NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM PRACTICE-QUESTION
AND COLLECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025/2026 Q&A |INSTANT
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1. What is the primary duty of a notary public?
A. Provide legal advice
B. Authenticate signatures and administer oaths
C. Draft wills and contracts
D. Represent clients in court
Correct answer: B – The notary’s role is to prevent fraud by verifying identities, administering
oaths, and witnessing signatures, not providing legal representation.
2. A notary public must always require which of the following before notarizing a
document?
A. Payment in advance
B. Personal knowledge or satisfactory identification of the signer
C. The document to be typed, not handwritten
D. Witnesses supplied by the signer
Correct answer: B – Proper identification ensures the signer is who they claim to be.
3. Which of the following is an acceptable form of identification for a notary act?
A. Social Security card
B. Expired driver’s license
C. Valid government-issued photo ID
D. Birth certificate copy
Correct answer: C – A valid government-issued photo ID is the standard proof of identity.
4. A notary public is prohibited from:
A. Administering oaths
B. Charging state-approved fees
C. Giving legal advice unless an attorney
D. Witnessing signatures
Correct answer: C – Notaries cannot practice law unless they are licensed attorneys.
5. What is the purpose of the notarial seal?
A. To decorate the document
B. To prove the notary is authorized by the state
C. To make the document legally binding
D. To replace the signature of the parties
Correct answer: B – The seal authenticates the notary’s authority and jurisdiction.
,6. When administering an oath, the notary must require the signer to:
A. Repeat an oath or affirmation aloud
B. Shake hands with the notary
C. Pay before speaking
D. Provide two witnesses
Correct answer: A – The oath/affirmation must be spoken to confirm truthfulness under penalty
of perjury.
7. Which of the following notarial acts requires the signer to be physically present before
the notary?
A. Acknowledgment
B. Jurat
C. Oath or affirmation
D. All of the above
Correct answer: D – All notarial acts require the personal presence of the signer.
8. A journal entry by the notary should include:
A. The signer’s credit score
B. Type of notarial act, date, ID used, and signature of signer
C. The signer’s income details
D. The entire document text
Correct answer: B – Journals must record essential notarial details, not confidential
information.
9. If a signer does not understand English, the notary should:
A. Translate the document
B. Refuse unless the signer provides a translator
C. Guess the meaning and proceed
D. Sign the document for them
Correct answer: B – A notary may not act if the signer cannot communicate; a translator may be
used but the notary must ensure willingness and understanding.
10. Which notarial act certifies that a signer personally appeared, proved identity, and
acknowledged signing the document voluntarily?
A. Jurat
B. Protest
C. Acknowledgment
D. Subpoena
Correct answer: C – An acknowledgment is the signer’s declaration that they willingly signed.
10. Which notarial act certifies that a signer personally appeared, proved identity, and
acknowledged signing the document voluntarily?
A. Jurat
B. Protest
, C. Acknowledgment
D. Subpoena
Correct answer: C – An acknowledgment confirms the signer’s identity and willingness.
11. A jurat requires the signer to:
A. Sign in front of the notary and take an oath or affirmation
B. Sign without witnesses
C. Sign without appearing before the notary
D. Provide a written statement only
Correct answer: A – A jurat requires both a signature in presence and an oath/affirmation.
12. If a signer refuses to take an oath for a jurat, the notary should:
A. Proceed anyway
B. Change the jurat into an acknowledgment
C. Refuse to notarize
D. Sign the document for them
Correct answer: C – A jurat cannot be completed without an oath/affirmation.
13. Which document type most commonly requires a jurat?
A. Affidavit
B. Deed
C. Power of attorney
D. Contract
Correct answer: A – Affidavits require jurats to swear truthfulness.
14. A notary’s commission is issued by:
A. The signer
B. The state government
C. A private law firm
D. The county recorder
Correct answer: B – The notary’s authority is granted by the state.
15. If a notary’s commission expires, the notary must:
A. Continue notarizing for 30 days
B. Stop notarizing immediately
C. Use another notary’s seal
D. Backdate documents
Correct answer: B – A notary may not act after their commission expires.
16. A credible witness is used when:
A. The signer does not have acceptable ID
B. The document is incomplete
C. The signer is a minor
D. The document is financial
Correct answer: A – A credible witness can verify a signer’s identity if ID is unavailable.
