In his Aug. 6, 2010 Statement of Policy, Basil Merenda, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, reiterated the Pa Notary Public Law’s list of misdemeanor crimes which are incompatible with the duties of a notary.
Misdemeanor crimes cited within the Notary Public Law and in Merenda’s Statement of Policy are:
- Crimes involving a lack of honesty or elements of falsehood and fraud
- Forgery and fraudulent practices, including bad checks, insurance fraud and identity theft
- Theft, such as receiving stolen property and retail theft
- Criminal conspiracy
- Bribery (official and political matters)
- Perjury or falsification in official matters, including false swearing, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with evidence
- Obstructing governmental operations
- All similar crimes committed in the courts of the U.S., in any other state, territory, possession or country
If a notary applicant is convicted of a crime during the 5-year period preceding the date of the application, it may call into question the notary’s moral character and serve as a valid reason for rejecting the application.
