Notary Exam #2 - General Questions and Verified
Answers
The Secretary of State will recommend denial of an application for what reasons? Correct Answer: -
Failure to disclose any arrest or conviction on the notary application
-Conviction of a felony where not less than 10 years have passed since the completion of probation
-Conviction of a disqualifying misdemeanor where not less than 5 years have passed since the
completion of probation
All of the above
Since there is no prescribed wording for an oath, what would be an acceptable oath? Correct Answer:
"Do you swear or affirm that the statements in this document are true?"
A notary public must use the seal on all documents except? Correct Answer: California Subdivision Map
certificates
To clear a background check, the State law requires all applicants to be. Correct Answer: Cleared by
either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the California Department of Justice
Once the commission has been issued, what must a person do and in how many days? Correct Answer:
Take, subscribe, and file an oath of office, and file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk/recorder's
office in 30 calendar days.
In which county does the notary applicant take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000
surety bond? Correct Answer: In the county where the notary public maintains a principal place of
business as shown in the application on file.
Upon request of a peace officer within how many days must a notary report the surrender of the official
journal to the Secretary of State? Correct Answer: Ten days by certified mail
What is the penalty for failure to surrender the notary public journal to the peace officer when
requested? Correct Answer: A civil penalty of up to $2,500 and grounds for revocation or suspension of
notary commission
What are the two primary tools of a notary public and how must they be stored? Correct Answer: -A seal
and a journal
, -They must be kept in a locked and secured area
-They must be under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public
All of the above
In which counties may a notary provide notarial services? Correct Answer: Notaries may offer notary
services all counties in the State of California
When the notary public commission is no longer valid, what must be done with the notary public seal?
Correct Answer: The seal must be destroyed.
If the party signing the document is physically unable to provide a thumbprint, what must the notary
public do? Correct Answer: -Use the other thumb or any other finger
-Indicate in the journal which digit was used
-Provide an explanation of the physical condition of why there is no right thumb
All of the above
If the sequential journal is lost or taken by a peace officer, then the notary acquires and starts using a
new journal, later, the journal is found or returned, what must the notary do? Correct Answer: The
notary public shall make no new entries in the returned journal.
Your best friend and fishing buddy, Abe, asks you to notarize his document. Abe lost his identification
on a fishing trip. How must you identify Abe? Correct Answer: Satisfactory Evidence: Specified Paper
Identification Documents or Credible Witness/es.
What acts constitute the unlawful practice of law? Correct Answer: -The preparation, drafting, or
selection of any legal document
-Giving advice in relation to any legal documents or matters.
-Determination of any legal document.
All of the above
What is the required amount of the surety bond for every person appointed a notary public? Correct
Answer: $15,000
Answers
The Secretary of State will recommend denial of an application for what reasons? Correct Answer: -
Failure to disclose any arrest or conviction on the notary application
-Conviction of a felony where not less than 10 years have passed since the completion of probation
-Conviction of a disqualifying misdemeanor where not less than 5 years have passed since the
completion of probation
All of the above
Since there is no prescribed wording for an oath, what would be an acceptable oath? Correct Answer:
"Do you swear or affirm that the statements in this document are true?"
A notary public must use the seal on all documents except? Correct Answer: California Subdivision Map
certificates
To clear a background check, the State law requires all applicants to be. Correct Answer: Cleared by
either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the California Department of Justice
Once the commission has been issued, what must a person do and in how many days? Correct Answer:
Take, subscribe, and file an oath of office, and file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk/recorder's
office in 30 calendar days.
In which county does the notary applicant take, subscribe, and file an oath of office and file a $15,000
surety bond? Correct Answer: In the county where the notary public maintains a principal place of
business as shown in the application on file.
Upon request of a peace officer within how many days must a notary report the surrender of the official
journal to the Secretary of State? Correct Answer: Ten days by certified mail
What is the penalty for failure to surrender the notary public journal to the peace officer when
requested? Correct Answer: A civil penalty of up to $2,500 and grounds for revocation or suspension of
notary commission
What are the two primary tools of a notary public and how must they be stored? Correct Answer: -A seal
and a journal
, -They must be kept in a locked and secured area
-They must be under the direct and exclusive control of the notary public
All of the above
In which counties may a notary provide notarial services? Correct Answer: Notaries may offer notary
services all counties in the State of California
When the notary public commission is no longer valid, what must be done with the notary public seal?
Correct Answer: The seal must be destroyed.
If the party signing the document is physically unable to provide a thumbprint, what must the notary
public do? Correct Answer: -Use the other thumb or any other finger
-Indicate in the journal which digit was used
-Provide an explanation of the physical condition of why there is no right thumb
All of the above
If the sequential journal is lost or taken by a peace officer, then the notary acquires and starts using a
new journal, later, the journal is found or returned, what must the notary do? Correct Answer: The
notary public shall make no new entries in the returned journal.
Your best friend and fishing buddy, Abe, asks you to notarize his document. Abe lost his identification
on a fishing trip. How must you identify Abe? Correct Answer: Satisfactory Evidence: Specified Paper
Identification Documents or Credible Witness/es.
What acts constitute the unlawful practice of law? Correct Answer: -The preparation, drafting, or
selection of any legal document
-Giving advice in relation to any legal documents or matters.
-Determination of any legal document.
All of the above
What is the required amount of the surety bond for every person appointed a notary public? Correct
Answer: $15,000
