Category: Notary Services

How notarization works in Pennsylvania and what to bring to an appointment.

Getting a Power of Attorney Notarized in Pennsylvania

A power of attorney is one of the most useful documents a family can have and one of the easiest to execute incorrectly. Pennsylvania asks more of it than most states, and the requirements are specific enough that a well-meaning kitchen-table signing frequently produces something a bank will not accept.

What Pennsylvania requires

For powers of attorney signed on or after 1 January 2015, three things have to happen:

The principal signs — the person granting the authority.
Two witnesses, each at least 18, watch that signature and sign themselves.
The principal’s signature is acknowledged before a notary public.

All three. A notarized power of attorney with no witnesses does not satisfy the statute, and neither does a witnessed one that was never notarized.

A Pennsylvania power of attorney document ready for signing — More pages need signatures than people expect.

Who cannot be a witness

This is where most execution failures come from, because the obvious people to ask are frequently the people who are barred.

Who may and may not witness a Pennsylvania power of attorney
Person	Can they witness?
The agent named in the document	No
The notary public	No
A person who signed on the principal’s behalf	No
Anyone under 18	No
The principal’s spouse, if not the agent	Generally yes
Another adult child who is not the agent	Generally yes
A neighbour or family friend	Yes

Two witnesses signing a Pennsylvania power of attorney — Two witnesses, and neither can be the agent.

Count the people you need. The principal, two witnesses, and a notary — four, minimum, and the agent cannot fill any of the witness slots. If the agent is your eldest child and your spouse is unavailable, you need two other adults in the room.

The notary’s role, precisely

The notary takes an acknowledgment from the principal: confirming identity, confirming the signature was made willingly, and completing the notarial certificate. That is the whole job.

The notary is not assessing whether the document is well drafted, whether the powers granted are appropriate, or whether the agent is a sensible choice. Those are legal questions and a notary is barred from answering them — a boundary we cover in what to bring to a notary appointment.

A notary taking an acknowledgment on a Pennsylvania power of attorney — The notary acknowledges the principal — not the witnesses’ choice.

The notary also cannot be the agent named in the document. That restriction is separate from the witness bar and applies independently.

The two pages people forget

Pennsylvania powers of attorney carry two additional components beyond the operative text, and both get missed.

Parts of a Pennsylvania power of attorney
Component	Who signs it	Commonly missed?
The notice to the principal	The principal	Yes
The operative grant of powers	The principal	No
Witness signatures	Two qualifying witnesses	Sometimes
Notarial certificate	The notary	No
Agent’s acknowledgment	The agent	Very often

The agent’s acknowledgment is the one that causes the most trouble. Pennsylvania requires the agent to sign a statement accepting the role before exercising any authority under the document. A power of attorney arriving at a bank with that page blank tends to come straight back.

An agent signing the acknowledgment before acting under a Pennsylvania power of attorney — The agent signs too, before they can act.

Why banks scrutinise these

A power of attorney lets someone move another person’s money, so institutions check the execution carefully before honouring one. Expect them to look at the date, the witnesses, the notarial certificate, and the agent’s acknowledgment.

A bank reviewing a Pennsylvania power of attorney before accepting it — Institutions check the execution before they honour it.

Some institutions also ask to review the document in advance or want it recorded, particularly where real estate is involved. It is worth asking your bank what they require before the signing rather than discovering it during an emergency.

Financial and medical are different documents

People often say power of attorney as though it were one thing. In practice most families need two.

A financial power of attorney covers money, property, banking and taxes. A health care power of attorney, sometimes paired with a living will as an advance directive, covers medical decisions. They serve different purposes, can name different people, and are executed as separate documents.

Naming the same person for both is common but not automatic — the sibling who is best with money is not always the one you want deciding on treatment.

Capacity, and the timing problem

The principal must understand what they are signing at the moment they sign it. A power of attorney executed by someone who no longer has capacity is not valid, and no amount of family agreement changes that.

This is why powers of attorney are worth doing early. Families most often reach for one at the point where capacity has already become uncertain — which is precisely the point at which it may no longer be possible.

Planning ahead with family documents in Pennsylvania — Capacity has to exist on the day it is signed.

What to bring to the appointment

The completed document, with every blank filled in and nothing signed
Current government photo identification for the principal
Two witnesses, with their own identification, neither of whom is the agent
The agent, if they are available to sign their acknowledgment at the same time
Payment for the notarial fee — capped in Pennsylvania, as set out in what a notary is allowed to charge

If the principal cannot travel, a mobile notary can attend a hospital or care home — but the witnesses have to be there too. Our comparison of mobile, online and in-office notarization covers when each option works.

We notarize powers of attorney regularly at our Bethlehem notary office. Call ahead so we can confirm you have the right people coming — it is a short conversation that prevents a wasted trip. For general background on how powers of attorney work in Pennsylvania, PALawHELP publishes a plain-language guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized in Pennsylvania?

