§ 327.  Oaths and acknowledgments.

(a)  General ability.--Each judicial officer, each clerk of court, each retired or senior judge and such other personnel of the system and jurors as may be designated by or pursuant to general rules may administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments. An acknowledgment may be taken by a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania if the document is thereafter certified to an officer authorized to administer oaths. Certification by an attorney shall be in accordance with 57 Pa.C.S. Ch. 3 (relating to Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) and shall include the attorney's Supreme Court identification number.

(b)  Retired or senior judges.--A retired or senior judge may administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments so long as all of the following criteria are met:

(1)  The retired or senior judge has served as a magisterial district judge, judge or justice, whether or not continuously or on the same court, by election or appointment, for an aggregate period equaling a full term of office.

(2)  The retired or senior judge has not been defeated for reelection or retention.

(3)  The retired or senior judge has not been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to any misdemeanor or felony offense under the laws of this Commonwealth or an equivalent offense under the laws of the United States or one of its territories or possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign nation.

(4)  The retired or senior judge has not resigned a judicial commission to avoid having charges filed or to avoid prosecution by Federal, State or local law enforcement agencies or by the Judicial Conduct Board.

(5)  The retired or senior judge has not been removed from office by the Court of Judicial Discipline.

(6)  The retired or senior judge is a resident of this Commonwealth.

(July 1, 1987, P.L.180, No.21, eff. imd.; June 30, 2012, P.L.666, No.79, eff. 60 days; Oct. 9, 2013, P.L.609, No.73)

 

2013 Amendment.  Act 73 amended subsec. (a). Section 5(3) of Act 73 provided that section 327 shall take effect 180 days after publication of the notice under section 4 of Act 73.

Cross References.  Section 327 is referred to in sections 2737, 2757, 2777 of this title; section 5601 of Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries); section 316 of Title 57 (Notaries Public).