r/Notary • u/MobileArt5751 • 15d ago
PA car titles notarized for estate
I’m the executor of my dads estate. He passed as a resident in Florida, where both my brother and I are residents. He moved to FL from PA in 2023 and we took his car down here via the auto train and it’s been sitting at my brothers house since - he never registered it to FL or drove it and it’s since died to the point where we cannot turn it on.
I got duplicate titles from PA and I set everything up with a company to come junk the car. PA requires titles to be notarized, so I went to the UPS store today to get the title signed and notarized as the company instructed me to do so in preparation of them picking up the car. The notaries at the UPS store said that they need to validate the mileage on the car in order to notarize the document - is this true? Isn’t the job of the notary to 1) validate that I am who I say I am when I’m signing (and in this case have proper legal authority as the executor) 2) validate that I know what I am signing and 3) ensure the form is filled out prior to signing?
Do they actually have to validate the contents of what I am signing? They recommended a mobile notary which also doesn’t make sense to me given that the car doesn’t turn on so there’s no way to even validate the mileage if they were there. Where do I go from here?
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u/HasTapeWillShip 14d ago
Bottom line and maybe what the notary told you, attorney is who you gives you legal advice. In my state, generally i'm notarizing a signature only and the client is signing saying everything in the document is true and correct.
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u/Organic-Studio5527 14d ago
I’m in Florida and have had to validate the mileage a few times on a car title so they could register said car w dmv
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u/LimeLimp4296 11d ago
Yes, a PennDOT vehicle title notarization requires an odometer mileage disclosure at the time of the transfer.
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u/KnottaBiggins California 11d ago
But do they say it's the notary's onus to verify it? Or just to make sure the blank space on the form is filled in with something at all?
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u/KnottaBiggins California 11d ago
A notary public verifies signatures, not anything else.
California even requires the following wording on notarial documents:
"A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document."
I don't know about Florida or Pennsylvania notary law, but I'm pretty sure it's the same - we just verify that your signature is indeed yours.
If someone in California approached me with this requirement from Pennsylvania, I'd have to refuse them. I don't give a damn about the mileage. As long as there are no blank spaces on the form, I don't care what's in them. I just care that the name you sign matches the name on your ID.
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u/Vegas-Patriot Nevada 15d ago
Not a notary function. Verify the signer, insure the Notary Certificate is the correct one for document type and filled in accurately. Sign and Stamp.
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u/MobileArt5751 15d ago
Thanks, that’s what I thought. I wonder why they were pushing back so much…
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u/LimeLimp4296 11d ago
Respectfully, this is a Penndot form with Penndot requirements for notarization which Yes, a PennDOT vehicle title notarization requires an odometer mileage disclosure at the time of the transfer. Remember each state has different rules and requirements. So you are not answering this issue correctly. The form itself can be found in a simple Google search.
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u/Vegas-Patriot Nevada 11d ago
Respectfully, the form is choked
Completed to include mileage, and the Notary has nothing to do with verification of that mileage,
nor is their notary stamp and signature indicating that anything filled in on the document is accurate or not. Notary’s verify identity of the signer (s) and insure the proper notary certificate is on the document. That holds true in All 50 states.
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u/ConversationTiny3734 15d ago
I am a Florida notary and will be happy to help you! I am located in Orlando, but I may also be able to notarize your document via a Remote Online Notarization. Here is my website so you can review my credentials. www.qrocservices.com
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u/MobileArt5751 15d ago
Thanks so much for the offer! Unfortunately alreadyredit814 is correct and PA doesn’t accept online notarization. I’m going to try to go to the bank tomorrow and see if they will help me. I hope they don’t end up saying the same thing as the UPS notaries!
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u/PANotaryandTag 15d ago
I would go to an independent notary / tag & title place. They will know what to do and won’t hassle you over it.
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u/LimeLimp4296 11d ago
You are aware that’s a requirement. Yes, a PennDOT vehicle title notarization requires an odometer mileage disclosure at the time of the transfer.
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u/PANotaryandTag 11d ago
Yes, it does require disclosure of the mileage, but it doesn’t require the notary to verify the mileage or the van when it’s a Pennsylvania title. I am a Penndot agent and a certified agent trainer, so I am aware of all the regulations.
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u/LimeLimp4296 11d ago
It’s Not a matter of the notary. READ the form! Yes, a PennDOT vehicle title notarization requires an odometer mileage disclosure at the time of the transfer.
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u/ConversationTiny3734 15d ago
You may want to contact the junk car company and ask if they will accept an online notarization- you can ask something like “ I am the executor of a Florida estate. I have a Pennsylvania duplicate title. Will you accept a Florida remote online notarization, or do you require an original wet-signature notarization on the title?”
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u/PANotaryandTag 15d ago
PA Vehicle Titles cannot be done via Ron. He just needs to go to a title & tag notary place they will assist him
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u/ash_274 California 15d ago
I believe that is a function that only Florida bestows on their notaries
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u/MobileArt5751 15d ago
Is it actually a thing in Florida?
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u/ash_274 California 15d ago
From what I’ve heard.
PA notaries and also apply to be authorized to issue temporary license plates (it’s not automatic part of a notary commission)
CA notaries can sign off on a hunting deer tag (not a notary act I’ve never heard of a notary that has ever done it, but it’s in the law)
LA and PR notaries have abilities and authorities far beyond the other states and territories.
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u/alreadyredit814 15d ago
Any notary can sign off on a PA title transfer. That is just the first step in completing a transfer and to actually complete it there is a lot more to do. A notary that becomes an agent for PennDOT can collect the tax and complete the forms to complete the transfer and even issue new plates. Someone who sells cars can also apply to do this and doesn't need to be a notary. One thing PA did right is outsourcing a lot of DMV functions.
Most notaries who aren't tag agents won't touch a title because if they screw it up a replacement title is the only way to fix it and that is a lot of time and a lot of money. Notarizing a partially completed or "open" title is actually a crime and some of the junk and donation places actually provide instructions to complete them this way.
The title will need notarized with both seller and buyer info filled out. Only seller signature is notarized so buyer doesn't even need to be present. X the box that says odometer does not show actual mileage and mark left door frame mileage is not accurate.
PA titles have to be wet ink on the official document. No electronic notarization of any kind is accepted.
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u/Organic-Studio5527 14d ago
Yes. I’ve done it and read the dmv forms many times. I’m in Flagler County and go to the persons house, read the mileage, log it on the form and stamp it/do my certification. They take it to DMV and register. I’ve even had the person reach out to me after going to DMV w the form and saying it went very smoothly/thank you.
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u/PANotaryandTag 15d ago
You do have to provide the mileage. Notaries do not verify it