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Notary Notes

The Department of State's Disciplinary Actions: December 2021

by PAN

The Bureau of Election Services and Notaries took the following disciplinary actions against notaries public in December 2021:
 
  • A Philadelphia County notary accepted an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for 26 second degree felonies, 40 third degree felonies, and 13 misdemeanor offenses involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit.
    • The Respondent is subject to disciplinary action under RULONA Acts, 57 Pa.C.S. §323(a)(3), in that the Respondent lacks the honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability to hold the office of notary public.
    • This notary is prohibited from reapplying for appointment and commission as a notary public for four years.
  • A Philadelphia County notary notarized a deed for real property where the grantor was deceased at the time of notarization. She failed to require personal appearance of the signer, failed to provide the Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation investigator with certified copies of her notarial journal, and failed to record information about the type of notarial act performed and/or the full address of the individuals for whom the notarial acts were performed for each entry in the journal.
    • The Respondent is subject to disciplinary action under RULONA Acts, 57 Pa.C.S. §323(a), in that the Respondent lacks the honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability to hold the office of notary public.
    • This notary is prohibited from reapplying for appointment and commission as a notary public for four years.
  • A Philadelphia County notary notarized a deed for real property where the grantor did not appear before him at the time of notarization. The notary failed to know through personal appearance or satisfactory evidence that the person appearing before him was the person described in and who was executing the instrument to be notarized; failed to keep and maintain custody and control of a notary journal and all official acts performed; failed to be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a notary public; and failed to be of sufficient ability to be a notary public.
    • The Respondent is subject to disciplinary action under RULONA, 57 P.S. § 168 for the above reasons.
    • This notary is prohibited from reapplying for appointment and commission as a notary public for four years.
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