Florida Notary Public Commission Exam Updated
2026 | 250+ Practice Questions & Verified Answers
| Ultimate Florida Notary Certification Exam Prep,
Professional Notary Study Guide, Notarial Acts,
Jurats, Acknowledgments, Signature Witnessing,
Electronic & Remote Online Notarization (RON),
Florida Statutes, Ethics, Recordkeeping, Fraud
Prevention, Detailed Rationales
Question 1: According to Florida Statute 117.01, who is primarily responsible
for the appointment and regulation of notaries public in the state of Florida?
A. The Florida Department of State
B. The Governor of Florida
C. The Chief Financial Officer
D. The Florida Supreme Court
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Governor of Florida
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 explicitly states that the Governor is the appointing
officer for notaries public in Florida. The Department of State assists with administrative
functions, but the authority to appoint and commission resides with the Governor.
Question 2: What is the maximum fine the Governor may impose upon a
notary for a violation of notary laws, pursuant to Florida law?
A. $500
B. $1,000
C. $5,000
D. $10,000
CORRECT ANSWER: C. $5,000
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.01(4), the Governor may impose a civil penalty of
up to $5,000 for each violation of the notary public laws, demonstrating the seriousness
with which the state views notarial misconduct.
Question 3: Which of the following applicants is NOT eligible for appointment
as a notary public in Florida?
A. An applicant who is a registered voter in Florida
B. An applicant who holds a valid Florida driver’s license
C. An applicant who has been convicted of a felony and has not had their civil rights
restored
D. An applicant who is a permanent resident alien with a valid alien registration number
CORRECT ANSWER: C. An applicant who has been convicted of a felony and
has not had their civil rights restored
,Rationale: Florida law requires that an applicant have no felony convictions without
civil rights restored. A felony conviction without restoration of civil rights is a statutory
disqualifier for appointment as a notary public in Florida.
Question 4: How long is the standard term of appointment for a Florida notary
public?
A. Two years
B. Four years
C. Five years
D. Ten years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Four years
Rationale: Pursuant to Florida Statute 117.01, the term of office for a notary public is
four years, unless the notary is removed earlier for cause by the Governor.
Question 5: What is the primary statutory purpose of a notary public’s official
seal?
A. To authenticate the notary’s signature on an official document
B. To provide a decorative flourish to the document
C. To serve as a tax stamp for the state
D. To indicate the document has been filed in court
CORRECT ANSWER: A. To authenticate the notary’s signature on an official
document
Rationale: The official seal serves as the primary method of authenticating the notary’s
signature, certifying to the world that the signature was affixed in an official capacity. It
is a critical component in the notarization process to deter fraud.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a "notarial certificate"?
A. The fee receipt for a notarial act
B. The written statement, completed by the notary, evidencing the notarial act
C. The official stamp of the notary
D. The journal entry for the notarial act
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The written statement, completed by the notary,
evidencing the notarial act
Rationale: A notarial certificate is the section of the document or an attached form
where the notary certifies the details of the notarization, including the type of notarial
act performed, the date, and the names of the parties involved.
Question 7: Under Florida law, what is the maximum fee a notary may charge
for performing an acknowledgment?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
,C. $20.00
D. There is no statutory maximum fee
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.05(6)(a) sets the maximum fee a notary may charge for
an acknowledgment at $10.00. This fee is established by statute and cannot be
exceeded.
Question 8: What is the maximum fee a Florida notary may charge for
administering an oath without a written document?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $20.00
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.05(6)(a), the maximum fee for administering an
oath or affirmation without a written document is also $10.00, matching the fee for an
acknowledgment.
Question 9: A notary must take an oath of office before performing any
notarial acts. To whom is this oath usually administered?
A. A county court judge
B. A Clerk of the Circuit Court
C. A notary public who is already commissioned
D. All of the above are legally authorized
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above are legally authorized
Rationale: Florida law authorizes a number of officials to administer the oath of office
to a newly commissioned notary, including a Clerk of the Circuit Court, a deputy clerk, a
notary public, or a judge.