Yes. For powers of attorney signed on or after 1 January 2015, the principal’s signature must be acknowledged before a notary public or another individual authorized to take acknowledgments, and two witnesses must also sign.

How many witnesses does a PA power of attorney need?

Two, each at least 18 years old. They must watch the principal sign and then sign themselves. A notary alone is not enough — the witnesses are a separate requirement.

Can the notary be one of the witnesses?

No. Pennsylvania specifically excludes the notary from serving as a witness on a power of attorney. You need two witnesses in addition to the notary, so at least four people are involved.

Can my agent witness the document?

No. The agent named in the power of attorney cannot serve as a witness, and neither can a person who signed the document on the principal’s behalf. The notary also cannot be the agent.

What if the principal cannot physically sign?

Another individual may sign the principal’s name at the principal’s direction and in their presence. That person then cannot serve as one of the two witnesses.

Does the agent have to sign anything?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the agent to sign an acknowledgment accepting the role before exercising authority under the document. A power of attorney with an unsigned agent acknowledgment routinely gets rejected by banks.

Bringing in a power of attorney?

Call first and we will confirm who needs to be in the room. Two witnesses, photo ID, and an unsigned document is usually all it takes. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026

Where to Find a Notary in the Lehigh Valley

“Notary near me” is the wrong search about half the time. The nearest notary is easy to find in the Lehigh Valley — the harder question is whether the nearest one can actually handle your document.

Here is what is genuinely available across the Valley, and how to pick.

Your options, and what each one will refuse

Where to get a document notarized in the Lehigh Valley
Option	Typical cost	Vehicle titles?	Main limitation
Bank or credit union	Free for account holders	Often declined	Customers only; notary must be on duty
Shipping and packing store	$5 plus any service charge	Sometimes declined	Limited document range
PennDOT agent / tag service	$5 notarial fee plus agent fee	Yes	Business hours only
Law office	Varies, often free with other work	Rarely	Usually clients only
Mobile notary	$5 plus uncapped travel	Witnessing only	Cannot process state paperwork
Public library or municipal office	Free or nominal	No	Very limited availability

Banks: free, but conditional

Most banks notarize free for their own account holders, which makes them the cheapest option in the Valley by a distance. Two things get in the way.

The first is that many branches will not serve non-customers. The second is that a good number decline vehicle titles outright because of the liability involved in a document that voids on a single misplaced signature.

A bank branch offering notary services in Pennsylvania — Free for account holders — if they will take your document.

Call the specific branch before you drive over. Whether a commissioned notary is on duty varies by day, not just by branch.

Shipping and packing stores

Convenient hours and no account requirement, which makes them a reasonable fallback for routine documents. Expect the capped $5 notarial fee, sometimes with a service charge on top.

A shipping store offering notary services — Convenient hours, limited document range.

They vary widely in what they will accept. Anything unusual — estate paperwork, multiple signers, a vehicle title — is worth confirming by phone first.

Tag services and PennDOT agents

This is the category most people do not think of until they need vehicle paperwork, and it is the only one that finishes the job in a single visit.

A PennDOT authorized tag service and notary office in the Lehigh Valley — The only option that finishes vehicle paperwork on the spot.

A notary who is also an authorized PennDOT agent can witness the signature on a title and process the transfer, collect the sales tax, and issue plates and registration — all at once. Everywhere else, the notarization is step one of two. That is what our title transfer service and PennDOT agent services are built around.

Town by town

The Valley is compact — nothing in it is more than about half an hour from anything else — but availability is not evenly spread.

Notary availability across the Lehigh Valley
Town	Approx. distance from Bethlehem	What to expect
Bethlehem	—	The widest choice, including PennDOT agents
Allentown	6 miles	Plenty of options; the largest city in the Valley
Easton	12 miles	Good coverage, close to the New Jersey border
Nazareth	10 miles	Smaller borough, fewer options, short drive in
Northampton	10 miles	Limited local choice
Emmaus	8 miles	Reasonable coverage
Quakertown	17 miles	Narrower choice; many residents travel into the Valley

Downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — Bethlehem sits at the centre of the Valley’s notary demand.

For a straightforward single signature, use whatever is closest. For anything involving a vehicle, the calculation changes — a fifteen-minute drive that finishes the entire transfer beats a five-minute drive that gets you a stamp and a second errand.

Travelling between Lehigh Valley towns to reach a notary — Nothing in the Valley is more than half an hour away.

A note for Quakertown and Upper Bucks residents. Quakertown sits at the southern edge of the Valley’s orbit, and local options for vehicle title work are thinner than in Bethlehem or Allentown. It is a straightforward run up Route 309, and worth it if you want the title, tax, plates and registration handled in one appointment rather than spread across two places.

When “nearest” is the wrong test

For a single signature on a routine document, distance is the only thing that matters. Use whoever is closest and open.

For anything with a state process attached, the right question is how many stops it takes. A mobile notary who comes to your door still leaves you holding a notarized title that has to be filed somewhere. A bank three minutes away that declines vehicle work has cost you the trip.

