LPL4805 NOTARIAL PRACTICE
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2 2026
Comprehensive Multiple-Choice Question Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Topic Questions
A Notarial Office and General Functions 1–20
B Protocol and Protocol Register 21–30
C Authentication of Documents 31–40
D Powers of Attorney 41–55
E Notarial Bonds 56–70
F Servitudes (Praedial and Personal) 71–85
G Antenuptial Contracts 86–100
H Matrimonial Property Act and Section 21 Applications 101–115
I Notarial Noting and Protest 116–125
J Trusts and Trustees 126–135
K Leases and Sub-leases 136–145
L Integrated Scenario-Based Questions 146–150
SECTION A: NOTARIAL OFFICE AND GENERAL FUNCTIONS
Questions 1–20
🟢 Question 1
A notary public in South Africa is best described as:
A. A legal practitioner who has been admitted as an attorney and conveyancer only
B. A public officer admitted and authorised by the High Court to prepare and execute contracts
and other documents and to authenticate public acts under supervision of the High Court
C. A court official appointed by the Minister of Justice to witness signatures
D. Any attorney who has practised for more than five years automatically
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is a public officer admitted and authorised by the High Court to prepare
and execute contracts and other documents and to authenticate public acts under supervision
of the High Court. Only a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary may practice
as such.
,🟢 Question 2
Which of the following is a prerequisite for a person to practice as a notary in South Africa?
A. Being a conveyancer for at least three years
B. Being a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary
C. Being a judge of the High Court
D. Being a candidate attorney with five years' experience
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Only a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary may practice as such.
The notary must have obtained a prescribed university degree, successfully completed a
prescribed period of articles, and passed the prescribed practical examination for notaries.
🟢 Question 3
The acronym PAPASPA is used to describe the characteristics of a notary. What does the first
"P" in PAPASPA represent?
A. Professional
B. Public officer
C. Practicing attorney
D. Permanent appointment
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The PAPASPA acronym describes a notary as a Public officer, admitted and
authorised by the High Court to prepare and execute contracts and other documents and to
authenticate public acts.
🟢 Question 4
What is the primary assurance that the public has that a document prepared by a notary will be
properly prepared?
A. The notary is insured against errors
B. The notary is highly qualified, is an officer of the High Court, and performs duties under the
supervision of the Court
C. The notary is required to have a secretary review all documents
D. The notary must obtain approval from the Law Society for each document
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is highly qualified and is considered an expert in his or her field. The notary
is an officer of the High Court, admitted by the court and performing duties under the
supervision of the Court. The office of notary is held in high esteem and great emphasis is
placed on the duty of care.
🟢 Question 5
Which of the following is NOT a quality expected of a notary in the execution of notarial office?
A. Impartiality
B. Professional integrity
C. Commercial profitability as primary objective
D. Responsibility and credibility
,🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Great emphasis is placed on the notary's duty of care and on qualities such as
responsibility, credibility, impartiality and professional integrity. Commercial profitability is not
a primary professional quality expected of a notary.
🟢 Question 6
A notary must act impartially at all times. This means that the notary:
A. May favour a long-standing client over a new client
B. Must remain neutral and not favour any party to a transaction
C. Must always act in the best interest of the person who pays the highest fee
D. May only act for one party in a transaction
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary must act impartially at all times and must not favour any party to a
transaction. This impartiality is a cornerstone of the notarial profession.
🟢 Question 7
In terms of the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937, where does the registrar of the High Court
keep a register of notaries?
A. In the Government Gazette only
B. In a register in which the names and signatures of all notaries admitted in each province
appear
C. In the national database maintained by the Department of Justice
D. In the Law Society's central registry
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The registrar of the High Court keeps a register in which the names and signatures
of all the notaries (and attorneys and conveyancers) admitted in each province appear.
🟢 Question 8
A notary who is guilty of unprofessional conduct may be:
A. Fined only
B. Suspended by the Law Society or by the court of its own motion
C. Required to pay damages to the client only
D. Given a warning without any further consequences
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary may be suspended by the Law Society or of its own motion by the court if
he or she is guilty of unprofessional conduct.
🟢 Question 9
Which of the following documents must be drafted by a notary before they would be accepted
for registration?
A. A simple letter of demand
B. An antenuptial agreement
, C. A standard employment contract
D. A will
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Documents that must be drafted by a notary include antenuptial agreements,
notarial bonds, deeds of servitude, long-term leases and sub-leases, and cession of these
leases.
🟢 Question 10
May a notary practise at any place in the Republic of South Africa?
A. Yes, without any restrictions
B. No, only in the province where admitted
C. Yes, but subject to the provisions of the Deeds Registries Act and the registrar's register of
notaries
D. No, only in the magisterial district of admission
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A notary may practise in the Republic of South Africa subject to the provisions of the
Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937. The registrar keeps a register in which the names and
signatures of all notaries admitted in each province appear.
🟢 Question 11
What does the term "duty of care" mean in respect of a notary?
A. The notary must ensure the document is commercially beneficial to the client
B. The notary must exercise the skill and diligence reasonably expected of a competent notary
in preparing and executing documents
C. The notary must guarantee the outcome of any transaction
D. The notary must provide free legal advice to all clients
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The duty of care requires the notary to exercise the skill and diligence reasonably
expected of a competent notary in preparing and executing documents.
🟢 Question 12
A notary is bound to honour which code of conduct?
A. The Code of Conduct for Judges
B. The Code of Conduct for Attorneys adopted by the Law Society of South Africa
C. The Code of Conduct for Estate Agents
D. The Code of Conduct for Accountants
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is bound to honour the code of conduct for attorneys adopted by the Law
Society of South Africa.
🟢 Question 13
Which of the following is a requirement for admission as a notary in South Africa?
