A notary public is a person who is appointed or commissioned by a state to act as an impartial witness to the signing of important legal documents. Notary public appointments are usually handled by a state’s Secretary of State’s office and require a potential notary to meet eligibility requirements, take a notary training course, and pass a state notary exam.

Many different types of legal documents may need to be notarized—such as an affidavit, contract, will, trust, power of attorney, power of attorney for health care, divorce papers, deed, mortgage, or deed of trust.

In Pennsylvania (PA), a notary public is an individual commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of State to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. To become a notary in PA, one must meet certain eligibility requirements such as being at least 18 years old, a resident of or have a place of employment or practice in Pennsylvania, and not have a record of a felony or a crime involving fraud. Applicants are required to complete a pre-approved notary education course and pass an examination unless they are currently a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania or have held a notary commission in the state within the past five years. Notaries in PA are authorized to perform various notarial acts including acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, jurats, and witnessing or attesting signatures. The types of documents that may require notarization in Pennsylvania include affidavits, contracts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, divorce papers, deeds, mortgages, and other legal instruments.