Do you have a deed, a will or another important document to sign? Your notary search in Pennsylvania is over— you can get your forms notarized at AAA.
Notary services are just one of the many fantastic benefits of joining your local AAA club. Whether another party requires you to notarize a document or you want some additional legal security, notarizing a document is a quick and easy process. Besides notarizing your signature on important personal documents, we can create certified copies* of one-of-a-kind documents such as diplomas so you can submit them for official purposes without losing your original copy.
When you need to notarize a document, you may have a few questions about the process. For example, many people in central Pennsylvania looking for a public notary nearby are surprised to hear it is called "notary public." While the second term can sound a little strange to our American ears, both terms refer to the same public official. Rest assured, you can notarize your documents legally with a AAA notary public.
Learn more about AAA's notary services in Pennsylvania and find answers to all your questions about the process.
Tips for Notarizing Documents
Ready to have your documents notarized at your local AAA branch? There are a few things you must bring along. Here are a few tips to make sure your visit goes smoothly:
Have All Parties Present
Notaries cannot notarize the signature of someone who isn't present, even over the phone or with written consent. Each signer must be face-to-face with the notary to declare their signature is genuine. You may not sign documents in advance and if your document requires witness signatures, make sure the notary can act as a witness. The rules can vary from document to document. If you need witnesses other than a notary, you must bring them along to notarize a document. AAA Central Penn cannot provide a witness for you at our offices.
Bear in mind your witnesses must be 18 years or older.
Bring Your ID
One of a notary's central responsibilities is verifying your identity. Even if the notary knows you by name, they must check some form of unexpired legal identification.
Valid identification forms vary by state. Pennsylvania authorizes notaries to accept four forms of identification:
- A valid driver's license or ID card issued by any U.S. state
- A U.S. passport
- A foreign passport stamped by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- A government-issued ID document from Canada or Mexico
You and your witnesses must provide one of these forms of identification when notarizing documents.
By Pennsylvania law, a notary may refuse to notarize a document if they are not satisfied the signer is competent and aware enough to understand what they're signing. They can also deny a request if they don't believe the signer is signing voluntarily, without coercion or duress.
Other reasons a notary can refuse to notarize a document include:
- The notary has a personal bias.
- The document contains controversial or political content.
- The signer doesn't know what type of notary is required.
- The signer won't affirm the document content.
It's smart to read your agreement thoroughly and be ready to accept the terms before you bring it to our office. If your documents are in a foreign language, they can be notarized granted the signer confirms that the document content is valid and accurate. However, the notary wording must be in English.
Understand Your Document
It's also important to understand your document to know what type of notarization you need. Notaries are not licensed attorneys, so they cannot offer legal advice regarding the best notarization type. Many documents will include a notarial statement that describes the type of notarization required. If your document doesn't have this statement, you can contact the party requesting notarization for guidance.
The types of notarial acts include:
- Acknowledgment: An acknowledgment is usually used for property deeds, powers of attorney, trusts and other documents that transfer ownership. The signer must prove their identity and sign the form willingly. They must also agree that the arrangements included in the document are factual and will take effect as written.
- Jurat: Affidavits, depositions and interrogatories often require notarial jurats. The signer must appear and sign the document in person when requesting a jurat. They must then speak an oath or affirmation aloud. After signing a document bound by a jurat, the signer may be prosecuted on a count of perjury if the record is not factual.
- Certified copy: While not every state recognizes certified copies, Pennsylvania does. We can notarize copies of college degrees, passports and other one-of-a-kind personal documents.
- Signature witnessing: In 2017, Pennsylvania legalized a new notarial act called "signature witnessing." Rather than another party, the notary acts as the signature witness and physically watches the signee sign the document. As with other forms of notarization, the signer must have their identity confirmed.
Mark Pages to Notarize
When signing a large document, you may need several pages to bear your notarized signature. Know all the places you need to sign and mark them so you don't forget any. You can use page savers or sticky notes to make pages for easy access during the notarization process. If your document has any blank spaces, strike a line through or write "N/A." Make sure your forms contain no misspellings and have been completely and correctly filled out. When you arrive at our office, all you'll have to do is sign.
When Do You Need to Notarize Personal Documents?
Certain documents are notarized to prevent fraud. The notary public ensures the signer and witness, if required, are who they say they are. They usually do this by checking their driver's licenses or identification cards. The notary will also ensure the signer agrees to the terms knowingly and willingly and see that documents are signed correctly.
Notarizing a document ensures:
- The signatures contained belong to the stated individuals and are not forged.
- The document isn't being signed under duress or coercion.
A notary verifies each signer's identity and looks for signals that a signer is intoxicated or being coerced. If the document contains an oath, the notary will administer it.