AND COLLECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025/2026 Q&A |INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary duty of a notary public?
A. Provide legal advice
B. Authenticate signatures and administer oaths
C. Draft wills and contracts
D. Represent clients in court
Correct answer: B – The notary’s role is to prevent fraud by verifying identities, administering
oaths, and witnessing signatures, not providing legal representation.
2. A notary public must always require which of the following before notarizing a
document?
A. Payment in advance
B. Personal knowledge or satisfactory identification of the signer
C. The document to be typed, not handwritten
D. Witnesses supplied by the signer
Correct answer: B – Proper identification ensures the signer is who they claim to be.
3. Which of the following is an acceptable form of identification for a notary act?
A. Social Security card
B. Expired driver’s license
C. Valid government-issued photo ID
D. Birth certificate copy
Correct answer: C – A valid government-issued photo ID is the standard proof of identity.
4. A notary public is prohibited from:
A. Administering oaths
B. Charging state-approved fees
C. Giving legal advice unless an attorney
D. Witnessing signatures
Correct answer: C – Notaries cannot practice law unless they are licensed attorneys.
5. What is the purpose of the notarial seal?
A. To decorate the document
B. To prove the notary is authorized by the state
C. To make the document legally binding
D. To replace the signature of the parties
Correct answer: B – The seal authenticates the notary’s authority and jurisdiction.
,6. When administering an oath, the notary must require the signer to:
A. Repeat an oath or affirmation aloud
B. Shake hands with the notary
C. Pay before speaking
D. Provide two witnesses
Correct answer: A – The oath/affirmation must be spoken to confirm truthfulness under penalty
of perjury.
7. Which of the following notarial acts requires the signer to be physically present before
the notary?
A. Acknowledgment
B. Jurat
C. Oath or affirmation
D. All of the above
Correct answer: D – All notarial acts require the personal presence of the signer.
8. A journal entry by the notary should include:
A. The signer’s credit score
B. Type of notarial act, date, ID used, and signature of signer
C. The signer’s income details
D. The entire document text
Correct answer: B – Journals must record essential notarial details, not confidential
information.
9. If a signer does not understand English, the notary should:
A. Translate the document
B. Refuse unless the signer provides a translator
C. Guess the meaning and proceed
D. Sign the document for them
Correct answer: B – A notary may not act if the signer cannot communicate; a translator may be
used but the notary must ensure willingness and understanding.
10. Which notarial act certifies that a signer personally appeared, proved identity, and
acknowledged signing the document voluntarily?
A. Jurat
B. Protest
C. Acknowledgment
D. Subpoena
Correct answer: C – An acknowledgment is the signer’s declaration that they willingly signed.
10. Which notarial act certifies that a signer personally appeared, proved identity, and
acknowledged signing the document voluntarily?
A. Jurat
B. Protest
, C. Acknowledgment
D. Subpoena
Correct answer: C – An acknowledgment confirms the signer’s identity and willingness.
11. A jurat requires the signer to:
A. Sign in front of the notary and take an oath or affirmation
B. Sign without witnesses
C. Sign without appearing before the notary
D. Provide a written statement only
Correct answer: A – A jurat requires both a signature in presence and an oath/affirmation.
12. If a signer refuses to take an oath for a jurat, the notary should:
A. Proceed anyway
B. Change the jurat into an acknowledgment
C. Refuse to notarize
D. Sign the document for them
Correct answer: C – A jurat cannot be completed without an oath/affirmation.
13. Which document type most commonly requires a jurat?
A. Affidavit
B. Deed
C. Power of attorney
D. Contract
Correct answer: A – Affidavits require jurats to swear truthfulness.
14. A notary’s commission is issued by:
A. The signer
B. The state government
C. A private law firm
D. The county recorder
Correct answer: B – The notary’s authority is granted by the state.
15. If a notary’s commission expires, the notary must:
A. Continue notarizing for 30 days
B. Stop notarizing immediately
C. Use another notary’s seal
D. Backdate documents
Correct answer: B – A notary may not act after their commission expires.
16. A credible witness is used when:
A. The signer does not have acceptable ID
B. The document is incomplete
C. The signer is a minor
D. The document is financial
Correct answer: A – A credible witness can verify a signer’s identity if ID is unavailable.
