Can a Notary Public provide legal advice in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, Notary Publics are prohibited from giving legal advice. The role of a Notary is to act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents, verifying the identity of signers, and ensuring that they understand what they are signing. Notaries are specifically trained to perform these functions and are not licensed to provide legal counsel.

By maintaining a clear boundary between notarization and legal advice, Pennsylvania upholds the integrity of the notarial act and protects the public from potential unauthorized practice of law. This regulation is crucial because offering legal advice requires a comprehensive understanding of the law and its applications, which notaries do not possess unless they also hold a law degree and are licensed attorneys. Therefore, the clear and abiding rule is that Notaries in Pennsylvania do not have the authority to give legal advice.