Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
**Question 1.** Which of the following is a mandatory eligibility requirement to
become a Notary Public in Illinois?
A) Must be a licensed attorney
B) Must be at least 21 years old
C) Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
D) Must own real property in Illinois
Answer: C
Explanation: Illinois law requires applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent
residents; there is no requirement to be an attorney, to be 21, or to own
property.
**Question 2.** How long is the commission term for an Illinois resident who
becomes a Notary Public?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Answer: D
Explanation: Residents receive a four-year commission; non-residents receive a
one-year commission.
**Question 3.** Which bond amount is required for a traditional (paper) Illinois
Notary Public?
A) $1,000
B) $5,000
C) $10,000
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
D) $25,000
Answer: B
Explanation: Traditional notaries must post a $5,000 surety bond;
electronic/remote notaries require a higher bond.
**Question 4.** Which of the following documents is NOT acceptable as
“satisfactory evidence” of identity for an acknowledgment?
A) Illinois driver’s license
B) U.S. passport
C) Social Security card
D) Military ID card
Answer: C
Explanation: Social Security cards are not considered satisfactory identification
under Illinois law.
**Question 5.** When performing a jurat, the notary must:
A) Verify the signer’s physical presence only
B) Administer an oath or affirmation
C) Provide legal advice about the document
D) Witness the signing of a separate document
Answer: B
Explanation: A jurat requires the notary to administer an oath or affirmation and
verify that the signature was made under that oath.
**Question 6.** Which of the following is a prohibited act for an Illinois Notary
Public?
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
A) Notarizing a document for a family member
B) Refusing to notarize a document with a forged signature
C) Providing a legal opinion about the document’s effect
D) Charging a fee for a notarization
Answer: C
Explanation: Notaries may not give legal advice or opinions unless they are
licensed attorneys.
**Question 7.** The official seal of an Illinois Notary Public must include which of
the following?
A) Notary’s social security number
B) The phrase “Notary Public, State of Illinois”
C) The notary’s home address
D) The notary’s employer’s name
Answer: B
Explanation: Illinois law mandates that the seal contain the words “Notary Public,
State of Illinois” and the notary’s name.
**Question 8.** In Illinois, the maximum statutory fee a notary may charge for a
traditional acknowledgment is:
A) $2
B) $5
C) $10
D) $15
Answer: B
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
Explanation: The Illinois Notary Public Act caps the fee for a traditional
acknowledgment at $5.
**Question 9.** Which technology is required for a remote online notarization
(RON) in Illinois?
A) Only a telephone call
B) Audio-video communication that records the session
C) Email exchange of scanned signatures
D) Fax transmission of documents
Answer: B
Explanation: Illinois RON requires real-time audio-video communication that is
recorded and retained.
**Question 10.** Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) in an electronic
notarization is used to:
A) Verify the notary’s license status
B) Authenticate the signer’s identity through personal questions
C) Generate the electronic seal automatically
D) Encrypt the electronic journal entries
Answer: B
Explanation: KBA presents personal questions that only the true signer should
know, establishing identity.
**Question 11.** Which of the following is a required entry in the Illinois Notary
Journal?
A) Notary’s personal phone number
**Question 1.** Which of the following is a mandatory eligibility requirement to
become a Notary Public in Illinois?
A) Must be a licensed attorney
B) Must be at least 21 years old
C) Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
D) Must own real property in Illinois
Answer: C
Explanation: Illinois law requires applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent
residents; there is no requirement to be an attorney, to be 21, or to own
property.
**Question 2.** How long is the commission term for an Illinois resident who
becomes a Notary Public?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 4 years
Answer: D
Explanation: Residents receive a four-year commission; non-residents receive a
one-year commission.
**Question 3.** Which bond amount is required for a traditional (paper) Illinois
Notary Public?
A) $1,000
B) $5,000
C) $10,000
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
D) $25,000
Answer: B
Explanation: Traditional notaries must post a $5,000 surety bond;
electronic/remote notaries require a higher bond.
**Question 4.** Which of the following documents is NOT acceptable as
“satisfactory evidence” of identity for an acknowledgment?
A) Illinois driver’s license
B) U.S. passport
C) Social Security card
D) Military ID card
Answer: C
Explanation: Social Security cards are not considered satisfactory identification
under Illinois law.
**Question 5.** When performing a jurat, the notary must:
A) Verify the signer’s physical presence only
B) Administer an oath or affirmation
C) Provide legal advice about the document
D) Witness the signing of a separate document
Answer: B
Explanation: A jurat requires the notary to administer an oath or affirmation and
verify that the signature was made under that oath.
**Question 6.** Which of the following is a prohibited act for an Illinois Notary
Public?
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
A) Notarizing a document for a family member
B) Refusing to notarize a document with a forged signature
C) Providing a legal opinion about the document’s effect
D) Charging a fee for a notarization
Answer: C
Explanation: Notaries may not give legal advice or opinions unless they are
licensed attorneys.
**Question 7.** The official seal of an Illinois Notary Public must include which of
the following?
A) Notary’s social security number
B) The phrase “Notary Public, State of Illinois”
C) The notary’s home address
D) The notary’s employer’s name
Answer: B
Explanation: Illinois law mandates that the seal contain the words “Notary Public,
State of Illinois” and the notary’s name.
**Question 8.** In Illinois, the maximum statutory fee a notary may charge for a
traditional acknowledgment is:
A) $2
B) $5
C) $10
D) $15
Answer: B
, Illinois Notary Ultimate Exam
Explanation: The Illinois Notary Public Act caps the fee for a traditional
acknowledgment at $5.
**Question 9.** Which technology is required for a remote online notarization
(RON) in Illinois?
A) Only a telephone call
B) Audio-video communication that records the session
C) Email exchange of scanned signatures
D) Fax transmission of documents
Answer: B
Explanation: Illinois RON requires real-time audio-video communication that is
recorded and retained.
**Question 10.** Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA) in an electronic
notarization is used to:
A) Verify the notary’s license status
B) Authenticate the signer’s identity through personal questions
C) Generate the electronic seal automatically
D) Encrypt the electronic journal entries
Answer: B
Explanation: KBA presents personal questions that only the true signer should
know, establishing identity.
**Question 11.** Which of the following is a required entry in the Illinois Notary
Journal?
A) Notary’s personal phone number
