New York State Notary
Public License Exam
Questions with Verified Answers
Guarantee Passing score: 85% or higher
1. Notaries public are commissioned by :
Answer> The Secretary of State
2. A/An may be appointed a notary public without an examination-
: Answer> an *attorney* admitted to practice in New York State (bonus point: also
exempt are officially appointed *Court Clerks* in the NY State court system)
3. True/False:
Non-residents of New York state who have offices or places of business in the
state may also become notaries
Answer> True.
An office or place of business is sufficient.
4. *Notary Public*
(The full definition, as laid out in NY state law.
Answer> A *public officer who executes acknowledgements of deeds or writings* in
order to render them available as evidence of the facts therein contained;
administers oaths and affirmation as to the truth of statements contained in papers
or documents requiring the administration of an oath.
,5. *Laches
Answer> The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal rights.
6. The (1) and (2) of the notary must be filed in the office
of the county clerk of the county where the notary is located, or has office or
place of business
: Answer> 1) *oath of office*, 2) *signature*
7. *Affiant
Answer> The person who makes and subscribes their signature to an affidavit.
(Hint: the term 'affiant' may be used interchangeably with the word *deponent*...
remember this.)
8. *Extra credit*, from NY State Law.
Fill in the blank:
"Use of the office of notary in other than the procedure
required is viewed as a serious offense
Answer> *"specific, step-by-step"*
9. True/False:
A notary public is allowed to administer an oath to herself or himself under
certain circumstances (by a requesting
judge in a civil trial, or at the request
of the Secretary of State
Answer> False.
A notary public can never administer an oath to themselves.
10. True/False:
,A jurat is not the affidavit
Answer> True.
The jurat is the specific part of the document where the notary public certifies that
the document was sworn to before her or him in person. The key words here are:
*sworn* and *in person.*
11. *Guardian
Answer> A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
12. Bonus:
(From NYS Notary License Law)
"Equally unacceptable to the Secretary of State is the
administra- tion of oaths
Answer> *"slipshod"*
13. The simplest form in which an oath may be administered:
"
Answer> "Do you solemnly swear that the contents of this affidavit subscribed by
you is correct and true?"
14. A/An may be used for persons who conscientiously de-
cline taking an oath
Answer> An *affirmation*
15. *Escrow
Answer> The placing of an instrument in the hands of a person as a depository who
on the happening of a designated event, is to deliver the instrument to a
third person. This agreement, once established, should be unalterable. (Often an
*attorney*, but not always)
16. As best you can, name the activities (involving the practice of law) that are
, prohibited by a notary public.
May not
May not
etc.
(How many are listed?
Answer> Four things listed:
1. May not *give advice* on the law
2. May not ask for and get *legal business* to send to a lawyer
3. May not divide or agree to *divide their fees* with a lawyer
4. May not advertise or circulate in any manner that they have powers or rights *not
granted by law*
17. What document is a notary never to acknowledge
Answer> A will
18. What is *New York County* also known as
Answer> Manhattan.
19. True/False:
The Secretary of State must have notaries commissioned in every county, and
no more notaries per county than are residents of that county
Answer> False. Unlimited
number. There is no restriction to the number of notaries the Secretary of State can
appoint.
20. How long is the term of a notary public
Answer> 4 years
Public License Exam
Questions with Verified Answers
Guarantee Passing score: 85% or higher
1. Notaries public are commissioned by :
Answer> The Secretary of State
2. A/An may be appointed a notary public without an examination-
: Answer> an *attorney* admitted to practice in New York State (bonus point: also
exempt are officially appointed *Court Clerks* in the NY State court system)
3. True/False:
Non-residents of New York state who have offices or places of business in the
state may also become notaries
Answer> True.
An office or place of business is sufficient.
4. *Notary Public*
(The full definition, as laid out in NY state law.
Answer> A *public officer who executes acknowledgements of deeds or writings* in
order to render them available as evidence of the facts therein contained;
administers oaths and affirmation as to the truth of statements contained in papers
or documents requiring the administration of an oath.
,5. *Laches
Answer> The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal rights.
6. The (1) and (2) of the notary must be filed in the office
of the county clerk of the county where the notary is located, or has office or
place of business
: Answer> 1) *oath of office*, 2) *signature*
7. *Affiant
Answer> The person who makes and subscribes their signature to an affidavit.
(Hint: the term 'affiant' may be used interchangeably with the word *deponent*...
remember this.)
8. *Extra credit*, from NY State Law.
Fill in the blank:
"Use of the office of notary in other than the procedure
required is viewed as a serious offense
Answer> *"specific, step-by-step"*
9. True/False:
A notary public is allowed to administer an oath to herself or himself under
certain circumstances (by a requesting
judge in a civil trial, or at the request
of the Secretary of State
Answer> False.
A notary public can never administer an oath to themselves.
10. True/False:
,A jurat is not the affidavit
Answer> True.
The jurat is the specific part of the document where the notary public certifies that
the document was sworn to before her or him in person. The key words here are:
*sworn* and *in person.*
11. *Guardian
Answer> A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
12. Bonus:
(From NYS Notary License Law)
"Equally unacceptable to the Secretary of State is the
administra- tion of oaths
Answer> *"slipshod"*
13. The simplest form in which an oath may be administered:
"
Answer> "Do you solemnly swear that the contents of this affidavit subscribed by
you is correct and true?"
14. A/An may be used for persons who conscientiously de-
cline taking an oath
Answer> An *affirmation*
15. *Escrow
Answer> The placing of an instrument in the hands of a person as a depository who
on the happening of a designated event, is to deliver the instrument to a
third person. This agreement, once established, should be unalterable. (Often an
*attorney*, but not always)
16. As best you can, name the activities (involving the practice of law) that are
, prohibited by a notary public.
May not
May not
etc.
(How many are listed?
Answer> Four things listed:
1. May not *give advice* on the law
2. May not ask for and get *legal business* to send to a lawyer
3. May not divide or agree to *divide their fees* with a lawyer
4. May not advertise or circulate in any manner that they have powers or rights *not
granted by law*
17. What document is a notary never to acknowledge
Answer> A will
18. What is *New York County* also known as
Answer> Manhattan.
19. True/False:
The Secretary of State must have notaries commissioned in every county, and
no more notaries per county than are residents of that county
Answer> False. Unlimited
number. There is no restriction to the number of notaries the Secretary of State can
appoint.
20. How long is the term of a notary public
Answer> 4 years
