NYS NOTARY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
A20notary20at20the20time20of20̣ appointment20must20be20either20a20NYS20resident20or20have20a20p
lace20of20̣ business20in20New20York20State?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20a20notary20must20also20be20a20united20states20citizen20at20the20time20of20̣ appointment.20howe
ver,20the20department20of20̣ state,20division20of20̣ licensing20services20web20site20adds20that20not
ary20may20also20be20a20permanent20resident20alien20of20̣ the20united20states
A20NYS20resident20notary20public20who20moves20out20of20̣ NYS20but20still20maintains20a20place2
0of20
̣ business20in20NYS20can20continue20to20be20a20notary20in20NYS?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20how20if20
̣ a20non20resident20notary20ceases20to20have20a20place20of20̣ business20in20NYS,20then2
0he20vacates20his20of ̣f ̣ice20as20a20notary20public.
In20certain20situations,20the20Secretary20of20̣ State20is20not20required20to20satisf ̣y20himself20̣ of20̣ c
ertain20notary20public20requirements20of20̣ an20applicant,20such20as20education?20-20ans-
TRUE-20example,20when20applicant20applies20less20than20620months20af ̣ter20his20term20of20̣ not
ary20has20expired,20or20upon20the20application20of20̣ an20attorney20admitted20to20practice20in20N
YS,20and20certain20court20clerks
The20Secretary20of20̣ State20can20remove20a20notary20without20serving20a20copy20of20̣ the20charg
es20against20him?20-20ans-FALSE20-
20the20secretary20of20
̣ state20must20serve20the20charges20and20give20him20an20opportunity20to20b
e20heard.
No20person20shall20be20appointed20a20notary20who20has20been20convicted20of20̣ any20misdeme
anor.20-20ans-
FALSE-20a20person20cannot20be20appointed20a20notary20if20̣ convicted20of20̣ a20f ̣elony
No20person20shall20be20appointed20a20notary20public20if20̣ he20has20been20convicted20unlawf ̣ul20
possession20or20distribution20of20̣ habit20f ̣orming20narcotic20drugs?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20also20cannot20be20appointed20a20notary20if20 ̣ convixted20of20̣ vagrancy20or20prostitution20(unles
s20the20person20was20pardoned20or20received20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ good20conduct20f ̣rom20a20par
ole20board).
An20attorney20who20is20a20notary20public20who20moves20to20another20state20shall20be20deeme
d20a20resident20of20̣ the20county20where20he20maintains20an20of ̣f ̣ice20in20NYS?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20this20section20applies20to20attorneys20who20are20admitted 20to20practice20in20NYS20and20are2
0 counselors20in20the20courts20of20̣ record20in20New20York20State.
, The20secretary20of20̣ state20shall20receive20a20f ̣ee20of20̣ $2020f ̣or20changing20the20name20or20addr
ess20of20̣ a20notary20public20-20ans-
FALSE-20the20f ̣ee20f ̣or20changing20the20name20or20address20of20̣ a20notary20public20is20$10.20als
o,20the20f ̣ee20f ̣or20issuing20a20duplicate20ID20is20also20$10.