Counting stops rather than miles usually reverses the answer — and it is why most Lehigh Valley vehicle transfers end up at a tag service rather than the nearest available stamp.

Checking a notary is genuine

Pennsylvania notaries are commissioned by the Department of State for a fixed term, and the expiry date appears on the seal they use. A commission that has lapsed means the notarization is invalid.

Asking to see a current commission is completely normal and no legitimate notary will take offence. The Office of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation within the Pennsylvania Department of State administers commissions and maintains the official records.

Verifying that a Pennsylvania notary commission is current — Commissions expire — it is reasonable to ask.

Before you go, whichever you choose

Call first if the document is anything other than routine.
Bring current government photo identification — expired will be refused.
Leave the document unsigned. Several notarial acts require you to sign in the notary’s presence.
Bring every signer. Nobody can be notarized in absentia.
Arrange witnesses if the document names them — a notary is not a witness.

The full checklist is in what to bring to a notary appointment in Pennsylvania, and if cost is the question, what a notary is allowed to charge covers the capped schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a notary near me in the Lehigh Valley?

Banks, shipping and packing stores, law offices, tag services and mobile notaries all operate across the Valley. Which one to use depends on the document — banks and shipping stores often decline vehicle titles, while a PennDOT-authorized tag service can handle titles and the state paperwork together.

Do banks charge for notary services?

Most banks provide notary services free to their own account holders, and many will not serve non-customers at all. Availability depends on whether a commissioned notary is on duty, so call the branch first rather than turning up.

Is there a notary in Quakertown?

Quakertown has notary options, though the choice is narrower than in Bethlehem or Allentown. Quakertown sits roughly 17 miles from Bethlehem, so many residents travel into the Valley when they need vehicle title work done in a single visit.

Can any notary handle a car title in Pennsylvania?

Legally, any commissioned Pennsylvania notary may witness the signature. In practice many banks and retail notaries decline vehicle titles because of the liability, and none of them can process the transfer with the state — that requires an authorized PennDOT agent.

How do I check a notary is genuine?

Pennsylvania notaries are commissioned by the Department of State and their commission has an expiry date, which appears on their seal. Asking to see a current commission is entirely normal, and any legitimate notary will show you.

Do I need an appointment?

For a straightforward single-signature notarization, walk-ins are usually fine. Call ahead if you have multiple signers, several documents, or a vehicle title transfer, since everyone involved has to be present at the same place.

Serving the Lehigh Valley since 2005

Notary, title transfers, PennDOT paperwork and insurance under one roof at 825 E 4th St, Bethlehem. Walk in or call ahead. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026

Mobile, Online or In-Office: Which Notary Do You Need in PA?

Pennsylvania recognises three ways to get a signature notarized: in person at an office, in person wherever you happen to be, or remotely over video. They cost different amounts, take different lengths of time, and — critically — they do not all work on the same documents.

The three options side by side

Pennsylvania notarization methods compared
	In-office	Mobile	Remote online
Where it happens	The notary’s premises	Your location	Video call
Notarial fee	Capped at $5 per act	Capped at $5 per act	$5 plus up to $20 surcharge
Travel charge	None	Uncapped, must be disclosed	None
Typical wait	Walk-in or same day	Scheduled	Often within the hour
Works for vehicle titles	Yes	Yes	No
Works for a signer who cannot travel	No	Yes	Sometimes
Can also process PennDOT paperwork	At an agent, yes	No	No

An in-office notary appointment in Pennsylvania — The default, and the only option for some documents.

In-office: the default

Walking in remains the cheapest and simplest route for anyone who can travel. There is no travel charge and no technology surcharge, and most routine notarizations take under ten minutes.

It also has one advantage the other two cannot match. A notary who is also an authorized PennDOT agent can notarize your document and process the state paperwork attached to it in the same visit — which matters enormously for vehicle work.

Mobile: for people who cannot come to you

Mobile notaries travel to hospitals, care homes, workplaces, and houses. They exist for a specific and genuine need: a signer who is unwell, immobile, or simply cannot leave.

A mobile notary visiting a client who cannot travel — Mobile notaries exist for people who cannot come to you.

The notarial fee stays capped, but travel is billed separately and is not capped — it only has to be customary, reasonable, and disclosed before the appointment. In practice the travel is the larger part of the bill.

A mobile notary cannot process state paperwork. They can witness a signature on a vehicle title, but the title still has to reach an authorized agent or PennDOT afterwards. For a title transfer that means two steps instead of one.

Our full breakdown of what each act may cost is in how much a notary costs in Pennsylvania.

Remote online: fast, and limited

Remote online notarization has been permanently legal in Pennsylvania since Act 97 of 2020. You join a video call with an approved notary, prove your identity electronically, and sign an electronic document. The whole thing can happen within the hour.

Notaries performing electronic or remote acts may charge up to $20 per act on top of the standard fee, which covers the platform, the identity proofing, and the recording requirements that come with it.

