NC Notary Public
NC Notary Public Study Guide - Complete
Definitions Questions And Answers
1. Acknowledgment: - ANS - 1) individual appeared in person and presented record, 2) individual was
personally known to the notary, 3) signed while in the physical presence of the notary (or) indicated
that the signature was his/her own
2. Notary Public (or) Notary - ANS - A person commissioned to perform acts under NC's Chapter 10B. A
notary is a public officer of the State of North Carolina and shall act in full and strict compliance with
this act.
3. Official Misconduct - ANS - Either: (1) A notary's performance of a prohibited act or failure to
perform a mandated act set forth in Chapter 10B or any other law in connection with notarization,
or (2) A notary's performance of a notarial act in a manner found by the Secretary to be negligent or
against the public interest.
4. Personal Appearance - ANS - An individual and a notary are in close physical proximity to one
another so that they may freely see and communicate with one another and exchange records back
and forth during the notarization process. (Not by FaceTime, Skype or phone)
5. Personal Knowledge of Identity - ANS - Familiarity with an individual resulting from interactions with
that individual over a period of time sufficient to eliminate every reasonable doubt that the
individual has the identity claimed.
6. Affirmation - ANS - A notarial act which is legally equivalent to an oath and in which a notary
certifies that at a single time and place all the following occurred: (1) individual appeared in person
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, NC Notary Public
(2) individual was either known to the notary or provided proper identification and (3) individual
made a vow of truthfulness on penalty of perjury, based on personal honor and WITHOUT invoking a
deity or using any form of the word "swear".
7. Applicant - ANS - An individual who seeks appointment for the first time or reappointment to the
office of notary public.
8. Appoint (or) Appointment - ANS - The naming of an individual to the office of notary public.
9. Appointee - ANS - An individual who has been appointed or reappointed to the office of notary
public but has not yet taken the oath of office to be commissioned.
10. Attest (or) Attestation - ANS - The completion of a certificate by a notary who has performed a
notarial act.
11. Commission - ANS - The empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of
authority to perform those acts.
12. Commissioning date - ANS - The date of commissioning or recommissioning as entered on a
commission certificate.
13. Credible witness - ANS - 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.
14. Department - ANS - The NC Department of the Secretary of State.
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NC Notary Public Study Guide - Complete
Definitions Questions And Answers
1. Acknowledgment: - ANS - 1) individual appeared in person and presented record, 2) individual was
personally known to the notary, 3) signed while in the physical presence of the notary (or) indicated
that the signature was his/her own
2. Notary Public (or) Notary - ANS - A person commissioned to perform acts under NC's Chapter 10B. A
notary is a public officer of the State of North Carolina and shall act in full and strict compliance with
this act.
3. Official Misconduct - ANS - Either: (1) A notary's performance of a prohibited act or failure to
perform a mandated act set forth in Chapter 10B or any other law in connection with notarization,
or (2) A notary's performance of a notarial act in a manner found by the Secretary to be negligent or
against the public interest.
4. Personal Appearance - ANS - An individual and a notary are in close physical proximity to one
another so that they may freely see and communicate with one another and exchange records back
and forth during the notarization process. (Not by FaceTime, Skype or phone)
5. Personal Knowledge of Identity - ANS - Familiarity with an individual resulting from interactions with
that individual over a period of time sufficient to eliminate every reasonable doubt that the
individual has the identity claimed.
6. Affirmation - ANS - A notarial act which is legally equivalent to an oath and in which a notary
certifies that at a single time and place all the following occurred: (1) individual appeared in person
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, NC Notary Public
(2) individual was either known to the notary or provided proper identification and (3) individual
made a vow of truthfulness on penalty of perjury, based on personal honor and WITHOUT invoking a
deity or using any form of the word "swear".
7. Applicant - ANS - An individual who seeks appointment for the first time or reappointment to the
office of notary public.
8. Appoint (or) Appointment - ANS - The naming of an individual to the office of notary public.
9. Appointee - ANS - An individual who has been appointed or reappointed to the office of notary
public but has not yet taken the oath of office to be commissioned.
10. Attest (or) Attestation - ANS - The completion of a certificate by a notary who has performed a
notarial act.
11. Commission - ANS - The empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of
authority to perform those acts.
12. Commissioning date - ANS - The date of commissioning or recommissioning as entered on a
commission certificate.
13. Credible witness - ANS - 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.
14. Department - ANS - The NC Department of the Secretary of State.
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