CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM ACTUAL
PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL REVISED
ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS – ASSURES PASS
1. A California Notary Public’s primary duty is best described as:
A. Protecting the interests of the signer
B. Serving as an impartial witness to deter fraud
C. Guaranteeing the truthfulness of documents
D. Providing legal advice to the public
*Rationale: A notary’s role is to act as an impartial witness to verify identity
and willingness, not to protect one party or give legal advice.
2. Which of the following documents may a California notary notarize if all
legal requirements are met?
A. A birth certificate copy
B. A death certificate copy
C. A power of attorney
D. A certified copy of a marriage license
*Rationale: Notaries may notarize signatures on powers of attorney but may
not certify copies of vital records.
3. A signer appears before you without identification but is personally known
to you. What is the correct action?
A. Refuse notarization in all cases
B. Ask the signer to return later
, C. Proceed if personal knowledge meets statutory requirements
D. Require two witnesses anyway
*Rationale: California law allows personal knowledge as satisfactory
evidence of identity.
4. What is the maximum term length of a California notary public commission?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
D. 5 years
*Rationale: California notary commissions are issued for four-year terms.
5. A notary journal must be kept:
A. Electronically only
B. At the notary’s office
C. In a locked and secure area under the notary’s control
D. With the county clerk
*Rationale: The journal must be secured and under the notary’s exclusive
control.
6. Which act is a notary prohibited from performing?
A. Taking acknowledgments
B. Administering oaths
C. Practicing law or giving legal advice
D. Completing jurats
*Rationale: Notaries must not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
7. A jurat differs from an acknowledgment because a jurat:
A. Does not require identification
B. Requires an oath or affirmation
C. Is used only for real estate
, D. Does not require the signer’s presence
*Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm the truthfulness of
the document.
8. When must a signer personally appear before the notary?
A. Only for acknowledgments
B. Only for jurats
C. For all notarial acts
D. Only if requested
*Rationale: Personal appearance is mandatory for all notarizations.
9. A notary may charge which maximum fee for an acknowledgment in
California?
A. $5
B. $15
C. $20
D. No fee allowed
*Rationale: The maximum statutory fee is $15 per acknowledgment.
10.If a document is incomplete, the notary should:
A. Complete it for the signer
B. Ignore the missing sections
C. Refuse to notarize
D. Initial the blanks
*Rationale: Notaries must refuse notarization of incomplete documents.
11.A credible witness must:
A. Be personally known to the signer only
B. Be related to the signer
C. Personally know the signer and be sworn by the notary
D. Present a passport
, *Rationale: Credible witnesses must know the signer and swear to the
signer’s identity.
12.What information is NOT required in a notary journal entry?
A. Date and time
B. Type of notarization
C. Signer’s Social Security number
D. Signature of the signer
*Rationale: Social Security numbers must not be recorded.
13.A notary who willfully fails to properly identify a signer may face:
A. No penalty
B. Civil liability only
C. Civil and criminal penalties
D. License extension
*Rationale: Violations can result in both civil and criminal consequences.
14.A subscribing witness is used when:
A. The signer is present
B. The signer has valid ID
C. The signer cannot appear personally
D. The document is electronic
*Rationale: Subscribing witnesses are used when the principal cannot
appear.
15.Which statement about notary advertising is correct?
A. Notaries may advertise as legal advisors
B. Notaries may translate legal documents
C. Non-attorney notaries must include a statutory disclaimer
D. Advertising is prohibited
PREP QUESTIONS AND WELL REVISED
ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS – ASSURES PASS
1. A California Notary Public’s primary duty is best described as:
A. Protecting the interests of the signer
B. Serving as an impartial witness to deter fraud
C. Guaranteeing the truthfulness of documents
D. Providing legal advice to the public
*Rationale: A notary’s role is to act as an impartial witness to verify identity
and willingness, not to protect one party or give legal advice.
2. Which of the following documents may a California notary notarize if all
legal requirements are met?
A. A birth certificate copy
B. A death certificate copy
C. A power of attorney
D. A certified copy of a marriage license
*Rationale: Notaries may notarize signatures on powers of attorney but may
not certify copies of vital records.
3. A signer appears before you without identification but is personally known
to you. What is the correct action?
A. Refuse notarization in all cases
B. Ask the signer to return later
, C. Proceed if personal knowledge meets statutory requirements
D. Require two witnesses anyway
*Rationale: California law allows personal knowledge as satisfactory
evidence of identity.
4. What is the maximum term length of a California notary public commission?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
D. 5 years
*Rationale: California notary commissions are issued for four-year terms.
5. A notary journal must be kept:
A. Electronically only
B. At the notary’s office
C. In a locked and secure area under the notary’s control
D. With the county clerk
*Rationale: The journal must be secured and under the notary’s exclusive
control.
6. Which act is a notary prohibited from performing?
A. Taking acknowledgments
B. Administering oaths
C. Practicing law or giving legal advice
D. Completing jurats
*Rationale: Notaries must not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
7. A jurat differs from an acknowledgment because a jurat:
A. Does not require identification
B. Requires an oath or affirmation
C. Is used only for real estate
, D. Does not require the signer’s presence
*Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm the truthfulness of
the document.
8. When must a signer personally appear before the notary?
A. Only for acknowledgments
B. Only for jurats
C. For all notarial acts
D. Only if requested
*Rationale: Personal appearance is mandatory for all notarizations.
9. A notary may charge which maximum fee for an acknowledgment in
California?
A. $5
B. $15
C. $20
D. No fee allowed
*Rationale: The maximum statutory fee is $15 per acknowledgment.
10.If a document is incomplete, the notary should:
A. Complete it for the signer
B. Ignore the missing sections
C. Refuse to notarize
D. Initial the blanks
*Rationale: Notaries must refuse notarization of incomplete documents.
11.A credible witness must:
A. Be personally known to the signer only
B. Be related to the signer
C. Personally know the signer and be sworn by the notary
D. Present a passport
, *Rationale: Credible witnesses must know the signer and swear to the
signer’s identity.
12.What information is NOT required in a notary journal entry?
A. Date and time
B. Type of notarization
C. Signer’s Social Security number
D. Signature of the signer
*Rationale: Social Security numbers must not be recorded.
13.A notary who willfully fails to properly identify a signer may face:
A. No penalty
B. Civil liability only
C. Civil and criminal penalties
D. License extension
*Rationale: Violations can result in both civil and criminal consequences.
14.A subscribing witness is used when:
A. The signer is present
B. The signer has valid ID
C. The signer cannot appear personally
D. The document is electronic
*Rationale: Subscribing witnesses are used when the principal cannot
appear.
15.Which statement about notary advertising is correct?
A. Notaries may advertise as legal advisors
B. Notaries may translate legal documents
C. Non-attorney notaries must include a statutory disclaimer
D. Advertising is prohibited
