NYS NOTARY MULTIPLE CHOICE
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
ALREADY PASSED!!!!
Refusal or Failure to Perform Official Duties
If a commissioned Notary Public willfully refuses or refrains from executing a
legal duty imposed on them by law (or one that is fundamentally inherent to
the nature of their public office), they may be criminally prosecuted for
committing:
A. A felony
B. Criminal contempt of court
C. A tort (civil wrong)
D. A misdemeanor
✔✔ Answer: D. A misdemeanor
Legal Rationale: Under New York State Penal Law, a public officer (including a
notary public) who intentionally fails to perform a duty mandatory to their office is
guilty of Official Misconduct, which is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.
Note: While a notary can also face civil liability for damages (a tort), the
criminal charge for willfully omitting their legal duties is a misdemeanor.
Definitions of Public Records and Certification
What is the legal term for a duplicate copy of an official public document that
has been signed and formally verified as an exact, true match by the specific
public official who has lawful custody of the original file?
A. An affirmation
B. An authentication certificate
C. A certified copy
D. An acknowledgment
,✔✔ Answer: C. A certified copy
Legal Rationale: A certified copy is verified by the official custodian of the
original record (such as a county clerk or vital statistics officer).
Crucial Exam Rule: A New York State Notary Public is not legally
authorized to issue certified copies of public records (such as birth
certificates or marriage licenses). Only the official public custodian of those
records can issue a certified copy.
Real Property Transactions
Which of the following legal instruments is best described as an agreement
that transfers the right of possession and use of real property to another
person for a specified period of years, for life, or at the will of the parties?
A. A lien
B. A lease
C. A mortgage
D. A conveyance of deed
✔✔ Answer: B. A lease
Legal Rationale: A lease is a contract granting temporary possession and use of
real estate for a designated time frame in exchange for rent, without transferring
actual ownership.
Why the others are incorrect: A lien (A) is a legal claim against property
as security for a debt. A mortgage (C) is a pledge of real property to secure a
loan. A conveyance (D) is the actual transfer of legal title (ownership) from
one party to another.
A court decree to pay a specified sum of money is best known as a:
a. Writ
b. Lien
c. Litigation
d. Judgment -ANSWER ✔✔d. Judgment
,The secretary of State of New York may suspend or remove any Notary from
office for misconduct. This cannot be done without serving the Notary Public with
a copy of the charges and providing the Notary with which of the following?
a. A trial by jury
b. An opportunity to be heard
c. A hearing
d. Both B & C -ANSWER ✔✔d. Both B & C
For taking a Proof of Execution by two people and swearing in three witnesses, the
Notary may collect the following fee:
a. $2.00
b. $4.00
c. $6.00
d. $10.00 -ANSWER ✔✔d. $10.00
If prepared by a Notary, which of the following is considered to be the Unlawful
Practice of Law (UPL).
a. Preparing a Mechanics Lien
b. Preparing a Power of Attorney
c. Preparing a Chattel Mortgage
d. All of the above -ANSWER ✔✔d. All of the above
Any non-resident Notary Public of the State of New York does NOT need to
vacate the office of a Notary if he/she does which of the following:
a. Retains a PO Box in NYS
b. Retains a place of business in NYS
, c. Retains business ties in NYS
d. Shares an office with an Attorney -ANSWER ✔✔b. Retains a place of business
in NYS
A New York Notary jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with which of the
following?
a. His/her County of employment
b. His/her County of residence
c. The Tri-State area
d. The State of New York -ANSWER ✔✔d. The State of New York
The County Clerk shall collect the following free from every Notary Public for
filing a Certificate of Official Character in a county other than that of a Notary's
original commission.
a. $5.00
b. $10.00
c. $15.00
d. $20.00 -ANSWER ✔✔b. $10.00
A Notary lives and is commissioned in Rockland County. The Notary works in
Westchester County, many of the documents notarized at the Notary's job needs to
be authenticated. In which County would the Signer go to get this authentication
done?
a. Westchester
b. Rockland
c. Neither. This has to be done in Albany, New York
d. this can only be done in New York County -ANSWER ✔✔b. Rockland
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
ALREADY PASSED!!!!
