Yes, permanently since October 29, 2020
Pennsylvania's remote notarization law is 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1, added by Act 97 of 2020 and effective immediately on October 29, 2020.1 It lets a remotely located person meet the personal-appearance requirement by appearing before a notary through communication technology.1
The PA Department of State (DOS) says remote notarization began temporarily on March 25, 2020 for limited transactions, and Act 97 made it a permanent part of Pennsylvania law.2 Both electronic notarization (in-person e-signing, since January 30, 2006) and remote online notarization are permitted.2
How a Pennsylvania online notarization works
- The notary is in Pennsylvania; you can be almost anywhere. The notary must be in Pennsylvania at the time of the act, and you may be in Pennsylvania, another state, a US territory or a foreign country.3
- Outside the US? Extra rules. The record must relate to a US court or government matter, US property, or a transaction substantially connected with the US, and signing it must not be prohibited by the country you're in.1
- Live video and audio. The technology must let you and the notary communicate simultaneously by sight and sound, with reasonable accommodations for vision, hearing or speech impairments.1
- Identity check. The notary must know you personally, rely on a credible witness, or identify you with at least two different identity-proofing processes or services.1 DOS gives knowledge-based quiz questions (KBA), biometrics and ID credential analysis as examples.3
- Recorded and kept 10 years. The whole session is recorded, and the recording is kept for at least ten years.1
- Marked as remote. The certificate must say the act used communication technology, for example: "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology."1
A notary may refuse if they aren't satisfied you're competent, signing knowingly and voluntarily, or that your signature or appearance matches your ID.1
Approved platforms only
Before a notary's first remote act, they must notify DOS and identify the technology they'll use, and that technology must meet the Department's standards.1 DOS publishes the list of approved providers, and says Skype, Zoom and FaceTime alone are not acceptable.3
The DOS list (updated April 30, 2026) includes these consumer services we cover, with the date each was approved for remote notarization:4
| Service on our site | Name on the PA list | Approved for remote notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Notarize (by Proof) | Proof (formerly Notarize) | 4/21/2020 |
| NotaryCam | NotaryCam | 4/21/2020 |
| OneNotary | OneNotary.US | 1/29/2021 |
| BlueNotary | Blue Notary | 8/9/2022 |
| NotaryLive | NotaryLive Inc | 9/25/2024 |
| OnlineNotary.net | not found under that name (the list has an "OnlineNotary.us"; we couldn't confirm they're the same company) | unknown |
Being on the list means a Pennsylvania notary may use that technology.4 It doesn't tell you which state's notary a service will assign to your session; that's up to the service, so ask if it matters to whoever receives your document.
What it costs in Pennsylvania
The Department of State sets the maximum fees by regulation.5
| Notarial act | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment, first name in certificate | $5 |
| Acknowledgment, each additional name | $2 |
| Oath or affirmation, per person | $5 |
| Verification on oath or affirmation, per person | $5 |
| Witnessing or attesting a signature | $5 |
| Certified copy | $5 |
| Extra for remote (or electronic) notarization | up to $20 per act |
The $20 remote fee is "in addition to" the regular fees above.5 Notaries may also charge customary clerical fees (copying, postage and the like), must tell you before notarizing, and must give an itemized receipt whenever they charge.5 No fee may be charged for the supporting affidavit for an emergency absentee ballot or for assisting a voter with an absentee ballot.5
Those caps cover the notary's fee. Consumer platforms set their own all-in prices, which you can compare on our cheapest online notary page.
Where to get it done
The on-demand services below take walk-in (no-appointment) sessions. Each one's listed price, hours and ID rules come from its own pages:
BlueNotary
$25 (1 stamp, 1 signer)
24/7 on-demand · +$8 each additional stamp; +$5 each additional signer; $0 to invite your own witness, $10 for a BlueNotary witness
Notarize (by Proof)
$25 per notarization (Notarize Network meeting)
24/7 · +$15 each additional seal; +$10 each additional signer; +$15 each on-demand witness
NotaryCam
$25 per seal (includes one signer)
24/7 (real-estate closings 7am–11pm ET) · +$10 each additional signer; $79 fee if signer(s) have no US SSN. Real-estate closings start at $199.
