Acknowledgments: Notaries can administer acknowledgments, which involve verifying the identity of individuals who are signing important documents such as deeds, contracts, and affidavits. The notary ensures that the signers are willingly and knowingly affixing their signatures and that they understand the content and implications of the document.
Certifying Copies: Notaries can certify copies of certain documents as true and accurate reproductions of the original. This service is valuable when individuals need to present certified copies of documents like birth certificates, diplomas, or identification cards for various official purposes.
Witnessing Signatures: Notaries can act as impartial witnesses to various legal documents, ensuring that the signing parties are who they claim to be and that they willingly and knowingly sign the documents in question. This includes wills, contracts, and other legal agreements.
Adhering to Legal Requirements: Pennsylvania notaries must always adhere to the state's notary laws and regulations, which are in place to protect the interests of the public. They must maintain records of their notarial acts, keep their notary seal secure, and renew their notary commission as required by law.