Notary Exam Prep & Training – Key Tips
and Practice Questions 2026
4. True or False: As of 2021, every U.S. state has permanent laws authorizing Notaries to perform RONs.
- ANSWER ✨✔---False. To date 40 U.S. states have permanent RON laws. However, some states,
such as California, do not authorize Notaries to perform remote notarizations.
1. A customer calls you. "I need a copy of my birth certificate notarized so the agency I'm sending it to
has proof it's authentic. Can you do this for me?" What should you do? - ANSWER ✨✔---
ANSWERWER: C. Certified copies of vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates can only
be issued by the recording office that holds the original document.
3. A neighbor asks for your help. "I'm going to court tomorrow, and I need to present this document as
evidence," he says. "I need to make sure it's legal, so can you stamp and sign it?" What do you do? -
ANSWER ✨✔---Tell your neighbor that notarization does not automatically "legalize" a document.
Tell your neighbor that you can't affix your seal to a document without performing a notarization
Many people mistakenly believe that affixing a Notary's seal and signature automatically makes the
document legally binding in a court of law, but this is simply not true. A Notary can verify the identity of
a person who signs a document, or administer an oath or affirmation to a document signer, but a
notarization cannot "legalize" a document simply by having a Notary stamp it. In fact, some states
specifically prohibit Notaries from affixing their official seals to documents except when the Notary is
performing an authorized notarization.
,4. A signer brings you a document that requires the signer to swear that the statements in it are true.
But when you are about to administer the oath to the signer, he balks. "I don't believe in God. Can you
just perform the notarization and forget the oath?" What do you do? - ANSWER ✨✔---D. Suggest
the signer can take an affirmation in which the signer confirms the statements in the document are true
based on personal honor.
When notarizing a signature on a document that requires the signer to verbally confirm the statements
in the document are true, a signer has two options. The signer may take an oath, which is a promise of
truthfulness made to a higher power or the signer may take an affirmation, which is a promise of
truthfulness based on personal honor without invoking a deity or supreme being. Both oaths and
affirmations are equally acceptable for and a signer can choose which type of promise they prefer based
on the signer's personal beliefs.
A customer brings you a signed document. "I signed this statement two days ago, but I was told I need it
notarized with an acknowledgment," he says. "Can you notarize the signature I already wrote if I show
you my ID to prove I'm the person who signed it?" - ANSWER ✨✔---Yes, I can notarize the
signature with an acknowledgment.
Yes, I can notarize the signature with an acknowledgment. - ANSWER ✨✔---No. A birth certificate
is a vital record, and in most cases only the agency that issued the original record may certify copies of
vital records.
A co-worker asks if you can notarize his signature on an affidavit using a jurat. "Just one thing," he says.
"I'm not comfortable using the word 'God' because of my beliefs. Can I say that the statement is truthful
without mentioning a deity?" - ANSWER ✨✔---Yes. Instead of taking an oath to a higher power for
the jurat, a signer can take an affirmation, promising on personal honor to be truthful.
You have just finished notarizing signatures on a set of loan documents. "Good job," the real estate
agent says. "Just to be safe, can you give me some extra signed and stamped Notary certificates to take
with me? If we find a mistake on the documents, I'll just correct them and attach the new certificates
myself." - ANSWER ✨✔---No. Notaries may not provide unattached Notary certificates to anyone
else.
ANSWERWER: B. Notaries are not allowed to do this because you have no way of knowing if someone
will alter or falsify information on the certificate once it's out of your control. Agreeing to this request
could potentially result in you losing your Notary commission, paying large sums of damages in a
lawsuit, or even criminal charges if the unattached certificates are used to commit fraud. Only the
, Notary should attach separate Notary certificate wording to a document during a notarization or make
any corrections to the certificate wording. Also, some states (such as California and Florida) prohibit
making any corrections to Notary certificate wording after the document has been notarized.
1. A signer explains that she is organizing a fundraiser for a local school. She asks if you can endorse the
event so she can advertise it as "100 percent Notary approved." Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---
No. Notaries are not authorized to use their commissions, title of "Notary Public" or Notary seals to
endorse events or products.
A friend of yours has been elected as a local official. He is required to take an oath of office and asks if
you can administer one to him even though there's no document for him to sign. Can you do this? -
ANSWER ✨✔---Yes. A Notary is authorized to administer a verbal oath or affirmation to an
individual, even if there is no written signature or document involved.
Your neighbor says he needs an urgent notarization. "I have to submit this letter for a court case. Can
you put your seal on it? I just want to make sure the letter is legally binding." Can you do this? -
ANSWER ✨✔---No. Sometimes customers mistakenly believe that a Notary's seal will
automatically make a document legally binding in a court of law. This is not the case — a Notary simply
verifies the identity of the signer, takes the signer's acknowledgment of a signature, or witnesses the
signing of documents. Simply affixing a Notary seal to a document without performing an authorized
notarization or completing a notarial certificate is not allowed.
A co-worker comes to you with a question. "I received this document in Spanish from one of our
international clients. You speak Spanish — would you transwerlate the document and then certify that
your transwerlation is accurate?" Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---No. Notaries are not
authorized to certify transwerlations. While a Notary could notarize another transwerlator's signature
on a declaration stating that the document was transwerlated correctly, in this case it would not be
possible because you may not notarize your own signature.
A customer comes to your office. "I need this document notarized, but there is no Notary wording
printed on it," she says. "Can you tell me which type of notarization it needs? You're the Notary, you
should know." Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---No. If a customer doesn't know what type of
notarization is needed, you may describe the different types of notarizations (such as acknowledgments
or jurats) and let the signer pick what notarization they want. However, you should never choose the
type of notarization on the signer's behalf. Doing so would be the unauthorized practice of law unless
you are a qualified attorney.
and Practice Questions 2026
4. True or False: As of 2021, every U.S. state has permanent laws authorizing Notaries to perform RONs.
- ANSWER ✨✔---False. To date 40 U.S. states have permanent RON laws. However, some states,
such as California, do not authorize Notaries to perform remote notarizations.
1. A customer calls you. "I need a copy of my birth certificate notarized so the agency I'm sending it to
has proof it's authentic. Can you do this for me?" What should you do? - ANSWER ✨✔---
ANSWERWER: C. Certified copies of vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates can only
be issued by the recording office that holds the original document.
3. A neighbor asks for your help. "I'm going to court tomorrow, and I need to present this document as
evidence," he says. "I need to make sure it's legal, so can you stamp and sign it?" What do you do? -
ANSWER ✨✔---Tell your neighbor that notarization does not automatically "legalize" a document.
Tell your neighbor that you can't affix your seal to a document without performing a notarization
Many people mistakenly believe that affixing a Notary's seal and signature automatically makes the
document legally binding in a court of law, but this is simply not true. A Notary can verify the identity of
a person who signs a document, or administer an oath or affirmation to a document signer, but a
notarization cannot "legalize" a document simply by having a Notary stamp it. In fact, some states
specifically prohibit Notaries from affixing their official seals to documents except when the Notary is
performing an authorized notarization.
,4. A signer brings you a document that requires the signer to swear that the statements in it are true.
But when you are about to administer the oath to the signer, he balks. "I don't believe in God. Can you
just perform the notarization and forget the oath?" What do you do? - ANSWER ✨✔---D. Suggest
the signer can take an affirmation in which the signer confirms the statements in the document are true
based on personal honor.
When notarizing a signature on a document that requires the signer to verbally confirm the statements
in the document are true, a signer has two options. The signer may take an oath, which is a promise of
truthfulness made to a higher power or the signer may take an affirmation, which is a promise of
truthfulness based on personal honor without invoking a deity or supreme being. Both oaths and
affirmations are equally acceptable for and a signer can choose which type of promise they prefer based
on the signer's personal beliefs.
A customer brings you a signed document. "I signed this statement two days ago, but I was told I need it
notarized with an acknowledgment," he says. "Can you notarize the signature I already wrote if I show
you my ID to prove I'm the person who signed it?" - ANSWER ✨✔---Yes, I can notarize the
signature with an acknowledgment.
Yes, I can notarize the signature with an acknowledgment. - ANSWER ✨✔---No. A birth certificate
is a vital record, and in most cases only the agency that issued the original record may certify copies of
vital records.
A co-worker asks if you can notarize his signature on an affidavit using a jurat. "Just one thing," he says.
"I'm not comfortable using the word 'God' because of my beliefs. Can I say that the statement is truthful
without mentioning a deity?" - ANSWER ✨✔---Yes. Instead of taking an oath to a higher power for
the jurat, a signer can take an affirmation, promising on personal honor to be truthful.
You have just finished notarizing signatures on a set of loan documents. "Good job," the real estate
agent says. "Just to be safe, can you give me some extra signed and stamped Notary certificates to take
with me? If we find a mistake on the documents, I'll just correct them and attach the new certificates
myself." - ANSWER ✨✔---No. Notaries may not provide unattached Notary certificates to anyone
else.
ANSWERWER: B. Notaries are not allowed to do this because you have no way of knowing if someone
will alter or falsify information on the certificate once it's out of your control. Agreeing to this request
could potentially result in you losing your Notary commission, paying large sums of damages in a
lawsuit, or even criminal charges if the unattached certificates are used to commit fraud. Only the
, Notary should attach separate Notary certificate wording to a document during a notarization or make
any corrections to the certificate wording. Also, some states (such as California and Florida) prohibit
making any corrections to Notary certificate wording after the document has been notarized.
1. A signer explains that she is organizing a fundraiser for a local school. She asks if you can endorse the
event so she can advertise it as "100 percent Notary approved." Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---
No. Notaries are not authorized to use their commissions, title of "Notary Public" or Notary seals to
endorse events or products.
A friend of yours has been elected as a local official. He is required to take an oath of office and asks if
you can administer one to him even though there's no document for him to sign. Can you do this? -
ANSWER ✨✔---Yes. A Notary is authorized to administer a verbal oath or affirmation to an
individual, even if there is no written signature or document involved.
Your neighbor says he needs an urgent notarization. "I have to submit this letter for a court case. Can
you put your seal on it? I just want to make sure the letter is legally binding." Can you do this? -
ANSWER ✨✔---No. Sometimes customers mistakenly believe that a Notary's seal will
automatically make a document legally binding in a court of law. This is not the case — a Notary simply
verifies the identity of the signer, takes the signer's acknowledgment of a signature, or witnesses the
signing of documents. Simply affixing a Notary seal to a document without performing an authorized
notarization or completing a notarial certificate is not allowed.
A co-worker comes to you with a question. "I received this document in Spanish from one of our
international clients. You speak Spanish — would you transwerlate the document and then certify that
your transwerlation is accurate?" Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---No. Notaries are not
authorized to certify transwerlations. While a Notary could notarize another transwerlator's signature
on a declaration stating that the document was transwerlated correctly, in this case it would not be
possible because you may not notarize your own signature.
A customer comes to your office. "I need this document notarized, but there is no Notary wording
printed on it," she says. "Can you tell me which type of notarization it needs? You're the Notary, you
should know." Can you do this? - ANSWER ✨✔---No. If a customer doesn't know what type of
notarization is needed, you may describe the different types of notarizations (such as acknowledgments
or jurats) and let the signer pick what notarization they want. However, you should never choose the
type of notarization on the signer's behalf. Doing so would be the unauthorized practice of law unless
you are a qualified attorney.
