What is a notary you ask?.....  The Pennsylvania notary is an appointed state official who can verify that a signature is genuine, or that a copy is an exact duplicate of an original document.  A notary can also administer an oath, take testimony from a witness for a trial, or protest a bad check.  Notaries often act as clerks, just as they did in the days of the Roman Empire, composing affidavits or completing forms for their customers.  Most, but not all, of these duties are outlined in more technical language in The Notary Public Law.  

The Notary Public Law grants a notary public the authority to perform six basic acts: 

1. taking affidavits; 
2. taking acknowledgements; 
3. making certificates; 
4. taking depositions; 
5. administering oaths; and 
6. protesting dishonored instruments.  

Briefly, affidavits, acknowledgments, depositions, certificate, and protests are all documents on which a notary places signature, stamp, and seal.  Oaths, which are oral declarations, may also be reduced to writing for public records.  The sixth power, protesting dishonored instruments, is outlined in the Uniform Commercial Code.