Only20the20secretary20of20̣ state20may20issue20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character.20-20ans-
FALSE-20the20county20clerk20may20also20issue20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣ice
The20secretary20of20̣ state20shall20collect20$1020f ̣or20the20issuance20of20̣ a20certif ̣icate20of ̣f ̣icial20c
haracter?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20the20county20clerk20collects20$1020f ̣or20the20f ̣illing20of20 ̣ the20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20
and20$520f ̣or20the20issuance20of20̣ a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20with20seal20attached
A20certif ̣ication20of20̣ a20notarial20signature20is20issued20by20the20court?20-20ans-FALSE20-
20a20certif ̣ication20of20̣ a20notarial20signature20is20issued20by20the20county20clerk20f ̣or20a20f ̣ee20of20̣
$3
No20person20removed20f ̣rom20commissioner20of20̣ deeds20in20New20York20City20is20eligible20f ̣or2
0reappointment20as20commissioner20of20 ̣ deeds20-20ans-TRUE20-
20also20not20eligible20f ̣or20appointment20as20a20notary20public
A20commissioner20of20̣ elections20or20inspector20of20̣ elections20is20not20eligible20f ̣or20the20of ̣f ̣ice2
0of20
̣ notary20public.20-20ans-FALSE-20they20are20eligible20f ̣or20appointment20as20notary20public
No20person20is20eligible20f ̣or20the20of ̣f ̣ice20of20̣ notary20public20who20was20convicted20of20̣ a20viola
tion20of20̣ the20selective20draf ̣t20act20of20̣ MAY2018,201917?20-20ans-
TRUE-20also20not20eligible20if20̣ convicted20of20̣ a20violation20of20̣ the20selective20training20and20s
ervice20act20of20̣ 1940
There20shall20be20at20least20one20person20in20the20county20clerk's20of ̣f ̣ice20who20shall20notarize
20documents20f ̣or20the20public20f ̣ree20of20
̣ charge.20-20ans-
TRUE-20that20person20shall20be20exempt20f ̣rom20the20notary20public20examination20f ̣ee20and20
application20f ̣ee.
A20member20of20̣ the20legislature20may20not20be20appointed20a20notary20public?20-20ans-
FALSE-20a20member20of20̣ the20legislature20may20be20appointed20a20notary.
A20sherif ̣f20̣ may20be20appointed20notary20public20-20ans-
FALSE-20Sherif ̣f ̣s20cannot20hold20any20other20of ̣f ̣ice
A20notary20public20shall20not20notarize20a20paper20if20̣ he20has20a20pecuniary20interest20in20the20t
ransaction20-20ans-TRUE-20such20notarization20would20be20invalid
The20signature20and20seal20of20̣ the20county20clerk20on20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20o
r20authentication20may20be20f ̣acsimile,20printed20or20stamped.20-20ans-
TRUE-20also20may20be20photographed20or20engraved20thereon
CORRECT ANSWERS
A20notary20at20the20time20of20̣ appointment20must20be20either20a20NYS20resident20or20have20a20p
lace20of20̣ business20in20New20York20State?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20a20notary20must20also20be20a20united20states20citizen20at20the20time20of20̣ appointment.20howe
ver,20the20department20of20̣ state,20division20of20̣ licensing20services20web20site20adds20that20not
ary20may20also20be20a20permanent20resident20alien20of20̣ the20united20states
A20NYS20resident20notary20public20who20moves20out20of20̣ NYS20but20still20maintains20a20place2
0of20
̣ business20in20NYS20can20continue20to20be20a20notary20in20NYS?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20how20if20
̣ a20non20resident20notary20ceases20to20have20a20place20of20̣ business20in20NYS,20then2
0he20vacates20his20of ̣f ̣ice20as20a20notary20public.
In20certain20situations,20the20Secretary20of20̣ State20is20not20required20to20satisf ̣y20himself20̣ of20̣ c
ertain20notary20public20requirements20of20̣ an20applicant,20such20as20education?20-20ans-
TRUE-20example,20when20applicant20applies20less20than20620months20af ̣ter20his20term20of20̣ not
ary20has20expired,20or20upon20the20application20of20̣ an20attorney20admitted20to20practice20in20N
YS,20and20certain20court20clerks
The20Secretary20of20̣ State20can20remove20a20notary20without20serving20a20copy20of20̣ the20charg
es20against20him?20-20ans-FALSE20-
20the20secretary20of20
̣ state20must20serve20the20charges20and20give20him20an20opportunity20to20b
e20heard.
No20person20shall20be20appointed20a20notary20who20has20been20convicted20of20̣ any20misdeme
anor.20-20ans-
FALSE-20a20person20cannot20be20appointed20a20notary20if20̣ convicted20of20̣ a20f ̣elony
No20person20shall20be20appointed20a20notary20public20if20̣ he20has20been20convicted20unlawf ̣ul20
possession20or20distribution20of20̣ habit20f ̣orming20narcotic20drugs?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20also20cannot20be20appointed20a20notary20if20 ̣ convixted20of20̣ vagrancy20or20prostitution20(unles
s20the20person20was20pardoned20or20received20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ good20conduct20f ̣rom20a20par
ole20board).