Identity verification during a remote online notarization — Remote acts require identity proofing and a recording.

For a power of attorney, an affidavit, or most contracts, it is an excellent option — particularly if you are out of state.

The exception that catches everyone

Remote online notarization does not work for Pennsylvania vehicle titles. PennDOT has not implemented electronic titling, which means a certificate of title still requires a wet ink signature and a physical stamp.

A wet ink signature required on a Pennsylvania vehicle title — PennDOT will not accept an electronic title signature.

The workaround. If a buyer or seller genuinely cannot appear, they can grant a limited power of attorney authorising someone else to sign the title. Unlike the title itself, a power of attorney can be notarized remotely — so the absent party signs the POA online and their representative signs the title in person. The full picture is in our guide to the notary rule for car titles.

Which to choose, by document

Matching the document to the method
Document	Best option	Why
Vehicle title transfer	In-office at a PennDOT agent	Wet ink required, and the state paperwork gets done too
Power of attorney	Any of the three	Bring witnesses if the document requires them
Affidavit or sworn statement	In-office or remote	Must be signed in the notary’s presence
Signer in hospital or care home	Mobile	The only practical option
You are out of state	Remote online	Unless it is a vehicle title
Copy certification	In-office	The original document has to be physically present
Parental travel consent	In-office or mobile	Often needs both parents present

Comparing the cost and speed of Pennsylvania notary options — Cost and convenience pull in opposite directions.

A note on out-of-state notarizations

If you are outside Pennsylvania and the document is not a vehicle title, a local notary in the state you are standing in will generally do. A notarial act valid where it was performed is normally accepted here.

The exception is anything Pennsylvania has its own procedure for. Vehicle titles again lead that list, and out-of-state title work brings a separate verification requirement when the car is brought here — covered in titling an out-of-state car in Pennsylvania.

What none of them can do

The method changes where and how, not what a notary is permitted to do. Regardless of which you choose:

A notary cannot tell you which document you need — that is legal advice.
A notary cannot notarize a document with blank spaces still in it.
A notary cannot act if the signer is absent, or appears not to understand what they are signing.
A notary cannot certify a copy of a birth or death certificate — request those from the issuing agency.

The Pennsylvania Department of State publishes the full scope of notarial authority on its notaries programme pages.

A combined notary and PennDOT agent visit in Bethlehem — For vehicle work, one visit beats three options.

For most people in the Lehigh Valley the answer is simple: if it involves a vehicle, come in person to somewhere that is both a notary and a PennDOT agent, so the title transfer and the notarization finish together. For everything else, pick whichever of the three suits your week — and check what to bring before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is online notarization legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Remote online notarization became permanently legal in Pennsylvania with Act 97 of 2020, and approved notaries may perform remote acts using audio-visual communication technology. Vehicle titles are the significant exception.

Why can’t I notarize a car title online in PA?

PennDOT has not implemented electronic titling, so a Pennsylvania certificate of title still requires a wet ink signature and a physical notary stamp. A remotely notarized title will be rejected.

How much more does a mobile notary cost?

The notarial act itself is capped at the same rate — $5 for a standard acknowledgment. Travel is charged separately as a clerical cost and is not capped, though it must be customary and reasonable for the area and disclosed to you beforehand.

Can a mobile notary come to a hospital or care home?

Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people use one. The signer must still be able to understand the document and sign willingly, and must produce acceptable identification or use a credible witness.

What if I’m out of state and need a PA document notarized?

For most documents, a remote online notarization works. For anything requiring wet ink — a vehicle title in particular — the usual solution is a limited power of attorney, which can itself be notarized remotely.

Does an out-of-state notary work for a Pennsylvania document?

For most documents, yes — a notarization valid where it was performed is generally accepted. Pennsylvania vehicle titles are again the exception, and out-of-state title work brings its own verification requirements.

Not sure which option you need?

Call us and describe the document — we will tell you straight away whether it needs wet ink, witnesses, or can be handled remotely. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026

How Much Does a Notary Cost in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania does not let a notary decide what to charge. The maximum fee for every notarial act is fixed by the Department of State, which makes this one of the few professional services in the state with a published price ceiling.

That is good news if you know the numbers. Here they are, along with the charges that legitimately sit outside the cap.

The current fee schedule

Maximum Pennsylvania notary fees per act
Notarial act	Maximum fee	What it covers
Taking an acknowledgment — first individual	$5.00	Confirming you signed willingly and understood the document
Taking an acknowledgment — each additional name	$2.00	Every further signer on the same document
Administering an oath or affirmation	$5.00	Swearing you in
Taking a verification on oath or affirmation	$5.00	Affidavits and sworn statements
Witnessing or attesting a signature	$5.00	The notary watches you sign
Certifying or attesting a copy	$5.00	Confirming a copy matches the original
Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument	$3.00	Rare, mostly commercial
Electronic or remote notarization	Up to $20.00 additional	Surcharge per act, on top of the fee above

Pennsylvania regulations that cap notary public fees — The ceiling is set by regulation, not by the notary.

