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Pennsylvania Court Reports, please review the following update from the Pennsylvania Department of State office:   Guidance for Pennsylvania notaries who are court reporters – September 2021   The COVID-19 pandemic emergency declaration waiver issued March 20, 2020 will expire on September 30, 2021. The waiver authorized the suspension of personal appearance (i.e. physical presence) before notaries who are court reporters/stenographers participating in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings in this Commonwealth. This enabled court reporters to administer oaths and affirmations to individuals by telephone or videoconference.   Since the March 20, 2020 waiver was issued, Pennsylvania notary law has changed...

Have you heard the term “notary embossing seal” used alongside the phrase “notary stamp”? Are you confused about the difference between these two notary supplies? If you are, you would not be alone. Many new notaries are unsure how notary embossing seals differ from rubber stamps and are curious about which one is better. Here is an overview of notary rubber stamps and embossing seals to help you buy the right one for the job. Notary Stamps vs. Notary Embossing Seals A notary embossing seal is an important tool for a notary public because it authenticates the notary’s signature and...

Protecting your notary tools is of the utmost importance for notaries. If their stamps or journals get into the wrong hands, this could expose the notary and their customers to potential fraud and privacy breaches. Avoid fees and fines from negligence and the risk of losing your notary commission by using these best practices for protecting your notary stamp. Do Not Let Others Use Your Stamp Keeping your notary stamp out of the hands of the wrong people starts with making the conscious effort not to grant permission for others to use your tool. It is illegal to allow an...

When a notarized document is sent to another country, it often needs supplemental documentation to go along with it. Apostilles and authentication certificates are both papers used to validate the notary's seal and signature on a document so that a foreign country will accept it. Although apostilles and authentication certificates serve the same purpose as each other, they differ in appearance and places of use. When Is an Apostille Needed? Many countries, including the United States, are part of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. In these countries, an apostille is the only document required to authenticate a foreign notarization....