In the past, most contracts needed a notary stamp. Today, many documents, including signed legal agreements, do not need to be notarized. However, certain documents require notarization by federal or state law. Even when not legally required to, a party may request notarization as an extra measure to prevent fraud and identity theft. It ensures that courts can independently verify the transaction after signing. Notaries keep a record of all transactions, providing proof that a document was notarized after the fact.
You may need to notarize personal documents such as:
Real Estate Deeds
Property deeds are one of the few documents that must always be notarized. If you are buying or selling a home, you must visit a notary in the process. Deeds must have notarized signatures to ensure a comprehensive record of ownership. Without notarization, others could claim ownership of your house.
Power of Attorney
Power of attorney documents must be notarized in some states. This is a crucial measure against fraud since a power of attorney allows a person to make decisions on another's behalf. You do not want someone to forge your signature on a power of attorney document. In 2014, Pennsylvania passed Act 95, which added a new requirement for any power of attorney documents to be acknowledged before a notary public. They also require two witnesses besides the signatory and the notary.
Wills
Last will and testimonials are one of a few family documents to notarize. However, a last will and testament doesn't require notarization. Instead, after writing your will, you may need other individuals to witness and sign the document. The advantage of having a notary present is that it officially verifies the signature. When the will's creator dies, the papers may need to be certified in court. The judge will ask the witnesses to verify their signatures. If the witnesses have also died or aren't close by, it could delay executing the will. Notarization also makes it more challenging for someone to contest the will.
Affidavits
An affidavit is any written statement made under oath or affirmation. It's often used in court cases. The notary has the power to administer these oaths. Notaries often call these types of documents jurats. When notarizing with a jurat, you must appear before the notary and sign the form in their presence. The notary administers the oath or affirmation out loud and you must verbally confirm that the statements are factual. If the contents are not accurate, you may face prosecution for perjury.
Copies of Official Documents
Sometimes, you may need a copy of an original document for legal purposes. A notary can verify that the duplicate is a complete and accurate reproduction or transcription of the original.
Copy certification may be necessary for the following kinds of documents:
- Diplomas
- Driver's licenses
- Contracts
- Rental leases
- Vehicle titles
- Medical records
- Bills of sale
- Social Security cards
When obtaining a copy certification, you'll bring your original document to the notary, who will create and certify a photocopy. Only some states allow notaries to create copy certifications. Since Pennsylvania revised its rules on the powers of a notary public, effective October 26, 2017, notaries may legally certify or attest a copy.
A PA notary can notarize a document from another state, granted the notary wording meets Pennsylvania RULONA standards. To confirm this, you can reach out to one of our courteous agents.
What Can AAA Central Penn Notarize?
AAA Central Penn staffs all our offices with certified notary publics, here to notarize most of your personal documents. The items and documents AAA notary services in Pennsylvania may notarize depend on state laws and on a notary's powers.
At AAA Central Penn, we can notarize:
- Affidavits: When you sign an affidavit, you swear that the information is factual. You must swear to an officer authorized by Pennsylvania law to administer oaths. Our Pennsylvania notary publics are authorized to notarize your affidavit.
- Powers of attorney: Under Pennsylvania law, the principal and two witnesses other than the notary must sign a power of attorney document. While AAA cannot provide witnesses, we're happy to act as the notary for you and your chosen witnesses.
- Contracts and financial agreements: While Pennsylvania does not require most contracts to be notarized, it is perfectly legal and beneficial to do so. A notarized agreement can speed up the process if one party wishes to take the other to court. The court system does not need to determine whether a signature was forged or made under duress or coercion. Instead, the court can assume all parties understood the contract and agreed to it of sound mind. Also, parties cannot destroy the paperwork and claim they never signed it since we, as the notary, must keep a formal record of the transaction.
- Wills: As with contracts, wills do not need notarization to be valid and legally binding in Pennsylvania. Unlike in most states, Pennsylvania doesn't require two witnesses, except if the creator cannot sign their name. While they don't have to be present at the signing, probate courts will call witnesses to prove your will's validity after death. You can avoid this by signing your will with two witnesses. Then, have a notary administer affidavits to the three of you, providing legal proof that you were the one who signed the will.
- Deeds: Like all states, Pennsylvania requires property titles to include a notary's acknowledgment of all signatures. Usually, the person transferring the property must bring the deed to one of our branches and sign the document before a notary.
- Trusts: Similar to a will, you must sign a trust for it to be valid. Signing the document in front of a notary protects you from having the authenticity of your signature challenged.
- Certified copies: In Pennsylvania, notary publics, like those at AAA Central Penn, are authorized to certify copies of official documents.