An20attorney20who20is20a20notary20public20who20moves20to20another20state20shall20be20deeme
d20a20resident20of20̣ the20county20where20he20maintains20an20of ̣f ̣ice20in20NYS?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20this20section20applies20to20attorneys20who20are20admitted 20to20practice20in20NYS20and20are2
0 counselors20in20the20courts20of20̣ record20in20New20York20State.
, The20secretary20of20̣ state20shall20receive20a20f ̣ee20of20̣ $2020f ̣or20changing20the20name20or20addr
ess20of20̣ a20notary20public20-20ans-
FALSE-20the20f ̣ee20f ̣or20changing20the20name20or20address20of20̣ a20notary20public20is20$10.20als
o,20the20f ̣ee20f ̣or20issuing20a20duplicate20ID20is20also20$10.
Only20the20secretary20of20̣ state20may20issue20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character.20-20ans-
FALSE-20the20county20clerk20may20also20issue20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣ice
The20secretary20of20̣ state20shall20collect20$1020f ̣or20the20issuance20of20̣ a20certif ̣icate20of ̣f ̣icial20c
haracter?20-20ans-TRUE20-
20the20county20clerk20collects20$1020f ̣or20the20f ̣illing20of20 ̣ the20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20
and20$520f ̣or20the20issuance20of20̣ a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20with20seal20attached
A20certif ̣ication20of20̣ a20notarial20signature20is20issued20by20the20court?20-20ans-FALSE20-
20a20certif ̣ication20of20̣ a20notarial20signature20is20issued20by20the20county20clerk20f ̣or20a20f ̣ee20of20̣
$3
No20person20removed20f ̣rom20commissioner20of20̣ deeds20in20New20York20City20is20eligible20f ̣or2
0reappointment20as20commissioner20of20 ̣ deeds20-20ans-TRUE20-
20also20not20eligible20f ̣or20appointment20as20a20notary20public
A20commissioner20of20̣ elections20or20inspector20of20̣ elections20is20not20eligible20f ̣or20the20of ̣f ̣ice2
0of20
̣ notary20public.20-20ans-FALSE-20they20are20eligible20f ̣or20appointment20as20notary20public
No20person20is20eligible20f ̣or20the20of ̣f ̣ice20of20̣ notary20public20who20was20convicted20of20̣ a20viola
tion20of20̣ the20selective20draf ̣t20act20of20̣ MAY2018,201917?20-20ans-
TRUE-20also20not20eligible20if20̣ convicted20of20̣ a20violation20of20̣ the20selective20training20and20s
ervice20act20of20̣ 1940
There20shall20be20at20least20one20person20in20the20county20clerk's20of ̣f ̣ice20who20shall20notarize
20documents20f ̣or20the20public20f ̣ree20of20
̣ charge.20-20ans-
TRUE-20that20person20shall20be20exempt20f ̣rom20the20notary20public20examination20f ̣ee20and20
application20f ̣ee.
A20member20of20̣ the20legislature20may20not20be20appointed20a20notary20public?20-20ans-
FALSE-20a20member20of20̣ the20legislature20may20be20appointed20a20notary.
A20sherif ̣f20̣ may20be20appointed20notary20public20-20ans-
FALSE-20Sherif ̣f ̣s20cannot20hold20any20other20of ̣f ̣ice
A20notary20public20shall20not20notarize20a20paper20if20̣ he20has20a20pecuniary20interest20in20the20t
ransaction20-20ans-TRUE-20such20notarization20would20be20invalid
The20signature20and20seal20of20̣ the20county20clerk20on20a20certif ̣icate20of20̣ of ̣f ̣icial20character20o
r20authentication20may20be20f ̣acsimile,20printed20or20stamped.20-20ans-
TRUE-20also20may20be20photographed20or20engraved20thereon
