New Info?

We knew this was coming but did not expect it so soon!!!


IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ELECTRONIC
NOTARY (E-NOTARY) APPLICANTS

Effective September 25, 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of State is no longer accepting new applications for the e-Notarization program. The Department is currently reevaluating the existing process for obtaining a digital certificate and looks forward to implementing an improved program in the near future.

NOTE: Pennsylvania notaries who have obtained and downloaded a digital certificate (Electronic Notary Seal) from the National Notary Association prior to September 25th will retain their certificates and may continue to notarize electronically using the existing digital certificate. Digital certificates issued prior to September 25th, will be active through June 30, 2010, or the assigned date of expiration, whichever comes first.

The Division of Legislation and Notaries of the Bureau of Commission, Elections and Legislation administers the duties imposed on the Secretary of the Commonwealth by Pennsylvania's Notary Public Law. The Division works on behalf of the Secretary to appoint, commission and regulate all notaries public in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For over 200 years, notaries public have been officially recognized by the Commonwealth for administering oaths and affirmations, certifying copies and taking depositions, affidavits, verifications and acknowledgments. Notaries public in Pennsylvania certify, verify and acknowledge hundreds of thousands of important documents each year. More than 80,000 men and women hold notary public commissions in Pennsylvania.

Citations:
The Notary Public Law, 57 P.S. § § 147-168.3; The Uniform Acknowledgment Act, 21 P.S. § § 291.1-291.13.

Regulations of the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation pertaining to notary public fee schedule: 4 Pa. Code § 161.1.

National !

We started this company as Pa Notary Academy in 2006. We wanted to offer new solutions and classroom instruction for PA notaries. We began to notice that mainstream "organizations" offered more and more sales pitches before, during and after classes. As a former instructor for a national organization I realized their interest no longer stayed with us, the Notaries Public. They began promoting more and more corporate entities. And making us conform to those entities. It became very apparent they started chasing the dollar and leaving us behind.

Most Notaries are also noticing the trend their "membership organizations" are leaning to, which is why we have become the fastest growing educational provider in PA. We teach more students per week than all of the state or national organizations in our state put together.

Our courses are the same, well maybe better actually; we offer more diverse courses and give the same benefits that you get with any of the organizations. So why can we sell the supplies and offer the education and everything else that goes with it for less than half the price? Because we do not charge "Membership Fees"

So with the success we have seen and the benefits our PA notaries are receiving, we received so many requests from neighboring states to offer them courses using our philosophy that we now are going National!!!

The Notary Academy now offers nationwide online notary courses in all fifty states. Whether you are required to take education or not this course is a must! What better way to protect yourself and your customers.

We now offer nationwide Accredited Signing Agent courses also. So check us out at The Notary Academy. And of course our courses are still being offered in PA at live seminars through out the commonwealth and online courses. We have ASA courses along with DMV Agent courses online. So if you are a PA Notary or wish to become one check us out at PA Notary Academy. We want to thank each and every one of our students past present and future! Thanks to you this is possible! Let us know what you think!

The next discussion that came about this week was about matching the signature of a signer to the ID.

Example "John Marshall Roberts” asks for a document to be notarized. His ID is a driver’s license which has the name of "John Marshall Roberts". His signature on the ID says "JM Roberts". The document is prepared for a "John Marshall Roberts". After verifying the ID and recording the info in their log, the notary asked him to place his signature on the document. He did and it read "JM Roberts". The notary would then NOT accept the signature! And they refused to notarize on the grounds they could not verify identity.

What if the document stated "JM Roberts" to sign? That would not have matched the ID either. Then what???

What in the world is going on? This is his legal signature!!! Anyone else have an opinion? This is what is being taught by some organizations which astound me!!!!

Remember the basic rule......

Questions and answers?

I have realized I am not very good at this blogging thing! As you can tell from the posts and time frames I think that is a fair statement. LOL! Although with all the things I see and read about I should blog a lot more often.....A LOT MORE!

For example this week a state organization president stated in an email list, to an organization we both belong, that his office refused notarization of a document because they felt the document was not legal. I am assuming that because as I read on and saw other responses about his statement ...they agreed and questioned the fact that there was no LEGAL reason to refuse notarization. I was by all accounts stunned by this. That such a supposed educated, learned man in this field by his own account an expert could make such a basic error! And to have him gloss over the issue by focusing on the document was revealing. Sometimes the statement of not seeing the forest for the trees can have real meaning.

The basic procedure is just that basic. A Notary Public is a neutral witness to the execution of documents. The job is to identify the signer through accepted means and verify their signature. Nothing more nothing less. Unless the document clearly shows an illegal intent that may cause the notary legal issues or there is a conflict of interest there should be no reason to refuse service legitimately. We are public servants and as such must provide service according to the law in a lawful and reasonable manner. Unless the notary is also an attorney these judgments should be left to the drafter of the document and the signer. Not the notary who is supposed to be impartial and neutral.

The truth.

In this day and age the truth is sometimes not as easy to see as we think. Our last post raised some feathers; but obviously not enough for them to post here. Instead they have worked the back doors so as not to seen in a bad light. This brings more truth to our last post about the organizations and associations. There is nothing disparaging in that post. The truth is very obvious. As we try to instill in our students, your confidence in yourself is your success. Not in someone or something.

We do not claim to be whom or what we are not. We do not play on words. Nor do we change advertising slogans to infringe on others. We do what is best for us and our students.

There is a tremendous perception out there of the notary appointment process and the role associations and organizations play in that process. When marketing and advertising blur the lines involved it creates a tremendous perception out there of misrepresentation of the actual process.

