What does a person declare when making an acknowledgment before a notarial officer?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 302: Definitions
Pennsylvania Notary Exam · Acts
Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Questions: Notarial Acts (2026)
A Pennsylvania notary may perform six notarial acts, listed in 57 Pa.C.S. § 302: taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, taking verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting signatures, certifying or attesting copies, and noting protests of negotiable instruments. For most of these the signer must personally appear and the notary must confirm identity from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence under 57 Pa.C.S. §§ 305 and 307. Drafting documents, giving legal advice and solemnising marriages are not notarial acts.
Practice
Free practice questions
Where does a notarial officer's authority to perform a given notarial act come from?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 304: Authority to perform notarial act
When taking an acknowledgment, what two things must the notarial officer determine about the person appearing?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 305: Requirements for certain notarial acts
A client asks a notary to notarize a document signed by someone who is not present and cannot attend. What does RULONA require?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 306: Personal appearance required
In which Pennsylvania counties may a commissioned notary perform notarial acts?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.41: Authority to perform notarial act
What does it mean to "appear personally" before a notary under the regulations?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.42: Personal appearance
A notary feels uncomfortable serving a customer because of the customer's religion. May the notary refuse on that basis?
Based on: 4 Pa. Code § 167.113: Refusal to perform notarial acts
When does a notarial officer have "personal knowledge" of a signer's identity?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 307: Identification of individual
A signer appears confused and cannot explain the document they are signing. May the notary decline to act?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 308: Authority to refuse
Which court official may perform a notarial act in Pennsylvania without holding a notary commission?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 310: Notarial act in this Commonwealth
The six acts and what each one means
The exam leans hardest on this topic, and the trap is confusing acts that look similar. An acknowledgment, defined in 57 Pa.C.S. § 302, is a declaration that the person signed the record for the purpose stated in it: it certifies the signature, not the truth of the contents. A verification on oath or affirmation (often called a jurat) is different: there the signer swears that a statement in the record is true, so it covers the contents. Section 304 even lets a notary certify that a tangible printout of an electronic record is a true and correct copy. Knowing which act fits which document is the core skill the exam checks.
- Acknowledgment: the signer admits they signed (57 Pa.C.S. § 302).
- Verification or jurat: the signer swears the content is true (57 Pa.C.S. § 302).
- Copy certification: the notary confirms a copy is complete and accurate (57 Pa.C.S. § 305(d)).
Personal appearance and identifying the signer
For an acknowledgment, a verification or witnessing a signature, the individual must personally appear before the notary, and the notary must determine identity from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence under 57 Pa.C.S. § 305. Satisfactory evidence can be a current government identification document, or the oath of a credible witness who personally knows the signer, appears at the same time, is personally known to the notary and has no interest in the record, as set out in 57 Pa.C.S. § 307(b) and 4 Pa. Code § 167.43(b). Personal appearance is waived only narrowly, for example when certifying a copy, where the act concerns the record itself rather than a signature, under 4 Pa. Code § 167.42.
| Point | Acknowledgment | Verification / jurat |
|---|---|---|
| What the signer declares | I signed this record | The statement is true |
| Oath or affirmation required | No | Yes |
| Must sign in front of notary | Not necessarily | Yes, before the notary |
| Personal appearance | Required | Required |
| Statute | 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 | 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What notarial acts can a Pennsylvania notary perform?
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 302, a Pennsylvania notary may perform six acts: taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, taking verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting signatures, certifying or attesting copies or depositions, and noting protests of negotiable instruments. Drafting documents, giving legal advice and performing marriages are not on this list.
What is the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania an acknowledgment, under 57 Pa.C.S. § 302, certifies that the signer admits signing the record. A verification on oath or affirmation, the jurat, certifies that the signer swore the statement is true. The acknowledgment is about the signature; the jurat is about the truth of the contents and always requires an oath.
Does the signer have to appear in person before a Pennsylvania notary?
Yes, for most acts. Pennsylvania requires the individual to personally appear before the notary for acknowledgments, verifications and witnessing signatures under 57 Pa.C.S. § 305. Limited exceptions exist, such as certifying a copy under 4 Pa. Code § 167.42, because that act concerns the record itself rather than a person's signature.
How does a Pennsylvania notary identify a signer?
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 307, a Pennsylvania notary identifies a signer through personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, such as a current government photo identification, or the oath of a credible witness. The witness must personally know the signer, appear at the same time, be personally known to the notary and have no interest in the record (4 Pa. Code § 167.43).
Practice questions