INDIANA NOTARY PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is a notary public? - answer- A public official authorized to attest to the authenticity
of signatures.
What are the four basic components of a notary public? - answer- law abiding, bonded,
impartial, public official.
What are a notary's key functions? - answer- To acknowledge and witness the signing
of documents and administer oaths and affirmations related to the signing of important
documents.
How much of a bond do you have to have before receiving IN Notary Commission? -
answer- $25,000 surety bond
Can a notary notarize their own signature? - answer- NO; a notary cannot notarize their
own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the notary.
What is the role of a notary? - answer- To be an impartial witness to a signature, oath or
affidavit.
What is notarial act? - answer- Serves as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking or
swearing to an affidavit.
Who is a notary public commissioned by? - answer- Commissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
How long is the term of office for a notary? - answer- 8 years
What are examples of notarial acts? - answer- 1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
How old do you have to be to become a notary? - answer- 18 years of age
Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - answer- You have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
, How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - answer- Every 2 years
What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - answer- $50
How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - answer- Draw a line through
the mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake with your
initial and date by it.
Can I only notarize documents in my own county? - answer- An Indiana notary has
authority throughout Indiana; the jurisdiction of a notary qualified in IN is co-extensive
with the limits of the state.
What is the filing fee? - answer- Filing applicated fee $75
How much is a remote notary authorization application? - answer- $100
acknowledgement - answer- a formal declaration before a notary that the instrument
presented is the free and voluntary act of the party executing it and the signatures on
the document are genuine.
administer - answer- to give or apply in a formal way
affidavit - answer- a signed statement made under oath or affirmation
affirmation - answer- an oral or written declaration made by a person who has an
objection to taking oaths, certifying that under penalty of perjury the declarations are
true.
affix - answer- to secure (an object) to another; to attach or add to
apostille - answer- type of authentication of an official document or the official status of
a notary or government official who has authenticated or certified a document.
appointment - answer- the act of designations for an office or position
authenticate - answer- to prove or verify as genuine
certificate - answer- a document testifying to fact, qualification or promise; OR a written
statement legally authenticated
civil liability - answer- the responsibility and obligation to make compensation to another
person for damages caused by improper performance of duties and acts
commission - answer- a document describing the notary's appointment and term of
office
ANSWERS
What is a notary public? - answer- A public official authorized to attest to the authenticity
of signatures.
What are the four basic components of a notary public? - answer- law abiding, bonded,
impartial, public official.
What are a notary's key functions? - answer- To acknowledge and witness the signing
of documents and administer oaths and affirmations related to the signing of important
documents.
How much of a bond do you have to have before receiving IN Notary Commission? -
answer- $25,000 surety bond
Can a notary notarize their own signature? - answer- NO; a notary cannot notarize their
own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the notary.
What is the role of a notary? - answer- To be an impartial witness to a signature, oath or
affidavit.
What is notarial act? - answer- Serves as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking or
swearing to an affidavit.
Who is a notary public commissioned by? - answer- Commissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
How long is the term of office for a notary? - answer- 8 years
What are examples of notarial acts? - answer- 1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
How old do you have to be to become a notary? - answer- 18 years of age
Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - answer- You have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
, How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - answer- Every 2 years
What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - answer- $50
How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - answer- Draw a line through
the mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake with your
initial and date by it.
Can I only notarize documents in my own county? - answer- An Indiana notary has
authority throughout Indiana; the jurisdiction of a notary qualified in IN is co-extensive
with the limits of the state.
What is the filing fee? - answer- Filing applicated fee $75
How much is a remote notary authorization application? - answer- $100
acknowledgement - answer- a formal declaration before a notary that the instrument
presented is the free and voluntary act of the party executing it and the signatures on
the document are genuine.
administer - answer- to give or apply in a formal way
affidavit - answer- a signed statement made under oath or affirmation
affirmation - answer- an oral or written declaration made by a person who has an
objection to taking oaths, certifying that under penalty of perjury the declarations are
true.
affix - answer- to secure (an object) to another; to attach or add to
apostille - answer- type of authentication of an official document or the official status of
a notary or government official who has authenticated or certified a document.
appointment - answer- the act of designations for an office or position
authenticate - answer- to prove or verify as genuine
certificate - answer- a document testifying to fact, qualification or promise; OR a written
statement legally authenticated
civil liability - answer- the responsibility and obligation to make compensation to another
person for damages caused by improper performance of duties and acts
commission - answer- a document describing the notary's appointment and term of
office
