Notary Public Study Guide Updated 2026 | Complete Solutions Updated

Notary Public Study Guide Updated 2026 | Complete Solutions Updated Applicants must submit their application within how many months of taking the class? - answer - three months After receiving the Oath Notification Letter, the appointee must appear before the Register of Deeds within how many days? - answer - 45 If you haven't received notification of the issuance of your commission within _____________, you should call Customer Service at . - answer - two weeks How soon before commission expiration can a notary begin the reappointment process? - answer - 10 weeks If your name, residence, business address, mailing address or telephone number changes, how long do you have to let the Department know? - answer - 45 days As soon as reasonably practicable after resignation, revocation or termination of commission, what must the notary send by certified mail (return receipt) to the Department for disposal? - answer - seal or stamp How many days does a notary have to report a lost or stolen seal or stamp? - answer - 10 days When a seal is lost or stolen, who must the notary notify? - answer - sheriff's office, Register of Deeds (in county of commission), and employer How many educational hours must an applicant for NC notary take? - answer - minimum of 6 (but now moving more toward 7) Can an applicant for recommissioning take an online exam instead of the classroom portion? - answer - Yes--only if the commission has been expired for less than one year. Age requirements for becoming a notary. - answer - at least 18 or legally emancipated Residency requirements for becoming a notary. - answer - Live in or regularly work in NC Communication requirements for becoming a notary. - answer - Able to speak, read, and write the English language Educational requirements for becoming a notary. - answer - High school diploma or equivalent and own a copy of the most recent Notary Public Manual Minimum passing grade for the test - answer - 80% T/F: A notary public holds a public office. - answer - True Prohibitions to becoming a notary listed in Article VI, Section 8 of the NC Constitution. - answer - 1) felony conviction in NC 2) felony conviction in another state (that's considered a felony in NC) 3) Convicted of corruption or malpractice in any office 4) Removed from any office by impeachment Where are statutory guidelines for Notary Publics found? - answer - Section 10B-5 of NC General Statutes Article VI, Section 8 of the NC Constitution What is the Notary's main purpose? - answer - To protect public interest and prevent fraud and forgery What must journal entries include? - answer - Date and time of transaction Names/signatures of principal signers Type of ID used to positively ID the signers Type of document notarized Type of Notarization performed Why should journals be kept bound? - answer - To prevent page removal Acknowledgment - answer - A notarial act signifying: 1) Individual appeared IN PERSON before notary 2) Individual was PERSONALLY KNOWN or ID'd through satisfactory evidence 3) Individual SIGNED before notary or affirmed it was his/her signature on the line. Affirmation - answer - Legally equivalent to an oath. Notary signifies: 1) Individual appeared IN PERSON before notary 2) Individual was PERSONALLY KNOWN or satisfactorily ID'd by notary 3) Individual MADE A VOW of truthfulness (not invoking a diety) Attest or Attestation - answer - The completion of a certificate by a notary who has performed a notarial act. Commission - answer - The empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of authority to perform those acts (by receiving a certificate after being sworn in) Credible Witness - answer - An individual who is personally known to the notary and to whom all of the following also apply: 1) the notary believes the individual to be honest and reliable 2) the notary believes the individual is not a party to or beneficiary of the transaction. Jurat - answer - A notary