Sometimes when notaries change jobs, their employers demand their notarial equipment, including their registers.

Your register is your exclusive property and cannot be used by any other individual or surrendered to any employer upon termination of your employment.

You can leave a photocopy of your register with your employer, if you’re asked to do so.

Keep your register even after it’s filled. If you resign your commission, decide not to reapply, if you have had your commission revoked or upon your death, your register must be delivered by you or your heirs to the county recorder of deeds where you took your oath of office within 30 days.

If your commission has been suspended, you must deliver your register to the county immediately.

If you are an Allegheny County notary, your register must be given to the county Real Estate Division, formerly the recorder of deeds office. This name change became effective on Jan. 1, 2008, and included consolidation of the offices of the prothonotary, clerk of courts and register of wills into the Department of Court Records.