Where to Notarize a Power of Attorney for a Child in Pennsylvania

What Pennsylvania Actually Requires for Notarization

The school registrar says your paperwork needs to be notarized. The doctor's office wants a notarized medical consent form. And you're wondering where to go — and whether you'll have to pay for it — when the child needs to start school on Monday.

Pennsylvania law does not require notarization for every kinship caregiver document. Section 3 of the Medical Consent Act (Act 52 of 1999) requires a written authorization signed by a parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian in the presence of two witnesses age 18 or older; the caregiver who receives the authority cannot be one of those witnesses and must also sign. The Act does not require notarization. The Section 1302 sworn statement for school enrollment can be signed under penalty of perjury rather than before a notary. A standby guardianship designation under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5611 must be signed in the presence of two witnesses age 18 or older who are not otherwise named in the designation; it also does not require notarization.

That said, most school districts and medical offices accept notarized documents more readily. A notary stamp reduces pushback from front-desk staff who aren't familiar with the underlying statutes. If you can get your documents notarized, it's worth the small effort.

Free and Low-Cost Notary Options Across Pennsylvania

You don't need to pay a premium for notarization. Pennsylvania sets maximum fees by notarial act: common acknowledgments, oaths, and verifications are capped at $5, and electronic or remote notaries may add up to $20 per act. Separate, reasonable clerical or administrative fees may also apply, but many places offer the service for free.

Banks and credit unions are the most reliable free option. Most Pennsylvania banks — including PNC, Citizens, and local credit unions — notarize documents at no charge for account holders. Walk-in availability varies by branch; calling ahead saves a wasted trip. You'll need government-issued photo ID.

State legislator district offices offer free notary services to constituents during business hours. Every Pennsylvania state representative and state senator staffs at least one district office, and many keep a notary on site. Look up your representative at legis.state.pa.us and call the district office (not Harrisburg) to confirm availability.

Public libraries in some Pennsylvania counties offer notary services, but availability and schedules vary by system. Call your local branch before visiting; do not assume it has weekly notary hours.

Legal aid organizations may be able to help you locate a notary, but notarization is not a service they guarantee for every kinship-care matter. Call the SeniorLAW Center (1-877-727-7529), a regional Legal Aid office, MidPenn Legal Services, or Community Legal Services in Philadelphia before relying on an appointment for notarization.

The UPS Store offers in-person notary service at some locations, but availability and fees vary; call ahead. FedEx Office's notary service is remote through Notarize and starts at $25; its stores can print documents but do not notarize them in person.

What to Bring to the Notary

Show up with everything ready and you'll be done in ten minutes:

• The unsigned document if the notary must witness your signature. For an acknowledgment, a signer may instead acknowledge a signature already made; ask the notary which certificate the document requires.
• Government-issued photo ID for every signer (driver's license, state ID, or passport).
• The parent's presence if the parent is signing a Medical Consent Act authorization. Section 3 requires two witnesses age 18 or older to be present for the parent's signature; you cannot be one of those witnesses, and you must also sign the authorization.
• Two witnesses for a standby guardianship designation under 23 Pa.C.S. § 5611 — each must be at least 18 and not otherwise named in the designation.

If the parent is in a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections facility, the inmate can request notary service with a DC-135A request to staff member. The Medical Consent Act itself does not require notarization, but it does require two adult witnesses for the parent's signature; ask facility staff whether they can arrange those witnesses and how the completed form can be returned. County jail procedures vary, so contact that facility directly.

Remote Online Notarization

Pennsylvania authorized remote online notarization (RON) under Act 97 of 2020 (57 Pa.C.S. § 327). A parent who can't appear in person — deployed military, out of state, in a treatment facility — can sign and notarize documents over a video call through an approved RON platform.

The maximum remote-notary fee is an additional $20 per act on top of the fee for the underlying notarial act; a notary may also charge separate, reasonable clerical or administrative fees. Platforms like Notarize (now Proof) and OneNotary are on Pennsylvania's approved provider list. Each person who must appear before the remote notary needs a device with audio-video capability and acceptable identification. The session is recorded and archived.

Remote signing can help a parent who is away from the caregiver, but notarization does not replace the Medical Consent Act's witness requirement or Act 88's witness and court-approval requirements for temporary guardianship. Ask an approved remote notary whether the required witnesses can participate in the same session.

Getting Your Documents Together

Figuring out which Pennsylvania forms you actually need — the 1302 sworn statement, the Medical Consent Act authorization, or something else — is half the battle. Our School and Medical Consent guide for Pennsylvania walks you through each document, what it covers, who needs to sign, and exactly how to fill it out before you head to the notary.

See more Pennsylvania guides →