These are ceilings, not set prices. A notary may charge less, and some waive the fee entirely for customers using another service at the same time. What none of them may do is charge more.

The detail most people miss: fees follow names

An acknowledgment is $5 for the first individual and $2 for each additional name. That is per name, not per document and not per page.

A forty-page trust signed by one person is $5. A one-page letter signed by four people is $11. The length of the document is irrelevant.

Multiple signers on one document at a Pennsylvania notary — The fee follows names, not pages.

What a real appointment costs

Typical Pennsylvania notary charges by situation
Situation	Notarial acts	Fee
One document, one signer	1 acknowledgment	$5.00
One document, two signers	1 acknowledgment + 1 additional name	$7.00
Affidavit, one signer	1 verification on oath	$5.00
Power of attorney, one grantor	1 acknowledgment	$5.00
Vehicle title, buyer and seller	Acknowledgments for both parties	$7.00
Three separate documents, one signer	3 acknowledgments	$15.00
Copy certification	1 certified copy	$5.00

For most people walking into our Bethlehem notary office, the notarial fee is five or seven dollars. It is genuinely one of the cheapest professional services you will buy.

The charges that sit outside the cap

Notaries may charge clerical or administrative fees for work connected to the notarial act — copying, postage, telephone calls, and travel. These are not set by the Department, so they are not capped.

Two rules apply. They must be customary and reasonable for the area and the service, and you must be told about them before the notarization takes place.

Capped versus uncapped charges
Charge	Capped by the state?	Must be disclosed first?
The notarial act itself	Yes	Not required, but always shown
Photocopying	No	Yes
Postage and courier	No	Yes
Travel to your location	No	Yes
Electronic or remote surcharge	Yes — $20 maximum	Yes
Agent fee for PennDOT paperwork	No — a separate service	Yes

An itemised receipt for Pennsylvania notary services — Ask for the breakdown before you sign anything.

Mobile notaries and travel

A mobile notary comes to you — a hospital, a care home, a workplace, or your kitchen table. The notarial act is still capped at $5, but the travel is a separate, uncapped charge.

Expect the travel component to be the larger number, and ask for it up front. There is nothing improper about it, but “customary and reasonable” is a real standard, and a quote that seems wildly out of line usually is.

A mobile notary travelling to a client in Pennsylvania — Travel is billed separately and is not capped.

Online notarization and the $20 surcharge

Remote online notarization has been permanently legal in Pennsylvania since Act 97 of 2020. Electronic and remote notaries may add up to $20 per notarial act.

Whether that is worth it depends entirely on the document — and on one significant exception. Vehicle titles cannot be notarized remotely, because PennDOT requires wet ink and a physical stamp. We covered that in detail in our guide to Pennsylvania’s notary requirement for car titles.

Remote online notarization in Pennsylvania carries an additional fee — Electronic and remote acts allow a surcharge.

Where title transfers get more expensive

People often assume a title transfer carries a big notary bill. It does not — the notarization is $7 for two parties. The cost sits in the state fees around it.

On a $12,000 private sale you are looking at $72 for the title, $720 in sales tax, $48 for registration, plus the agent’s processing fee. The $7 notarial charge is rounding. Our full breakdown of Pennsylvania title transfer costs lays out every line.

How to spot an overcharge

A per-page notarial fee. Page count is not a basis for charging.
More than $5 for a standard acknowledgment, with no explanation of what the extra covers.
Undisclosed travel or clerical charges appearing only when you pay.
A remote surcharge above $20 per act.
Charging for legal advice. A notary cannot give it, so it cannot be billed.

Checking a Pennsylvania notary bill for overcharging — A notary may not exceed the fixed schedule.

If something looks wrong, ask for the charges itemised. A notary operating properly will have no difficulty separating the capped notarial fee from any clerical costs. The current schedule is published by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Before you come in, it is worth checking what to bring to a Pennsylvania notary appointment — the wrong identification costs more in wasted time than the fee ever will.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a notary legally charge in Pennsylvania?

The Department of State fixes the maximum per notarial act: $5 for taking an acknowledgment from the first individual and $2 for each additional name, $5 for administering an oath or affirmation, $5 for a verification on oath or affirmation, $5 for witnessing or attesting a signature, $5 for certifying a copy, and $3 for noting a protest.

Is the fee per document or per signature?

Per act, and for acknowledgments it scales by name. One document signed by one person is $5. The same document signed by two people is $7 — $5 for the first name and $2 for the second. Page count does not affect the fee.

Can a notary charge more than the schedule?

No. A notary public may not charge or receive a notary fee in excess of the fees fixed by the Department. They may charge separate clerical or administrative costs, but those are a different category and must be disclosed to you beforehand.

