are the section 316 short form certificates sufficient?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 316: Short form certificates
What physical form must a Pennsylvania notary's official seal take under the statute?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 317: Official stamp
How does RULONA define the "official stamp" itself?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 302: Definitions
A coworker asks to borrow a notary's stamp "just once" while the notary watches. What does RULONA say?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 318: Stamping device
What must a Pennsylvania notary record in their journal, and in what order?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 319: Journal
What shape does the current regulation require for the official stamp?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.21: Official stamp
May a Pennsylvania notary use a non-inking embosser as their stamping device?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.22: Stamping device
Which identifying details about the notary must appear in every journal, in any order?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.31: Identification of notary public in journal
How must multiple notarial acts and unused space be handled in the journal?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.32: Journal entries
The certificate and the official stamp
The certificate is the legal proof that an act happened. Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a) it must identify the jurisdiction, the date, and the notary, and state the commission expiration date. For a tangible record performed by a notary public, § 315(b)(1) requires the official stamp to be affixed near the signature in a form capable of photographic reproduction, which is why a faint or smudged seal can invalidate the act. You do not have to write a certificate from scratch: the short forms in 57 Pa.C.S. § 316, for acknowledgments, verifications and the rest, are sufficient when completed with the information § 315 requires. If the stamping device is lost or stolen, 57 Pa.C.S. § 318 and 4 Pa. Code § 167.22(e) require you to notify the department, within 15 days under the regulation.
The journal you must keep
Pennsylvania notaries must maintain a journal under 57 Pa.C.S. § 319, recording in chronological order all notarial acts performed. The journal may be a tangible bound register with numbered pages or a tamper-evident electronic format complying with the regulations, and you may keep separate journals for paper and electronic acts. The regulations add detail: 4 Pa. Code § 167.31 requires the journal to show the notary's name as commissioned, the commission number, the expiration date and office address, plus a statement that on the notary's death or incompetency the journal goes to the county recorder of deeds within 30 days. If the journal is lost or stolen, § 319(d) requires prompt notice to the department.
| Element | Required on the certificate / stamp |
|---|---|
| Venue (state and county) | Yes, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a) |
| Date of the act | Yes, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a) |
| Notary's name and title | Yes, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a) |
| Commission expiration date | Yes, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a)(3)(ii) |
| Official stamp near signature | Yes on tangible records, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(b)(1) |
| Photographically reproducible | Yes, 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(b)(1) |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does every notarial act in Pennsylvania need a certificate?
Yes. Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a), every Pennsylvania notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate signed by the notary. The certificate states the venue, date, the notary's title and the commission expiration date. The short-form certificates in 57 Pa.C.S. § 316 are sufficient when completed with the information the statute requires.
What are the rules for the Pennsylvania notary stamp?
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 315(b)(1), a Pennsylvania notary's official stamp must be affixed to the certificate near the signature, on tangible records, in a form capable of photographic reproduction. If the stamping device is lost or stolen, 57 Pa.C.S. § 318 and 4 Pa. Code § 167.22(e) require you to notify the Department of State within 15 days.
Is a journal required for Pennsylvania notaries?
Yes. Pennsylvania requires every notary to keep a journal under 57 Pa.C.S. § 319, recording all notarial acts in chronological order. It may be a bound paper register with numbered pages or a tamper-evident electronic journal. The regulation 4 Pa. Code § 167.31 sets the identifying details each journal must contain.
What happens to a Pennsylvania notary's journal if the notary dies?
Under 4 Pa. Code § 167.31(a)(2), the journal must contain a statement that, on the death or incompetency of the Pennsylvania notary, it will be delivered within 30 days to the recorder of deeds in the county where the notary last maintained an office. This keeps the record of acts available to the public.
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