Notary Signing Agents Professional Liability Insurance in Pennsylvania

Notary Signing Agents in Pennsylvania at a glance

Commissioning Authority

Pennsylvania Department of State

Oversees the appointment, education, and examination of all PA notaries.

Mandatory Surety Bond

Fixed by state statute

Must be filed with the county recorder of deeds within 45 days of appointment.

Typical Lender E&O Requirement

Set by each lender or title company

Most signing services will not assign loan packages without this coverage.

Journal Requirement

Mandatory under RULONA

Must record every notarial act in a sequential, chronologically ordered log.

Pennsylvania Commissioning and Mandatory Bonding

To operate as a signing agent in Pennsylvania, an individual must first be commissioned as a notary public by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. This process involves completing three hours of approved education and passing an examination if applying for the first time or after a commission lapse. A critical requirement is the state-required surety bond, which must be filed with the recorder of deeds in the notary's county of office within 45 days of appointment.

It is vital for Pennsylvania signing agents to understand that the state-required surety bond is not insurance for their own business; rather, it is a financial guarantee for the public against the notary's misconduct. If a claim is paid out from the bond due to a signing error, the bonding company will seek full reimbursement from the notary, making a separate professional liability policy the only true financial shield for the agent's personal assets.

Lender-Specific E&O and Title Requirements

While Pennsylvania law does not mandate Errors and Omissions insurance, the mortgage industry does. Title insurance agencies and national signing services operating in PA almost universally require notaries to hold E&O policies with limits far exceeding the state bond, set by each lender and frequently higher for high-value residential or commercial closings.

These higher limits are necessary because a single error in a loan package—such as an improper acknowledgement on a Mortgage or a Deed of Trust—can lead to a cloud on the title that costs thousands to resolve. For a PA signing agent, carrying robust E&O coverage is less about state compliance and more about remaining eligible for the most lucrative loan signing assignments.

RULONA Journal and Recordkeeping Standards

Pennsylvania is a RULONA state, meaning that every notary is statutorily required to maintain a journal of all notarial acts. For signing agents, this journal must include the date and time of the signing, the type of document notarized, the name and address of the signer, and the method by which they were identified. This logbook serves as the primary evidence if a signature is contested years later in a foreclosure or property dispute.

Failure to maintain a proper journal can lead to the suspension or revocation of a PA notary's commission by the Department of State. Beyond legal compliance, title companies often request to see a signing agent's journal history as part of their vetting process, as consistent recordkeeping is viewed as a hallmark of a professional and reliable agent.

Notary Signing Agents FAQs for Pennsylvania