A deed transfers ownership of real property, and in Pennsylvania it can't be recorded until the grantor's signature has been acknowledged before a notary. The same goes for most mortgages, easements, deeds of trust and quitclaims. Recorders of deeds reject certificates with missing counties, wrong names or unreadable seals, so this is one place the details matter.
I notarize deeds at closing tables, attorneys' offices, kitchen tables and, for straightforward transfers between family members, online. Loan signing agent certification is in progress, so full lender closing packages are coming soon.
What it is
A deed is the written instrument that conveys an interest in real estate from the grantor (seller or giver) to the grantee (buyer or recipient). Related documents that typically need notarization: quitclaim deeds, mortgages and satisfactions, powers of attorney for a closing, and affidavits the recorder or title company requires.
Who signs, and who has to be there
Every grantor named on the deed must appear with photo ID and acknowledge their signature. A spouse who holds title must sign. The grantee usually does not sign the deed itself, but may sign related affidavits. If someone is signing under a power of attorney, bring the original POA; I'll need to see it and note it.
The notarial act
An acknowledgment, one per grantor. A deed with two sellers is two acts. If the package includes a sworn statement, that adds a jurat. The certificate must show the county where the acknowledgment took place (for online sessions, that's the county where I am, in Pennsylvania). I can't tell you whether this is the right document for your situation or what it does legally; that's for an attorney. I can tell you what the law requires for the notarization itself.
Online or in person?
Yes, for many transfers. Pennsylvania recorders accept electronically notarized deeds submitted through e-recording, and most title companies in the region now handle them. For a lender-financed closing, the lender decides; many still require in-person wet-ink signing. If a title company is involved, ask them which they want before booking.
Pennsylvania notes
- Pennsylvania law requires a deed to be acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer before the recorder of deeds will accept it for recording.
- Philadelphia deeds are recorded with the Department of Records; county deeds go to each county's recorder of deeds. Each has its own forms and fees, which the recipient or your attorney handles.
- I'm not a title agent and I don't prepare deeds or calculate transfer tax. I notarize what your attorney or title company prepared.
- Remote online notarization of real estate documents is authorized under 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1; acceptance for recording depends on the county's e-recording setup.
Common mistakes
- Signing before the appointment.
- A missing middle name or a nickname that doesn't match the title and ID.
- Forgetting the second grantor, who then has to book separately.
- Leaving the notary certificate's county or date blank for the recorder to reject.
- Treating an online session as acceptable for a lender closing without asking the lender.
A notary public is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice, choose your certificate, or complete the document for you. This guide is preparation, not advice; your attorney or the recipient decides what the document must contain.