Protest
Also called: notice of protest, certificate of dishonor
A formal, notarized certificate that a negotiable instrument — usually a check, promissory note, or bill of exchange — has been presented and dishonored. Protests are governed by 13 Pa.C.S. § 3505 and are one of the six notarial acts enumerated in RULONA.
Under § 305(e) and 4 Pa. Code § 167.66, a protest must identify the instrument, certify that presentment was made (or state the reason it was not), and state that the instrument was dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment. The notary’s fee is $3 per page (4 Pa. Code § 167.3). Two prohibited-act traps sit near this territory: under 4 Pa. Code § 167.121(23)–(26), a notary cannot issue a protest on paper owned or held for collection by a financial institution where the notary is a party, and cannot issue the “conditional acceptance” and “accepted for value” filings used in sovereign-citizen schemes.
Source: 57 Pa.C.S. § 305(e); 13 Pa.C.S. § 3505(b) — link
See also: negotiable-instrument, jurat
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.