Disciplinary Actions - July-August 2019
Seven notaries in six counties were disciplined by the Department of State for violations of the notary public law.
Allegheny County
A Pittsburgh notary surrendered her commission for failing to properly identify a customer, failing to keep and maintain custody and control of a notary journal and thereby failing to be of good character, integrity and ability.
Dauphin County
A notary from Grantville was suspended for 60 days and ordered to complete a six-hour notary education course for notarizing the signature of an applicant on a vehicle registration application without requiring the customer's personal appearance. She also failed to maintain an accurate notary journal. The notary was assessed a civil penalty of $1,200.
Fayette County
A South Connellsville notary had her commission suspended for three months, which was stayed in favor of probation, for failing to maintain an accurate notary journal, and failing to properly process vehicle title transfer paperwork. The notary must complete a six-hour notary education course and pay a civil penalty of $250 and probation assessment fees of $150.
Lawrence County
A notary from New Castle surrendered her commission for failing to maintain good and/or moral character, integrity and ability for entering a guilty plea to a felony offense involving theft and dishonesty.
Philadephia County
A notary from Philadelphia had her commission suspended, which was stayed in favor of probation for failing to maintain a bound journal with numbered pages and to record all the information required by law in the journal entries. In addition to completing six hours of notary education, the notary must submit copies of her journal to the Department of State.
A second Philadelphia notary surrendered his commission for failing to require the personal appearances of all parties and failing to keep and maintain an accurate notary journal.
York County
A notary from York surrendered her commission for failing to know through personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence that the person appearing before her was the person described in and who was executing the instrument.
Allegheny County
A Pittsburgh notary surrendered her commission for failing to properly identify a customer, failing to keep and maintain custody and control of a notary journal and thereby failing to be of good character, integrity and ability.
Dauphin County
A notary from Grantville was suspended for 60 days and ordered to complete a six-hour notary education course for notarizing the signature of an applicant on a vehicle registration application without requiring the customer's personal appearance. She also failed to maintain an accurate notary journal. The notary was assessed a civil penalty of $1,200.
Fayette County
A South Connellsville notary had her commission suspended for three months, which was stayed in favor of probation, for failing to maintain an accurate notary journal, and failing to properly process vehicle title transfer paperwork. The notary must complete a six-hour notary education course and pay a civil penalty of $250 and probation assessment fees of $150.
Lawrence County
A notary from New Castle surrendered her commission for failing to maintain good and/or moral character, integrity and ability for entering a guilty plea to a felony offense involving theft and dishonesty.
Philadephia County
A notary from Philadelphia had her commission suspended, which was stayed in favor of probation for failing to maintain a bound journal with numbered pages and to record all the information required by law in the journal entries. In addition to completing six hours of notary education, the notary must submit copies of her journal to the Department of State.
A second Philadelphia notary surrendered his commission for failing to require the personal appearances of all parties and failing to keep and maintain an accurate notary journal.
York County
A notary from York surrendered her commission for failing to know through personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence that the person appearing before her was the person described in and who was executing the instrument.