OneNotary
$25 per session (1 stamp, 1 signer)
24/7 · +$10 each additional stamp; +$10 each additional signer; $15 OneNotary witness. Mobile (in-person) notary from $80.
NotaryLive
$25 per session (first 25 pages included)
24/7/365 · +$5 each additional signer; +$5 per additional 25 pages; $10 on-demand witness; no extra charge for additional seals
OnlineNotary.net
$19.95 per signer
Listed as 10AM–2AM daily on the pricing section and 9AM–2AM in the footer; time zone not stated · +$5 additional notary stamp per document
Recording a deed or other document
A Pennsylvania recorder of deeds may accept a paper copy of an electronic record as an original if the notary certifies that it's an accurate copy.1 Because the law says "may," confirm with the county recorder before you sign.
Pennsylvania also gives a notarial act performed in another state by that state's notary the same effect as a Pennsylvania act (57 Pa.C.S. § 311).1 Proof's Pennsylvania page reads this as recognizing properly performed online notarizations from other states.6
Before you start
- Ask the receiving party (bank, title company, court) whether they accept remote online notarizations. Proof's help center says the recipient always has the final say.7
- No US Social Security number? Some services can't verify you. See online notary without an SSN.
- Need a power of attorney or USPS Form 1583? See our power of attorney guide and Form 1583 guide. Selling a car? See car title notarization by state.
- Compare other states on the state table, including neighboring New York.
Sources (7)
Pennsylvania General Assembly, 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (§§ 306.1, 308, 311, 320, 329.1). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
PA Department of State, Electronic/Remote Notarization. Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩
PA Department of State, Remote Notarization: General Information and Requirements (PDF, revised Nov 30, 2020). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩↩
PA Department of State, Electronic Notarization and Remote Notarization Technology Providers (PDF, updated April 30, 2026). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩
PA Department of State, Notary Public Fees (page dated April 6, 2026; cites 4 Pa. Code § 167.3). Read 2026-10-31. ↩↩↩↩
Proof, Pennsylvania RON laws (secondary source). Read 2026-10-27. ↩
Proof Help Center, Will my document be accepted? ↩
Frequently asked questions
How much can a Pennsylvania online notary charge?
The PA Department of State caps regular notarial fees (for example $5 for the first name on an acknowledgment and $2 per additional name) and lets remote notaries add a fee of up to $20 per notarial act performed using communication technology. Notaries may also charge customary clerical fees, must tell you beforehand, and must give an itemized receipt. Consumer platforms set their own all-in prices.
Do I have to be in Pennsylvania to use a Pennsylvania online notary?
No. The notary must be in Pennsylvania, but the PA Department of State says the signer may be in Pennsylvania, another state, a US territory, or a foreign country. Outside the US, the document must relate to a US court or agency matter, US property, or a transaction substantially connected with the US, and signing must not be prohibited where you are (57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)(4)).
Can a Pennsylvania notary notarize over Zoom or FaceTime?
No. The Department of State says Skype, Zoom and FaceTime alone are not acceptable remote notarization technologies. The notary must use a technology on the Department's approved provider list.
Does Pennsylvania accept documents notarized online by notaries in other states?
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 311, a notarial act performed in another state by a notary public of that state has the same effect in Pennsylvania as one performed by a Pennsylvania notary. Proof's Pennsylvania page says this covers properly performed online notarizations. The party receiving your document still decides whether to accept it.
Will a Pennsylvania recorder of deeds record an online-notarized deed?
57 Pa.C.S. § 320(c) says a recorder of deeds may accept a paper copy of an electronic record if the notary certifies it's an accurate copy. 'May' means it's up to the office, so ask your county recorder before you sign.