Question 10: A Florida notary who willfully commits a fraudulent notarial act
commits which degree of felony?
A. First-degree misdemeanor
B. Third-degree felony
C. Second-degree felony
D. First-degree felony
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Third-degree felony
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.105, any notary who knowingly and willfully
makes a false or fraudulent notarial act is guilty of a third-degree felony, punishable by
up to five years in prison.
, Question 11: Which of the following is considered an "acknowledgment" in the
context of notarial acts?
A. The signer affirms the document is true under penalty of perjury
B. The signer vouches for the accuracy of the document's content
C. The signer declares to the notary that they signed the document willingly
D. The notary witnesses the signer sign the document
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The signer declares to the notary that they signed the
document willingly
Rationale: An acknowledgment is a formal declaration before a notary that a person
signed a document voluntarily and for the purposes stated within it. It is about the act of
signing, not the truthfulness of the content.
Question 12: What is a "jurat" (or verification on oath or affirmation)?
A. The notary certifies that the signer appeared and acknowledged the signature
B. The signer swears or affirms to the truthfulness of the contents of the document
C. The notary certifies a copy of a record
D. The notary witnesses a signature in an official capacity
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The signer swears or affirms to the truthfulness of the
contents of the document
Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to appear before the notary and take an oath or
affirmation, swearing that the statements within the document are true and accurate to
the best of their knowledge.
Question 13: The "credible witness" method can be used by a notary to
identify a signer when:
A. The signer has lost their identification
B. The signer refuses to provide identification
C. The notary feels uncomfortable with the identification presented
D. The notary is satisfied that the credible witness knows the signer
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The signer has lost their identification
Rationale: Florida law permits the use of a credible witness when the signer does not
have the required identification documents. The credible witness must be personally
known to the notary and the signer, and the notary must be satisfied with the witness's
testimony.
Question 14: A notary is required to maintain a journal of all notarial acts.
Which of the following is generally NOT a required entry?
A. Date of the notarial act
B. Type of notarial act
C. The signer’s social security number
D. The signer’s signature
2026 | 250+ Practice Questions & Verified Answers
| Ultimate Florida Notary Certification Exam Prep,
Professional Notary Study Guide, Notarial Acts,
Jurats, Acknowledgments, Signature Witnessing,
Electronic & Remote Online Notarization (RON),
Florida Statutes, Ethics, Recordkeeping, Fraud
Prevention, Detailed Rationales
Question 1: According to Florida Statute 117.01, who is primarily responsible
for the appointment and regulation of notaries public in the state of Florida?
A. The Florida Department of State
B. The Governor of Florida
C. The Chief Financial Officer
D. The Florida Supreme Court
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Governor of Florida
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.01 explicitly states that the Governor is the appointing
officer for notaries public in Florida. The Department of State assists with administrative
functions, but the authority to appoint and commission resides with the Governor.
Question 2: What is the maximum fine the Governor may impose upon a
notary for a violation of notary laws, pursuant to Florida law?
A. $500
B. $1,000
C. $5,000
D. $10,000
CORRECT ANSWER: C. $5,000
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.01(4), the Governor may impose a civil penalty of
up to $5,000 for each violation of the notary public laws, demonstrating the seriousness
with which the state views notarial misconduct.
Question 3: Which of the following applicants is NOT eligible for appointment
as a notary public in Florida?
A. An applicant who is a registered voter in Florida
B. An applicant who holds a valid Florida driver’s license
C. An applicant who has been convicted of a felony and has not had their civil rights
restored
D. An applicant who is a permanent resident alien with a valid alien registration number
CORRECT ANSWER: C. An applicant who has been convicted of a felony and
has not had their civil rights restored
,Rationale: Florida law requires that an applicant have no felony convictions without
civil rights restored. A felony conviction without restoration of civil rights is a statutory
disqualifier for appointment as a notary public in Florida.
Question 4: How long is the standard term of appointment for a Florida notary
public?
A. Two years
B. Four years
C. Five years
D. Ten years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Four years
Rationale: Pursuant to Florida Statute 117.01, the term of office for a notary public is
four years, unless the notary is removed earlier for cause by the Governor.
