Pennsylvania notaries: your journal is for notarial acts only—not routine work tasks or customer transactions. Learn what to record, what to leave out, and how proper journal practices help protect your commission, customers, and sensitive information. Read more

Notarization is more than simply stamping and signing a document. As a Pennsylvania notary public, you are responsible for following the proper steps, identifying the signer, reviewing the document, completing the correct notarial wording, and recording the act in your journal. Read more

For Pennsylvania notaries, few rules are more important than this one: the customer must personally appear before you at the time of the notarization. At PAN, we often call personal appearance the “Golden Rule” of notarization because it is the foundation of nearly everything you do as a notary. Read more

I’m resting in a locked, well-used PAN attaché bag, tucked beside a PAN journal, a stack of blank notary certificates, and a blue pen that has seen more signatures than most people see in a month. My person doesn’t have to look for me anymore. She knows exactly where I am. Read more

As a Pennsylvania notary, safeguarding your tools—such as your official stamp and journal—is essential to staying compliant. However, despite your best efforts, there may be times when your equipment is lost, stolen, or otherwise misplaced. Read more

What would you do if you notary stamp was stolen? In this article, we discuss what steps to take if you notary equipment is stolen or misplaced. Read more