If you’ve read the Disciplinary Actions in this issue of Notary Notes, you may have noticed that three out of the nine notaries disciplined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth were suspended and fined because they did not complete the notary commissioning process.

These notaries did not record their bonds, take their oath of office or register their signatures within 45 days of being appointed. So their commissions were null and void. And yet, they performed notary acts.

According to the Pennsylvania Notary Public Law, a notary must appear before the recorder of deeds or equivalent official in the county of the notary’s office of record to record their bond and take the oath of office within 45 days of being appointed.

All notarized documents completed during the time when they were NOT notaries may be declared invalid transactions.

Remember: always complete the notary commissioning process within the 45 days of being appointed. If you are not properly sworn in, you cannot notarize