Are mobile notary travel fees legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Travel is treated as a clerical or administrative cost rather than a notarial fee, so it is not capped by the schedule. It must be customary and reasonable for the area, and you must be told about it before the notarization takes place.

Why is an online notarization more expensive?

Electronic and remote notaries may charge an additional fee of up to $20 per notarial act performed with respect to electronic records or using communication technology. That surcharge covers the platform, identity proofing, and recording requirements.

Does a car title transfer cost more to notarize?

The notarial act itself is charged at the same capped rate. What makes a title transfer more expensive is everything around it — the $72 state title fee, sales tax, registration, and the agent’s separate processing fee.

Need something notarized in Bethlehem?

Straightforward, capped pricing and no surprises. Walk in during business hours, or call ahead if you have several signers. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026

What to Bring to a Notary Appointment in Pennsylvania

A notarization takes about five minutes when everyone arrives prepared. When it fails, it is almost always for one of two reasons: the identification was not acceptable, or the document had already been signed.

Here is the short version of what to bring, followed by the detail behind each item.

The three things every notarization needs

The signer, in person. Pennsylvania requires the person whose signature is being notarized to physically appear. Someone else cannot bring your document in for you.
Current government photo identification. It must be unexpired and bear your signature.
The complete, unsigned document. Every blank filled in except the signature line.

Government issued photo identification accepted by a Pennsylvania notary — Current, government-issued, and bearing your signature.

Identification: what works and what does not

A notary’s central legal duty is confirming you are who you claim to be. That makes identification the least flexible part of the appointment.

Identification accepted by Pennsylvania notaries
Document	Accepted?	Notes
Pennsylvania driver’s license	Yes	The most common form of proof
Pennsylvania photo identification card	Yes	Standard alternative for non-drivers
United States passport or passport card	Yes	Useful when a license has expired
Military identification card	Yes	Issued by any branch of the armed forces
Permanent resident card	Yes	Government issued with photo and signature
Expired driver’s license	No	Must be current
Photo of an ID on your phone	No	The physical document is required
Social Security card alone	No	No photograph, so not sufficient on its own

An unsigned document waiting for a Pennsylvania notary appointment — Leave the signature line blank until you arrive.

No acceptable identification? Pennsylvania allows a credible witness — someone the notary personally knows, who personally knows you, and who appears alongside you with their own valid identification. Call ahead if you plan to use this route.

Why you should not sign in advance

This is the single most common reason people get turned away, and the logic is worth understanding.

Pennsylvania notaries perform several distinct acts, and they have different rules about when you sign.

Notarial acts and when you sign
Notarial act	What it confirms	When you sign
Acknowledgment	That you signed willingly and understood the document	May be signed beforehand
Jurat or verification on oath	That you swore the contents are true	Must be signed in front of the notary
Signature witnessing	That the notary watched you sign	Must be signed in front of the notary
Certified copy	That a copy matches the original	No signature required from you

Two of those four require the signature to happen in the notary’s presence. Since most people do not know which act their document calls for until the notary reads it, arriving unsigned costs you nothing and avoids a wasted trip.

A power of attorney being prepared for notarization in Pennsylvania — Different documents call for different notarial acts.

What different documents need

Requirements vary by document type. These are the ones we see most often at our Bethlehem notary office.

Common documents and what to bring
Document	Who must appear	Extra items to bring
Vehicle title transfer	Buyer and seller	Original title, insurance, odometer reading
Power of attorney	The person granting authority	Two witnesses are typically required
Affidavit or sworn statement	The person swearing	Nothing beyond identification
Parental travel consent for a minor	Both parents where applicable	Child’s details and travel dates
Deed or property document	All signing owners	The prepared deed, unsigned
Copy certification	The document holder	The original document

Vehicle titles are a category of their own in Pennsylvania — they must be notarized, and the rules around them are unusually strict. We covered that separately in our guide to Pennsylvania’s notary requirement for car title transfers.

Witnesses present for a document signing in Pennsylvania — Some documents require witnesses in addition to the notary.

When you need witnesses as well

A notary is not a witness. If your document calls for witnesses — powers of attorney and certain estate documents commonly do — you need to bring them, and they must be present at the signing.

Witnesses need their own valid photo identification.
They generally should not be named in the document or stand to benefit from it.
They must actually watch you sign, not sign afterward.

What it costs

Pennsylvania caps notary fees by regulation, so there is no negotiating and no surprise pricing.

Maximum Pennsylvania notary fees
Act	Maximum fee
Taking an acknowledgment — first individual	$5.00
Taking an acknowledgment — each additional name	$2.00
Administering an oath or affirmation	$5.00
Taking a verification on oath or affirmation	$5.00
Witnessing or attesting a signature	$5.00
Certifying or attesting a copy	$5.00
Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument	$3.00
Electronic or remote notarization	Up to $20.00 additional per act

A notary may separately charge reasonable clerical costs such as copying, postage, or travel, but those must be disclosed to you before the notarization takes place — what a Pennsylvania notary is allowed to charge breaks the schedule down in full. The wording of the certificates a notary completes is published by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Paying capped Pennsylvania notary fees at an appointment — Pennsylvania caps what a notary may charge per act.

