For notaries operating within the City of Brotherly Love, a recent change to state law has tidied up the administrative process of recording their commission, as reported by the City of Philadelphia's official website. Previously, notaries juggling the formalities of commission recording faced a two-step hurdle: first, visiting the City of Philadelphia Department of Records, and then the Office of Judicial Records to register their signature in the "Notary Register."
Now, the path has been considerably shortened, with the Department of Records becoming the central hub for both commission recording and signature registration, no new notary in Philadelphia will have to make that extra trip to the Office of Judicial Records, a shift that transforms a previously protracted ordeal into a one-stop task. According to the city's website, "Notaries can now register their official signatures with the City of Philadelphia Department of Records at the time they record their notary commission."
Furthermore, the Records Department will maintain the Notary Register under state law, ensuring that all notarial records are kept in one secure and accessible place and the Office of Judicial Records will still have access to this register for any necessary reference or legal processes. This development promises to economize the time invested by notaries in completing their official duties and may encourage more streamlined operations in other aspects of city processing as it showcases the positive outcomes of inter-departmental collaboration. The department’s announcement portrays the change as delivering a more convenient experience for notarial professionals by providing "a one-stop shop at the Department of Records."
For further details on the updated notary commission recording process in Philadelphia, interested parties can visit the city's announcement page.
