Name Change
A notary public must notify the Department within 30 days of any change in the information on file with the Department, including the notary public's legal name.
Notice of a change in name must be on a form prescribed by the Department and accompanied by evidence of the name change (such as a marriage certificate, court order or divorce decree).
Following notification to the Department, the notary may use the new name or continue to perform notarial acts in the name in which the notary was commissioned until the expiration of the notary's term. However, before using the new name on notarial work, the notary public must register the new signature with the Prothonotary's office of the county where the notary's office address is located and purchase a new rubber stamp seal. Starting January 3, 2023, applicants may register their signature in the office of Recorder of Deeds instead of the Prothonotary. Application for reappointment must be made in the new name.
NOTE: To change your name with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, you must use one of the approved forms below.
Address Change
A notary public must notify the Department within 30 days of any change in the information on file with the Department, including the notary public's office address or home address. The applicant's employer/business address and telephone number as provided on the application is public information. In the absence of an employer or business address and phone number, the home address and phone become the public address and phone number by default.
Notice of a change in address must be made in writing or by email and must state the effective date of the change. The Department has developed a Change of Address form to assist notaries to comply.
RULONA requires that the notary register his or her official signature in the Prothonotary's office of the county where the notary public maintains an office. Starting January 3, 2023, applicants may register their signature in the office of Recorder of Deeds instead of the Prothonotary. Where a notary public moves the notary's office address to a different county, the notary must register the notary's official signature in the Prothonotary's or Recorders office of the new county within 30 days of moving into the new county.
Note: To change your address with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, you must use one of the approved forms below.
Notary Public Change of Address and Email Form
Email Change
A notary public must notify the Department within 30 days of any change in the information on file with the Department, including the notary public's email address.
Notice of a change in email address must be made in writing or by email and must state the effective date of the change. The Department has developed a Change of Address/Email form to assist notaries to comply.
Note: To change your email address with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, you must use one of the approved forms below.
Notary Public Change of Address and Email Form
Online Address/Email Change Form
Resignation of Notary Commission
Notaries public may voluntarily resign from the duties of office at any time during the course of the notary commission. Additionally, if a notary public neither resides nor works in the Commonwealth, that notary public shall be deemed to have resigned from the office of notary public as of the date the residency ceases or employment within the Commonwealth terminates. A notary public who resigns his or her commission shall notify the Department of State in writing within 30 days of the effective date of the resignation, using the form below. Resigning notaries should include the notary public's name as commissioned and the effective date of the resignation. This includes notaries public who resign by virtue of removing their residence or employment from the Commonwealth. Notaries who are simply letting their commissions expire at the end of their term and do not intend to renew for another four-year term should NOT file this or any other form with the Department.
Resigning notaries public, as well as those whose commissions have expired or been revoked, pursuant to 57 Pa.C.S. § 319(e), must deliver their journal to the office of the recorder of deeds in the county where the notary public last maintained an office within 30 days of:
- expiration of the commission of the notary public, unless the notary public applies for a commission within that time period;
- resignation of the commission of the notary public.
Resigning notaries public, pursuant as well as those whose commissions have expired, pursuant to 57 Pa.C.S. § 318(a)(2), must disable their stamping device (notary seal) by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing or securing it against use in a manner which renders it unusable. DO NOT send the rubber stamp seal or embosser to the Department of State.
Death of the Notary Public
Notification of death of a notary public should be mailed to:
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Notaries, Commissions & Legislation
201 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a current or former notary public, the personal representative or guardian of the notary public or a person knowingly in possession of the journal of the notary public shall deliver it within 30 days to the office of the recorder of deeds in the county where the notary public last maintained an office.
On the death or adjudication of incompetency of a notary public, the personal representative or guardian of the notary public or any person knowingly in possession of the stamping device must render it unusable by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing or securing it against use in a manner which renders it unusable. DO NOT send the rubber stamp seal or embosser to the Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation.