NYS NOTARY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
LATEST UPDATED 2026/2027
Residency and Citizenship Requirements
True or False: To qualify for an appointment as a New York State Notary
Public, an applicant must either reside within NYS or maintain an active
place of business within the state.
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: At the time of appointment, a notary must either
reside in NYS or have an office or place of business located within the state.
Additionally, applicants must be citizens of the United States. However, the New
York Department of State (Division of Licensing Services) specifies that lawful
permanent resident aliens of the United States are also eligible to be appointed as
notaries.
Moving Out of State and Retaining Commission
True or False: If a commissioned NYS resident notary public moves their
personal residence out of New York State, they may legally continue to serve
as an NYS notary public as long as they maintain a physical office or place of
business within NYS.
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: Under New York State Executive Law, a non-
resident notary may continue their duties if they have a physical business office in
the state. However, if a non-resident notary public closes their New York business
office or ceases to maintain a place of business within the state, they immediately
vacate their office as a notary public by law.
Waiver of Certain Qualification Requirements
True or False: There are specific circumstances under which the New York
Secretary of State is legally permitted to waive certain standard notary public
, application requirements (such as the mandatory state examination or
educational verification).
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: The Secretary of State is not required to re-verify
qualifications or test the competency of certain applicants. This waiver applies to:
Applicants who submit their renewal application less than 6 months after
their previous notary commission has expired.
Attorneys who are admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Certain appointed court clerks within the NYS unified court system who
have already passed a civil service exam.
The Secretary of State can remove a notary without serving a copy of the charges
against him? -ANSWER ✔✔FALSE - the secretary of state must serve the charges
and give him an opportunity to be heard.
No person shall be appointed a notary who has been convicted of any
misdemeanor. -ANSWER ✔✔FALSE- a person cannot be appointed a notary if
convicted of a felony
No person shall be appointed a notary public if he has been convicted unlawful
possession or distribution of habit forming narcotic drugs? -ANSWER ✔✔TRUE -
also cannot be appointed a notary if convixted of vagrancy or prostitution (unless
the person was pardoned or received a certificate of good conduct from a parole
board).
An attorney who is a notary public who moves to another state shall be deemed a
resident of the county where he maintains an office in NYS? -ANSWER
✔✔TRUE - this section applies to attorneys who are admitted to practice in NYS
and are counselors in the courts of record in New York State.
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
LATEST UPDATED 2026/2027
Residency and Citizenship Requirements
True or False: To qualify for an appointment as a New York State Notary
Public, an applicant must either reside within NYS or maintain an active
place of business within the state.
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: At the time of appointment, a notary must either
reside in NYS or have an office or place of business located within the state.
Additionally, applicants must be citizens of the United States. However, the New
York Department of State (Division of Licensing Services) specifies that lawful
permanent resident aliens of the United States are also eligible to be appointed as
notaries.
Moving Out of State and Retaining Commission
True or False: If a commissioned NYS resident notary public moves their
personal residence out of New York State, they may legally continue to serve
as an NYS notary public as long as they maintain a physical office or place of
business within NYS.
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: Under New York State Executive Law, a non-
resident notary may continue their duties if they have a physical business office in
the state. However, if a non-resident notary public closes their New York business
office or ceases to maintain a place of business within the state, they immediately
vacate their office as a notary public by law.
Waiver of Certain Qualification Requirements
True or False: There are specific circumstances under which the New York
Secretary of State is legally permitted to waive certain standard notary public
, application requirements (such as the mandatory state examination or
educational verification).
✔✔ Answer: True
Legal Nuance & Rationale: The Secretary of State is not required to re-verify
qualifications or test the competency of certain applicants. This waiver applies to:
Applicants who submit their renewal application less than 6 months after
their previous notary commission has expired.
Attorneys who are admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Certain appointed court clerks within the NYS unified court system who
have already passed a civil service exam.
The Secretary of State can remove a notary without serving a copy of the charges
against him? -ANSWER ✔✔FALSE - the secretary of state must serve the charges
and give him an opportunity to be heard.
No person shall be appointed a notary who has been convicted of any
misdemeanor. -ANSWER ✔✔FALSE- a person cannot be appointed a notary if
convicted of a felony
No person shall be appointed a notary public if he has been convicted unlawful
possession or distribution of habit forming narcotic drugs? -ANSWER ✔✔TRUE -
also cannot be appointed a notary if convixted of vagrancy or prostitution (unless
the person was pardoned or received a certificate of good conduct from a parole
board).
An attorney who is a notary public who moves to another state shall be deemed a
resident of the county where he maintains an office in NYS? -ANSWER
✔✔TRUE - this section applies to attorneys who are admitted to practice in NYS
and are counselors in the courts of record in New York State.