What a notary cannot do for you

Understanding the boundaries saves an awkward conversation at the counter.

Inside and outside a Pennsylvania notary’s authority
Request	Can a notary do it?
Verify your identity and witness your signature	Yes
Administer an oath or affirmation	Yes
Certify a copy of a document	Yes, for most documents
Tell you which document you need	No — that is legal advice
Explain what a clause in your contract means	No
Notarize a document with blank spaces	No
Notarize a signature when the signer is absent	No
Certify a copy of a birth or death certificate	No — request one from the issuing agency

Understanding what a Pennsylvania notary cannot legally do — A notary verifies identity — not the content of your document.

If your document is connected to a vehicle, we can usually handle everything in one visit — notarization plus the state paperwork through our PennDOT agent services, including vehicle title transfers with on-site notarization.

A two-minute pre-appointment checklist

Document complete, with every blank filled in
Signature line still empty
Current photo identification in hand, not a photo of it
Every required signer coming with you
Witnesses arranged, if the document names them
Payment ready for the notarial fee

Frequently asked questions

Should I sign my document before going to the notary?

Usually not. For a jurat or verification on oath, you must sign in the notary’s presence, and signing early invalidates the act. For an acknowledgment you may have signed beforehand, but since most people do not know which act their document requires, the safest approach is to leave it unsigned.

What identification does a Pennsylvania notary accept?

A current government-issued photo identification bearing your signature — a Pennsylvania driver’s license, state identification card, United States passport, or military identification card are the most common. Expired identification is not acceptable.

What if I do not have photo identification?

Pennsylvania allows a credible witness. That person must personally know you, must be personally known to the notary, and must appear in person with you. They will need their own acceptable identification.

How much can a notary charge in Pennsylvania?

Fees are capped by the Department of State. Taking an acknowledgment is $5 for the first individual and $2 for each additional name, administering an oath or affirmation is $5, and witnessing a signature is $5. Electronic and remote notarizations may carry a surcharge of up to $20 per act.

Can a notary notarize a document for a family member?

Pennsylvania notaries may not notarize a document in which they have a beneficial interest, and notarizing for close family is generally discouraged because it can create the appearance of a conflict. Most notaries decline to do so.

Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?

Walk-ins are usually fine for routine notarizations. It is worth calling ahead if you need multiple signers, several documents, or a vehicle title transfer, since those take longer and everyone involved needs to be present.

Need something notarized in the Lehigh Valley?

Walk in during business hours or call ahead for multiple signers. We have served Bethlehem and the surrounding area since 2005. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026

Do You Need a Notary to Transfer a Car Title in PA?

Yes — and there are no exceptions. Pennsylvania requires the signature on a vehicle certificate of title to be witnessed by a commissioned notary public every single time ownership changes hands.

Not just dealer sales. Not just strangers. A father selling a car to his own daughter still needs a notary — which catches out anyone used to a neighboring state, where the rules are far looser.

Why Pennsylvania is stricter than its neighbors

Most states treat a vehicle title like a receipt: the seller signs the back, hands it over, and the buyer mails it in. Pennsylvania treats it like a legal instrument that needs a witness.

A commissioned Pennsylvania notary public seal and journal — Only a commissioned Pennsylvania notary may witness a title signature.

The reasoning is fraud prevention. A notarized signature creates a verified record that a specific, identified person actually signed the document — which makes forged titles and odometer fraud considerably harder to pull off.

For anyone in the Lehigh Valley, the contrast with New Jersey matters, because the border is twenty minutes away.

Vehicle title notarization rules in Pennsylvania and nearby states
State	Notary required on title?	What that means for you
Pennsylvania	Yes — always	Do not sign until you are in front of a notary
New Jersey	Not generally required	A PA buyer still needs PA rules met to title here
New York	Not generally required	Out-of-state titles need PA verification on arrival
Ohio	Yes	Similar process to Pennsylvania
Delaware	Not generally required	Expect a longer appointment when titling in PA
Maryland	Not generally required	Certain gift transfers may still need certification

Buying from across the river? A New Jersey seller signing a New Jersey title does not need a notary under New Jersey law — but the moment you bring that vehicle to Pennsylvania to title it, PennDOT applies its own verification requirements, including a physical tracing of the vehicle identification number.

Crossing state lines where vehicle title notary rules differ — Rules change the moment you cross the Delaware River.

Who can legally notarize a Pennsylvania title

Any commissioned Pennsylvania notary public may perform the notarization. In practice, though, your options narrow quickly:

Banks and credit unions often have a notary on staff, but many decline vehicle titles because of the liability, and most will only serve account holders.
Independent mobile notaries can witness the signature, but cannot process the transfer — you still have to take the paperwork somewhere else afterward.
PennDOT authorized agents who are also notaries can do both in a single appointment, which is why most Pennsylvania transfers happen this way.