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2 2026
Comprehensive Multiple-Choice Question Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Topic Questions
A Notarial Office and General Functions 1–20
B Protocol and Protocol Register 21–30
C Authentication of Documents 31–40
D Powers of Attorney 41–55
E Notarial Bonds 56–70
F Servitudes (Praedial and Personal) 71–85
G Antenuptial Contracts 86–100
H Matrimonial Property Act and Section 21 Applications 101–115
I Notarial Noting and Protest 116–125
J Trusts and Trustees 126–135
K Leases and Sub-leases 136–145
L Integrated Scenario-Based Questions 146–150
SECTION A: NOTARIAL OFFICE AND GENERAL FUNCTIONS
Questions 1–20
🟢 Question 1
A notary public in South Africa is best described as:
A. A legal practitioner who has been admitted as an attorney and conveyancer only
B. A public officer admitted and authorised by the High Court to prepare and execute contracts
and other documents and to authenticate public acts under supervision of the High Court
C. A court official appointed by the Minister of Justice to witness signatures
D. Any attorney who has practised for more than five years automatically
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is a public officer admitted and authorised by the High Court to prepare
and execute contracts and other documents and to authenticate public acts under supervision
of the High Court. Only a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary may practice
as such.
,🟢 Question 2
Which of the following is a prerequisite for a person to practice as a notary in South Africa?
A. Being a conveyancer for at least three years
B. Being a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary
C. Being a judge of the High Court
D. Being a candidate attorney with five years' experience
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Only a practicing attorney who has been admitted as a notary may practice as such.
The notary must have obtained a prescribed university degree, successfully completed a
prescribed period of articles, and passed the prescribed practical examination for notaries.
🟢 Question 3
The acronym PAPASPA is used to describe the characteristics of a notary. What does the first
"P" in PAPASPA represent?
A. Professional
B. Public officer
C. Practicing attorney
D. Permanent appointment
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The PAPASPA acronym describes a notary as a Public officer, admitted and
authorised by the High Court to prepare and execute contracts and other documents and to
authenticate public acts.
🟢 Question 4
What is the primary assurance that the public has that a document prepared by a notary will be
properly prepared?
A. The notary is insured against errors
B. The notary is highly qualified, is an officer of the High Court, and performs duties under the
supervision of the Court
C. The notary is required to have a secretary review all documents
D. The notary must obtain approval from the Law Society for each document
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is highly qualified and is considered an expert in his or her field. The notary
is an officer of the High Court, admitted by the court and performing duties under the
supervision of the Court. The office of notary is held in high esteem and great emphasis is
placed on the duty of care.
🟢 Question 5
Which of the following is NOT a quality expected of a notary in the execution of notarial office?
A. Impartiality
B. Professional integrity
C. Commercial profitability as primary objective
D. Responsibility and credibility
,🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Great emphasis is placed on the notary's duty of care and on qualities such as
responsibility, credibility, impartiality and professional integrity. Commercial profitability is not
a primary professional quality expected of a notary.
🟢 Question 6
A notary must act impartially at all times. This means that the notary:
A. May favour a long-standing client over a new client
B. Must remain neutral and not favour any party to a transaction
C. Must always act in the best interest of the person who pays the highest fee
D. May only act for one party in a transaction
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary must act impartially at all times and must not favour any party to a
transaction. This impartiality is a cornerstone of the notarial profession.
🟢 Question 7
In terms of the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937, where does the registrar of the High Court
keep a register of notaries?
A. In the Government Gazette only
B. In a register in which the names and signatures of all notaries admitted in each province
appear
C. In the national database maintained by the Department of Justice
D. In the Law Society's central registry
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The registrar of the High Court keeps a register in which the names and signatures
of all the notaries (and attorneys and conveyancers) admitted in each province appear.
🟢 Question 8
A notary who is guilty of unprofessional conduct may be:
A. Fined only
B. Suspended by the Law Society or by the court of its own motion
C. Required to pay damages to the client only
D. Given a warning without any further consequences
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary may be suspended by the Law Society or of its own motion by the court if
he or she is guilty of unprofessional conduct.
🟢 Question 9
Which of the following documents must be drafted by a notary before they would be accepted
for registration?
A. A simple letter of demand
B. An antenuptial agreement
, C. A standard employment contract
D. A will
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Documents that must be drafted by a notary include antenuptial agreements,
notarial bonds, deeds of servitude, long-term leases and sub-leases, and cession of these
leases.
🟢 Question 10
May a notary practise at any place in the Republic of South Africa?
A. Yes, without any restrictions
B. No, only in the province where admitted
C. Yes, but subject to the provisions of the Deeds Registries Act and the registrar's register of
notaries
D. No, only in the magisterial district of admission
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A notary may practise in the Republic of South Africa subject to the provisions of the
Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937. The registrar keeps a register in which the names and
signatures of all notaries admitted in each province appear.
🟢 Question 11
What does the term "duty of care" mean in respect of a notary?
A. The notary must ensure the document is commercially beneficial to the client
B. The notary must exercise the skill and diligence reasonably expected of a competent notary
in preparing and executing documents
C. The notary must guarantee the outcome of any transaction
D. The notary must provide free legal advice to all clients
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The duty of care requires the notary to exercise the skill and diligence reasonably
expected of a competent notary in preparing and executing documents.
🟢 Question 12
A notary is bound to honour which code of conduct?
A. The Code of Conduct for Judges
B. The Code of Conduct for Attorneys adopted by the Law Society of South Africa
C. The Code of Conduct for Estate Agents
D. The Code of Conduct for Accountants
🔴🔴 Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A notary is bound to honour the code of conduct for attorneys adopted by the Law
Society of South Africa.
🟢 Question 13
Which of the following is a requirement for admission as a notary in South Africa?