We hope to clear the air by telling the truth. And with that truth comes ruffled feathers. Here is an excerpt of post by us in regards to this same issue.

“Some Commission Facts”

“This area seems to be the basis of the most confusion and has become a statewide issue for everyone involved. For years now there has been confusion about the process and who is actually in charge here in Pennsylvania. This confusion has stemmed from years of advertising and marketing techniques. These practices have not only provided the confusion to notaries but enhanced it between our counties and our state entity. Although these techniques have proved successful to the organizations from a business and financial standpoint, they have been very detrimental to our county governments, our Notaries Public and our State Department. The PA Department of State, Notary Division is the governing body for all Pennsylvania Notaries Public. They approve all notaries, providers of the education and enforce the notary law. Period.”

“Each provider of the mandatory education must submit their courses for approval by this department. These courses must contain the information required by the notary law. Therefore; all approved courses contain the same information regardless of presenter, organization or provider. The State Department approves their courses and them as approved providers based on the same criteria. The process of applying or renewing a commission is also the same. The application is provided by the State Department. This application must be used by the applicant. This must be forwarded to the local State Senator for execution. Their office then forwards it to the State Department through legislative channels for final approval by the State Department Notary Division. They process and approve all applications and sends you, the Notary Public, the final paperwork for execution. Again the process is the same. The marketing techniques and general advertising practices that have been in place over the years has created the impression that some organizations are the governing entity or at least affiliated in some capacity with the State Department or the county governments. This is simple not true. The final processing of the applications is in the hands of the Commonwealth of PA State Department Notary Division.”

“These organizations are not affiliated with, attached to or otherwise involved with any of the process or decision making. There is no special treatment provided or back door access given to them. They are simply a business entity providing a basic service. Our State Department does not support, approve or otherwise recommend any organization over another.”

“The process of applying or renewing is the same whether you pay an organization, association or do it on your own. Your decision for education and commission processing should be an informed one, and we hope that these facts we have provided will help you understand the process a little better.”

Now with all that being said, we have noticed in the last few months a tremendous upswing in interest in our classes. Our classes are becoming full earlier and the students have a greater interest in our philosophy. Through them we learned there were many more notaries that feel the same as we do. We now have a network of notaries that help each other and do not depend on newsletters, and publications to support them. That is not to say that are not used for knowledge and information, but notaries are learning self reliance through our programs and we encourage that. We are extremely proud of the responses we get and we will continue to provide the same kind of service we have always provided. Here is to our growth and your education. Thank you.

Associations

Recently we have noticed on other education websites the prices for their renewal packages and educational programs have risen in price. And we wonder why their prices are so high. Our company certainly does not have access to the suppliers and vendors they do, but yet their prices are HUGE! Almost $200 more than our prices. And for the same thing? In these economically disastrous times every penny counts, so why did they RAISE their prices. This is very confusing to us, and should be to you.
On the "PAN" website there is a testimonial from a notary that claims she receives mail from many organizations and she throws them all away except for "PAN". Her husband noticed one of these in the garbage and pulled it out for her, thinking he was doing her a favor. She goes on to state that the only "organization” she deals with is "PAN". So it was not a mistake.
Well in our opinion she is making a major error in judgement. She could first SAVE herself a lot of money and get better support and education than she gets now, by going with another educator. And there are many of them, not just us. She needs to find one that meets her needs and her budget.
Lastly our big question is "Why do you "HAVE" to belong to an "ORGANIZATION”. Your commission does not come from an "organization or association" it comes from the state. Why not put that money back in your pocket. Your commission belongs to you not them. And it is much cheaper and easier to maintain it yourself. This seems like such a no-brainer.

Commission Facts

Our company was founded on the basis of providing the best education and information available to PA Notaries. We decided that a series of articles posted here would help new and renewing Notaries understand the process and the functions of being a Notary Public in PA. This first article will discuss the facts surrounding your commission and how it is obtained and processed. This area seems to be the basis of the most confusion and has become a statewide issue for everyone involved. For years now there has been confusion about the process and who is actually in charge here in Pennsylvania. This confusion has stemmed from years of advertising and marketing techniques. These practices have not only provided the confusion to notaries but enhanced it between our counties and our state entity. Although these techniques have proved successful to the organizations from a business and financial standpoint, they have been very detrimental to our county governments, our Notaries Public and our State Department. The PA Department of State, Notary Division is the governing body for all Pennsylvania Notaries Public. They approve all notaries, providers of the education and enforce the notary law. Period.

Each provider of the mandatory education must submit their courses for approval by this department. These courses must contain the information required by the notary law. Therefore; all approved courses contain the same information regardless of presenter, organization or provider. The State Department approves their courses and them as approved providers based on the same criteria. The process of applying or renewing a commission is also the same. The application is provided by the State Department. This application must be used by the applicant. This must be forwarded to the local State Senator for execution. Their office then forwards it to the State Department through legislative channels for final approval by the State Department Notary Division. They process and approve all applications and sends you, the Notary Public, the final paperwork for execution. Again the process is the same. The marketing techniques and general advertising practices that have been in place over the years has created the impression that some organizations are the governing entity or at least affiliated in some capacity with the State Department or the county governments. This is simple not true. The final processing of the applications is in the hands of the Commonwealth of PA State Department Notary Division.

These organizations are not affiliated with, attached to or otherwise involved with any of the process or decision making. There is no special treatment provided or back door access given to them. They are simply a business entity providing a basic service. Our State Department does not support, approve or otherwise recommend any organization over another.

The process of applying or renewing is the same whether you pay an organization, association or do it on your own. Your decision for education and commission processing should be an informed one, and we hope that these facts we have provided will help you understand the process a little better.