Notarization and Coronavirus

According to the Commonwealth list of businesses that van and cannot operate “real estate agents and brokers and activities related to real estate” should be closed. The governor has approved a TEMPORARY notarial rule suspension be granted for real estate transactions. The rule will allow these transactions to take place remotely.

• For residential real estate transactions that are in process (already started and needing to be completed), the Department can suspend personal appearance if the following safeguards are met. All notaries who are using audio-visual technology as an alternative to personal appearance must:
  • Notary must become an approved electronic notary
  • Use an e-notary solution already approved by Department (there are 3 of them)
  • Indicate in the notary certificate that the notarial act was performed by means of communication technology. The following statement will satisfy that requirement – “This notarial act involved the use of communication technology”.
• For all commercial all commercial transactions, the Department can suspend personal appearance if the following safeguards are met. All notaries who are using audio-visual technology as an alternative to personal appearance must:
  • Notary must become an approved electronic notary
  • Use an e-notary solution already approved by Department (there are 3 of them)
  • Indicate in the notary certificate that the notarial act was performed by means of communication technology. The following statement will satisfy that “This notarial act involved the use of communication technology”.

Whether or not a notary is in trouble is up to the state, not PAN. As long as you notarize following RULONA guidelines at a business which is allowed to be open, we think you should be fine.

We have not been in contact with the governor’s office and PennDOT is closed.

Automobile dealers may not continue physical sales and leasing operations, but certain activities at automobile dealers, such as repairs to passenger and commercial vehicles, may continue.  New and used sales at automobile dealerships are not permitted.

A notary tag service is not considered a life essential business. Only life essential businesses are to remain open. PennDOT is closed at this time.

You are allowed to notarize documents if you are working for a supporting agency that is still allowed to be open.

From what we can determine from the governor’s list, notary offices should be closed.

Notary offices operating only as notaries are to be closed during the shut-down. They are not considered a life-sustaining business, therefore non-essential.

The Department of State is not appointing or reappointing notaries at this time. You should send your notary application to the State before your commission expires, so you will NOT be required to take the notary exam. At some point the State will be appointing and reappointing notaries again. If your current commission expires during this time period, you will not be able to notarize.

Your commission will be expired, and you will not be able to act as a notary.

Yes, personal appearance is still required during the notary act.

However, the in-person requirement is suspended for court reporters/stenographers only. This suspension allows court reporter/stenographers to use electronic means instead of personal appearance. This suspension is temporary and will last only as long as the declared disaster emergency is in effect.

The personal appearance requirement is ALSO suspended for SOME real estate transactions, those personal transactions that have already started and certain commercial transactions. These are covered in a separate question in more detail.

Call to see if your recorder of deeds office is open and if you need to make an appointment. If it is open, you can be sworn in to complete the process. However, if the office is closed, the commissioning process is on hold. Your 45 day period should be extended.

No, RULONA does not allow you to accept ID that has expired. Social Security cards are on the list of acceptable ID and they do not expire. If you are unsure if the Social Security card belongs to the customer, ask for his or her expired driver’s license or photo ID as a back-up.

PennDOT has extended the deadline to May 31, 2020 for driver’s licenses and photo ID cards that expire between 3/16-4/30.

There is no central office data entry for initial title work for new or used car sales or transfers. DL’s, ID’s, Reg and Handicap placards that expire from 3/16-4/30 are extended until May 31, 2020.

PennDOT is closed. Paperwork such as temporary registrations has been extended to May 31, 2020.

Motor vehicle agents are to abide by the governor’s order to stay closed.

PennDOT offices are closed during the shutdown. They are not answering phone lines.

No. As an appointed PA RON notary you may only use the platform, the software, of the vendor.

If PA passes legislation or adopts temporary measures or passes enabling legislation regarding electronic conferencing for notarization in Pennsylvania, PAN will notify the members.

At this time, there are two situations where this is TEMPORARILY allowed – for court reporters and certain real estate transactions.