Question 5: What is the primary statutory purpose of a notary public’s official
seal?
A. To authenticate the notary’s signature on an official document
B. To provide a decorative flourish to the document
C. To serve as a tax stamp for the state
D. To indicate the document has been filed in court
CORRECT ANSWER: A. To authenticate the notary’s signature on an official
document
Rationale: The official seal serves as the primary method of authenticating the notary’s
signature, certifying to the world that the signature was affixed in an official capacity. It
is a critical component in the notarization process to deter fraud.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a "notarial certificate"?
A. The fee receipt for a notarial act
B. The written statement, completed by the notary, evidencing the notarial act
C. The official stamp of the notary
D. The journal entry for the notarial act
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The written statement, completed by the notary,
evidencing the notarial act
Rationale: A notarial certificate is the section of the document or an attached form
where the notary certifies the details of the notarization, including the type of notarial
act performed, the date, and the names of the parties involved.
Question 7: Under Florida law, what is the maximum fee a notary may charge
for performing an acknowledgment?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
,C. $20.00
D. There is no statutory maximum fee
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Florida Statute 117.05(6)(a) sets the maximum fee a notary may charge for
an acknowledgment at $10.00. This fee is established by statute and cannot be
exceeded.
Question 8: What is the maximum fee a Florida notary may charge for
administering an oath without a written document?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $20.00
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $10.00
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.05(6)(a), the maximum fee for administering an
oath or affirmation without a written document is also $10.00, matching the fee for an
acknowledgment.
Question 9: A notary must take an oath of office before performing any
notarial acts. To whom is this oath usually administered?
A. A county court judge
B. A Clerk of the Circuit Court
C. A notary public who is already commissioned
D. All of the above are legally authorized
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above are legally authorized
Rationale: Florida law authorizes a number of officials to administer the oath of office
to a newly commissioned notary, including a Clerk of the Circuit Court, a deputy clerk, a
notary public, or a judge.
Question 10: A Florida notary who willfully commits a fraudulent notarial act
commits which degree of felony?
A. First-degree misdemeanor
B. Third-degree felony
C. Second-degree felony
D. First-degree felony
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Third-degree felony
Rationale: Under Florida Statute 117.105, any notary who knowingly and willfully
makes a false or fraudulent notarial act is guilty of a third-degree felony, punishable by
up to five years in prison.
, Question 11: Which of the following is considered an "acknowledgment" in the
context of notarial acts?
A. The signer affirms the document is true under penalty of perjury
B. The signer vouches for the accuracy of the document's content
C. The signer declares to the notary that they signed the document willingly
D. The notary witnesses the signer sign the document
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The signer declares to the notary that they signed the
document willingly
Rationale: An acknowledgment is a formal declaration before a notary that a person
signed a document voluntarily and for the purposes stated within it. It is about the act of
signing, not the truthfulness of the content.
Question 12: What is a "jurat" (or verification on oath or affirmation)?
A. The notary certifies that the signer appeared and acknowledged the signature
B. The signer swears or affirms to the truthfulness of the contents of the document
C. The notary certifies a copy of a record
D. The notary witnesses a signature in an official capacity
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The signer swears or affirms to the truthfulness of the
contents of the document
Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to appear before the notary and take an oath or
affirmation, swearing that the statements within the document are true and accurate to
the best of their knowledge.
Question 13: The "credible witness" method can be used by a notary to
identify a signer when:
A. The signer has lost their identification
B. The signer refuses to provide identification
C. The notary feels uncomfortable with the identification presented
D. The notary is satisfied that the credible witness knows the signer
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The signer has lost their identification
Rationale: Florida law permits the use of a credible witness when the signer does not
have the required identification documents. The credible witness must be personally
known to the notary and the signer, and the notary must be satisfied with the witness's
testimony.
Question 14: A notary is required to maintain a journal of all notarial acts.
Which of the following is generally NOT a required entry?
A. Date of the notarial act
B. Type of notarial act
C. The signer’s social security number
D. The signer’s signature
