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Oath of Office

Also called: oath, recording of oath

The sworn declaration a new Pennsylvania notary must take — and file with the county Prothonotary — within 45 days of the Department of State's appointment. Missing the 45-day deadline voids the commission.

The appointment by the Department of State gives permission to serve; the oath of office, filed with the Prothonotary of the county where the notary practices, is the act that actually activates the commission. The 45-day clock runs from the DOS appointment date — not the date the notary receives the paperwork. Filing a day late means starting the entire appointment process over, including the $42 fee and another bond.

Source: 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(c) — link

See also: commission, becoming-a-notary

This page is educational information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania notary law changes; always verify against the current version of RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. §§ 301–331) and 4 Pa. Code at pa.gov. Consult a PA-licensed attorney for specific situations.