2.1 Understanding RULONA
Key Takeaways
- RULONA, codified at 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3, took effect on October 26, 2017 and governs all Pennsylvania notarial practice.
- Pennsylvania notaries may perform exactly six notarial acts; witnessing or attesting a signature was added by RULONA.
- Every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate stating the act, the date, the venue, and the signer's name.
- Section 304 bars a notary from acting on any record in which the notary or the notary's spouse has a direct or pecuniary interest.
- A notarial act done with a disqualifying interest is voidable, and a notary must refuse rather than act.
What RULONA Is
The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) is Pennsylvania's governing notary statute, codified at 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3 and enacted as Act 73 of 2013. Although signed in 2013, RULONA did not take effect until October 26, 2017, when the Department of State's implementing regulations and the new education and examination requirements went live. RULONA replaced Pennsylvania's older Notary Public Law and adopted a national uniform framework, so much of what you learn here mirrors RULONA enactments in other states.
RULONA is administered by the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation within the Pennsylvania Department of State. The exam tests the statute itself, not folklore: when a question conflicts with what "everybody does," answer from the law. RULONA defines who may act, what acts exist, how identity is established, how certificates must read, and what conduct is prohibited.
What Changed Under RULONA
RULONA modernized notary practice and tightened compliance. The table below contrasts the pre-2017 regime with current law.
| Topic | Before RULONA | Under RULONA |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Not required | 3-hour approved course required before appointment |
| Examination | Not required | Written exam required (notaries who charge fees) |
| Certificate forms | Varied wording | Standardized short-form certificates |
| Witnessing a signature | Not a distinct act | Added as a sixth act |
| Electronic/remote acts | Limited | Electronic and (via Act 97 of 2020) remote acts authorized |
| Disqualifying interest | Loosely defined | Section 304 direct/pecuniary-interest bar |
A recurring exam theme is that RULONA raised the bar: more training, stricter recordkeeping, and uniform certificate language. Do not pick answers that describe the old, looser practice.
The Six Notarial Acts
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 302, a Pennsylvania notary may perform exactly six notarial acts. You should memorize this closed list; the exam frequently asks you to identify an act that is not on it (for example, certifying that a will is valid or giving legal advice).
| # | Notarial Act | Core Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taking an acknowledgment | Signer declares the signature is genuine and voluntary |
| 2 | Administering an oath or affirmation | Notary administers a spoken sworn promise |
| 3 | Taking a verification on oath or affirmation | Signer swears a written statement is true (affidavit) |
| 4 | Witnessing or attesting a signature | Notary watches the document actually being signed |
| 5 | Certifying or attesting a copy | Notary certifies a copy is a true reproduction of an original |
| 6 | Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument | Documents dishonor of commercial paper (rare) |
Note the distinction the exam loves: an acknowledgment confirms a signature already made, while witnessing/attesting requires the notary to observe the signing in real time.
Certificate Requirement and the Disqualifying-Interest Bar
RULONA's organizing rule is that every notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate. The certificate must state the type of act, the date, the venue (state and county), the name(s) of the individual(s), and the notary's signature, seal, title, and commission expiration. Applying only a signature and seal with no certificate language is never sufficient.
RULONA also imposes core conduct duties. The most heavily tested is 57 Pa.C.S. § 304, the disqualifying-interest rule: a notary may not perform an act on a record in which the notary or the notary's spouse has a direct or pecuniary interest. A few things do not count as a disqualifying interest:
- Being a shareholder in a publicly traded company that is a party;
- Being an officer, director, or employee of a company that is a party, unless personally benefiting;
- Receiving a fee that is not contingent on completing the transaction.
An act performed in violation of § 304 is voidable. When a disqualifying interest exists, the notary must decline.
Authority, Refusal, and Scope of a Commission
RULONA also defines the boundaries of the office. A Pennsylvania commission authorizes acts performed within the Commonwealth only — a Pennsylvania notary has no power to notarize while standing in another state. A notary may not delegate the office, lend the commission, or let another person use the seal; each notarization is a personal act of the commissioned individual.
A notary is permitted, and sometimes required, to refuse an act. RULONA lets a notary decline if the notary is not satisfied as to the signer's identity, the signer's willingness, or the signer's competence, or if the notary knows or suspects the transaction is unlawful. At the same time, a notary may not refuse service based on a customer's race, religion, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristic, and may not refuse simply because a document is not drawn by an attorney. The exam frequently pairs these two ideas: refuse for legitimate notarial concerns, never for discriminatory reasons.
Finally, when a notary completes any certificate, the notary is certifying that he or she had authority to act and was not disqualified under § 304. The certificate is therefore both a record of the act and a personal attestation of compliance, which is why accuracy and honesty in completing it carry real legal weight.
Where is Pennsylvania's RULONA codified, and when did it take effect?
Which of the following is NOT one of the six notarial acts authorized under 57 Pa.C.S. § 302?
A notary is asked to notarize a mortgage on a home the notary's spouse is buying. The notary will earn only the standard, non-contingent notarial fee. What does RULONA require?