That last option is what our notary public services in Bethlehem are built around — the notarization and the state paperwork finished together rather than split across two trips.

What the notary is actually checking

A notary is not verifying that the sale is a good deal or that the price is fair. Under Pennsylvania’s Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, the notary has a narrow legal job: confirm you are who you say you are, confirm you are signing willingly, and witness the signature.

Acceptable identification for a Pennsylvania notarization
Type of proof	Examples	Accepted?
Government photo ID with signature	PA driver’s license, state ID card, passport, military ID	Yes — the standard route
Personal knowledge	The notary already knows you personally	Yes
Credible witness	Someone the notary knows who can vouch for you	Yes, with conditions
Expired identification	A license that lapsed last year	No
Photocopy or photo of an ID	An image on your phone	No

A notary checking photo identification before a Pennsylvania title transfer — Identity verification is the notary’s core legal duty.

Why you cannot use an online notary for a car title

This trips up a lot of people, because the answer seems like it should be yes. Remote online notarization has been permanently legal in Pennsylvania since Act 97 was signed in 2020, and it works fine for powers of attorney, affidavits, and most other documents.

Vehicle titles are the exception. PennDOT has not implemented electronic titling, which means a Pennsylvania certificate of title still requires a wet ink signature and a physical notary stamp. A remotely notarized title will be rejected.

Remote online notarization by video, which Pennsylvania does not accept for vehicle titles — Legal in Pennsylvania for most documents — but not for car titles.

The workaround that does work. If a buyer or seller genuinely cannot appear in person, they can grant a limited power of attorney authorizing someone else to sign the title for them. Unlike the title itself, a power of attorney can be notarized remotely — so the absent party signs the POA online, and their representative signs the title in person.

What voids a Pennsylvania title

Because the title is a legal instrument, it is unforgiving. These are the errors we see most often, and none of them can be fixed with a pen.

Common title errors and what they cost you
Mistake	Result	Fix
Signed before reaching the notary	Title is void	Apply for a duplicate title — $72 and a wait
Crossed out or used correction fluid	Title is void	Apply for a duplicate title
Signed in the buyer’s box instead of the seller’s	Title is void	Apply for a duplicate title
Name signed differently than printed on the title	Transfer rejected	Re-execute in front of a notary
Odometer section left blank	Transfer rejected	Complete and re-notarize

A Pennsylvania vehicle title voided by a signing error — There is no way to correct an alteration on a title.

The pattern is obvious once you see it listed out: almost every failure happens because someone signed something early. Leave the title completely blank until a notary is watching, and the overwhelming majority of these problems never arise. Our complete walkthrough of the Pennsylvania title transfer process covers the correct signing order in detail.

One appointment or two?

Notary only versus a combined notary and PennDOT agent
	Notary only	Notary + PennDOT agent
Witnesses the signature	Yes	Yes
Processes the title with the state	No	Yes
Issues plates and registration same day	No	Yes
Collects sales tax and fees	No	Yes
Number of stops	Two or more	One

A combined notary and PennDOT agent completing a title transfer in one visit — One appointment instead of two stops.

We hold both roles, so a title transfer, the notarization, the sales tax, and your plates are handled together — see our PennDOT agent services in the Lehigh Valley for everything we can process in a single visit, or review what a Pennsylvania title transfer costs in 2026 before you come in.

The full scope of what a commissioned notary may and may not do is published by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania require a notary for every car title transfer?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the signature on a vehicle certificate of title to be notarized on every transfer of ownership. There is no exception for private sales, sales between friends, or gifts between family members.

Can I use an online notary for a PA car title?

No. Although remote online notarization has been legal in Pennsylvania since Act 97 of 2020 for most documents, PennDOT requires wet ink signatures and a physical notary stamp on vehicle titles. Certificates of title cannot be notarized electronically or remotely.

Can a bank notary sign my car title?

A bank notary can legally perform the notarization if they are a commissioned Pennsylvania notary, but many banks decline vehicle titles because of the liability involved. A notary who is also a PennDOT agent can notarize and process the transfer in the same visit.

What if the seller lives out of state and cannot appear?

A limited power of attorney is the usual solution. The absent party grants authority to someone else to sign the title on their behalf, and unlike the title itself, a power of attorney can be executed by remote online notarization in Pennsylvania.

Do the buyer and seller have to be present at the same time?

No. Each party’s signature must be witnessed by a notary, but they can appear separately. The seller can be notarized first, and the buyer can come in afterward with the same title.

What identification does the notary need to see?

A current government-issued photo identification bearing your signature, such as a Pennsylvania driver’s license, a state identification card, a passport, or a military identification card. If you have none of these, a credible witness personally known to the notary may be used instead.

Need a title notarized today?

We are a commissioned notary and PennDOT agent in Bethlehem. Walk in with the title unsigned and leave with the transfer finished. Hablamos Español.

Call 610-625-1525 Book an appointment

August 24, 2026