Refusal or Failure to Perform Official Duties
If a commissioned Notary Public willfully refuses or refrains from executing a
legal duty imposed on them by law (or one that is fundamentally inherent to
the nature of their public office), they may be criminally prosecuted for
committing:
A. A felony
B. Criminal contempt of court
C. A tort (civil wrong)
D. A misdemeanor
✔✔ Answer: D. A misdemeanor
Legal Rationale: Under New York State Penal Law, a public officer (including a
notary public) who intentionally fails to perform a duty mandatory to their office is
guilty of Official Misconduct, which is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.
Note: While a notary can also face civil liability for damages (a tort), the
criminal charge for willfully omitting their legal duties is a misdemeanor.
Definitions of Public Records and Certification
What is the legal term for a duplicate copy of an official public document that
has been signed and formally verified as an exact, true match by the specific
public official who has lawful custody of the original file?
A. An affirmation
B. An authentication certificate
C. A certified copy
D. An acknowledgment
,✔✔ Answer: C. A certified copy
Legal Rationale: A certified copy is verified by the official custodian of the
original record (such as a county clerk or vital statistics officer).
Crucial Exam Rule: A New York State Notary Public is not legally
authorized to issue certified copies of public records (such as birth
certificates or marriage licenses). Only the official public custodian of those
records can issue a certified copy.
Real Property Transactions
Which of the following legal instruments is best described as an agreement
that transfers the right of possession and use of real property to another
person for a specified period of years, for life, or at the will of the parties?
A. A lien
B. A lease
C. A mortgage
D. A conveyance of deed
✔✔ Answer: B. A lease
Legal Rationale: A lease is a contract granting temporary possession and use of
real estate for a designated time frame in exchange for rent, without transferring
actual ownership.
Why the others are incorrect: A lien (A) is a legal claim against property
as security for a debt. A mortgage (C) is a pledge of real property to secure a
loan. A conveyance (D) is the actual transfer of legal title (ownership) from
one party to another.
A court decree to pay a specified sum of money is best known as a:
a. Writ
b. Lien
c. Litigation
d. Judgment -ANSWER ✔✔d. Judgment
,The secretary of State of New York may suspend or remove any Notary from
office for misconduct. This cannot be done without serving the Notary Public with
a copy of the charges and providing the Notary with which of the following?
a. A trial by jury
b. An opportunity to be heard
c. A hearing
d. Both B & C -ANSWER ✔✔d. Both B & C
For taking a Proof of Execution by two people and swearing in three witnesses, the
Notary may collect the following fee:
a. $2.00
b. $4.00
c. $6.00
d. $10.00 -ANSWER ✔✔d. $10.00
If prepared by a Notary, which of the following is considered to be the Unlawful
Practice of Law (UPL).
a. Preparing a Mechanics Lien
b. Preparing a Power of Attorney
c. Preparing a Chattel Mortgage
d. All of the above -ANSWER ✔✔d. All of the above
Any non-resident Notary Public of the State of New York does NOT need to
vacate the office of a Notary if he/she does which of the following:
a. Retains a PO Box in NYS
b. Retains a place of business in NYS
, c. Retains business ties in NYS
d. Shares an office with an Attorney -ANSWER ✔✔b. Retains a place of business
in NYS
A New York Notary jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with which of the
following?
a. His/her County of employment
b. His/her County of residence
c. The Tri-State area
d. The State of New York -ANSWER ✔✔d. The State of New York
The County Clerk shall collect the following free from every Notary Public for
filing a Certificate of Official Character in a county other than that of a Notary's
original commission.
a. $5.00
b. $10.00
c. $15.00
d. $20.00 -ANSWER ✔✔b. $10.00
A Notary lives and is commissioned in Rockland County. The Notary works in
Westchester County, many of the documents notarized at the Notary's job needs to
be authenticated. In which County would the Signer go to get this authentication
done?
a. Westchester
b. Rockland
c. Neither. This has to be done in Albany, New York
d. this can only be done in New York County -ANSWER ✔✔b. Rockland
