CALIFORNIA NOTARY PUBLIC |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
When can the employer of a notary limit the notary's duties during the normal course of
employment?
A) Only after entering into an agreement with the notary to purchase the notary's supplies
and pay the notary's bond premium.
B) When the employee is under the direct employ of a government official.
C) At any time the notary is employed by that entity, business, or individual.
D) When the employer in question is a federal agency.
E) Employers never have the authority to limit a notary's duties.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) At any time the notary is employed by that entity, business, or individual.
Question 2
What must a notary provide the authorized manufacturer before their official seal can be
made?
A) A Certificate of Authorization provided by the Secretary of State.
B) A photocopy of the notary's driver licence or other official form of identification.
C) The notary's commission certificate.
D) The notary's application form.
E) All of the above.
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,CORRECT ANSWER
A) A Certificate of Authorization provided by the Secretary of State.
Question 3
All of the following are being certified by a notary public when executing an
acknowledgment EXCEPT:
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary.
B) The identity of the signer.
C) That the signer acknowledged executing the document.
D) That the notary public administered the oath or affirmation to the signer.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary.
Question 4
When notarizing a California subdivision map certificate, all of the following are required
in lieu of an official notary seal EXCEPT:
A) The notary's name.
B) The notary's right thumbprint.
C) The county of the notary's principal place of business.
D) The notary's commission expiration date.
E) None of the above.
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,CORRECT ANSWER
E) None of the above.
Question 5
Which of the following documents may a subscribing witness present for notarization on
another's behalf?
A) Any deed of trust or quitclaim deed.
B) Any mortgage.
C) Any security agreement.
D) Any grant deed document.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Any deed of trust or quitclaim deed.
Question 6
What is a notary public certifying in an acknowledgment?
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary public.
B) The date of the notarization.
C) The county the notarization took place in.
D) That the signer acknowledged executing the document.
E) All of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
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, E) All of the above.
Question 7
Who must be notified if a notary's journal is lost, stolen, destroyed, misplaced, damaged,
or otherwise rendered unusable?
A) The notary's employer, if any.
B) The Clerk of Court in the notary's home county.
C) The Secretary of State.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) The Secretary of State.
Question 8
Which of the following is a valid reason for a notary to receive an extension to the 30-
calendar-day time limit allowed to file their bond and take their oath, which begins with
the date of issue of their commission?
A) Extended illness of the prospective notary of a serious or life-threatening nature.
B) A delay in the mail system, provided the envelope containing the notary oath and bond
was postmarked at least 3 days prior to the filing date.
C) If the family pet damages the filing paperwork, rendering it unusable.
D) A family emergency submitted in writing to the clerk of court via certified mail.
E) None of the above.
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QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
When can the employer of a notary limit the notary's duties during the normal course of
employment?
A) Only after entering into an agreement with the notary to purchase the notary's supplies
and pay the notary's bond premium.
B) When the employee is under the direct employ of a government official.
C) At any time the notary is employed by that entity, business, or individual.
D) When the employer in question is a federal agency.
E) Employers never have the authority to limit a notary's duties.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) At any time the notary is employed by that entity, business, or individual.
Question 2
What must a notary provide the authorized manufacturer before their official seal can be
made?
A) A Certificate of Authorization provided by the Secretary of State.
B) A photocopy of the notary's driver licence or other official form of identification.
C) The notary's commission certificate.
D) The notary's application form.
E) All of the above.
1
,CORRECT ANSWER
A) A Certificate of Authorization provided by the Secretary of State.
Question 3
All of the following are being certified by a notary public when executing an
acknowledgment EXCEPT:
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary.
B) The identity of the signer.
C) That the signer acknowledged executing the document.
D) That the notary public administered the oath or affirmation to the signer.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary.
Question 4
When notarizing a California subdivision map certificate, all of the following are required
in lieu of an official notary seal EXCEPT:
A) The notary's name.
B) The notary's right thumbprint.
C) The county of the notary's principal place of business.
D) The notary's commission expiration date.
E) None of the above.
2
,CORRECT ANSWER
E) None of the above.
Question 5
Which of the following documents may a subscribing witness present for notarization on
another's behalf?
A) Any deed of trust or quitclaim deed.
B) Any mortgage.
C) Any security agreement.
D) Any grant deed document.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
A) Any deed of trust or quitclaim deed.
Question 6
What is a notary public certifying in an acknowledgment?
A) That the signer personally appeared before the notary public.
B) The date of the notarization.
C) The county the notarization took place in.
D) That the signer acknowledged executing the document.
E) All of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
3
, E) All of the above.
Question 7
Who must be notified if a notary's journal is lost, stolen, destroyed, misplaced, damaged,
or otherwise rendered unusable?
A) The notary's employer, if any.
B) The Clerk of Court in the notary's home county.
C) The Secretary of State.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.
CORRECT ANSWER
C) The Secretary of State.
Question 8
Which of the following is a valid reason for a notary to receive an extension to the 30-
calendar-day time limit allowed to file their bond and take their oath, which begins with
the date of issue of their commission?
A) Extended illness of the prospective notary of a serious or life-threatening nature.
B) A delay in the mail system, provided the envelope containing the notary oath and bond
was postmarked at least 3 days prior to the filing date.
C) If the family pet damages the filing paperwork, rendering it unusable.
D) A family emergency submitted in writing to the clerk of court via certified mail.
E) None of the above.
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