We can't notarize:
- Photographs, mortgages or I-9 forms: While we often use phrases like "notarized documents," technically, a notary only notarizes a signature. That means we can't notarize photographs. Pennsylvania also does not authorize notaries to stamp or emboss your I-9 forms.
- Incomplete documents: To prevent fraud, notaries may only acknowledge signatures on forms that have been completely filled out. While it's legal to attest that the signature is yours before a notary, most people sign them in our notary's presence.
- Documents without the required witnesses present: AAA Central Penn cannot provide any witnesses for documents that need witness signatures. Please remember to bring all the required witnesses when you visit one of our locations.
- Birth, marriage and death certificates: Notaries aren't authorized to notarize or create certified copies of birth, marriage or death certificates. To obtain new copies of these items, you must go through the government agency that issued them.
- Business documents: At AAA, we can only notarize personal documents. We cannot acknowledge signatures on most business-related documents. So, be sure to delete any gold medallion signatures that must be notarized at a financial institution.
Who Is Eligible to Notarize Documents With AAA Central Penn?
At AAA, notarizing documents is one of the many unexpected services we offer all AAA members. If you're a Classic member, you can have your documents notarized through us for a nominal fee. AAA notary services cost even less for a AAA Plus or AAA Premier member since most notary fees are waived entirely.
If you're not already a AAA member, now is the perfect time to join. Notarizing a document often comes along with a major life milestone. Whether you're moving to a new home, getting married, buying a new car or taking another big step, AAA provides a whole host of benefits that can give you some extra security. Make your life a little easier as you make your next big leap forward and do more to protect yourself and your loved ones with AAA. See what we cover and all the benefits a AAA membership has to offer:
Automotive Services
We're known for our world-class roadside services. You'll never get stranded with a dead battery, flat tire or other car troubles with a AAA membership. We handle everything from towing services to emergency gasoline delivery and our coverage also includes bicycles and accident protection.
Our coverage follows the member instead of the vehicle, so you're covered even when driving a car that's not yours. These services are available 24/7, seven days a week, and members can make several service calls throughout the year.
Drivers' Education
We also help prepare you for anything the open road throws your way. Our courses include new driver preparedness, behind-the-wheel training, defensive driving and mature operator classes. Whether you're a beginner driver or could do with a refresher class, you can take advantage of our driver's education benefits.
Teenagers learning to drive can benefit from our short “Dare to Prepare” seminars discussing important safe driving topics. Our comprehensive driving classes can transform beginner drivers into responsible road users.
Travel Assistance
Our travel planning services handles all the nitty-gritty details of planning a trip so members can focus on simply enjoying their getaway. Whether you see the world by plane, train or automobile, we'll be your travel agent. We'll handle your reservations and help you find travel rewards and discounts along the way. You can even qualify for unique experiences, cruise packages and priority check-ins. We'll navigate car rentals and book tickets to events. For our international travelers, we offer a range of foreign currency services. Have any questions about obtaining passports or travel insurance? Our AAA travel agents and services are just a call away!
Financial Services
If you need to notarize any financial documents, you'll be pleased to learn about all the financial services AAA offers our members. Our exclusive AAA Member Rewards Visa Signature® card lets you earn unlimited rewards and access AAA member discounts and coupons. We also help you invest your money responsibly with AAA-member-only rates for savings accounts, money market funds and individual retirement accounts.
Insurance
You probably already know AAA offers top-quality auto insurance. Beyond providing competitive rates, you can insure your car, motorcycle, boat or any other vehicle. But we also offer home, condo and renters insurance, life insurance, Medicare coverage, travel accident insurance and pet insurance. You can keep all of your policies with the same reliable insurer.
Our range of insurance products is tailored to your needs with extra coverage options like auto warranty protection. Contact a AAA agent for a complementary quote or to learn more about our products.
Perks and Discounts
With all the exclusive perks and discounts you'll receive by showing your AAA card, your membership could soon pay for itself. Our AAA discount program partners with thousands of companies worldwide and over 30,000 online retailers to give you fantastic deals. Find discounts on theme park tickets, local Central Penn businesses and products and services across many categories.
One of the most immediate benefits you'll have at your disposal is a convenient, affordable location to have your documents notarized. Since we have notaries staffed at every branch, you can find notary services near Carlisle, Lancaster and Hershey, Pennsylvania and any of our Central Penn AAA clubs. It's one of those lesser-known benefits you receive as an AAA club member.
Find Your Local AAA Notary
At AAA, we're always finding ways to give you more value for your membership with services like notarizing documents. With a notary public staffed at every AAA Central Penn branch, we make it easy to find a notary in your area. Simply locate your nearest AAA branch and bring us your documents at a convenient time. Feel free to call ahead with any questions about our notary services. We're always happy to help!
