PA Notary Exam Questions
And Answers 2023/2024
1. What are the primary responsibilities of a notary public?
Answer: The primary responsibilities of a notary public include:
● Administering oaths and affirmations.
● Taking acknowledgements of signatures.
● Witnessing and certifying signatures on documents.
● Certifying copies of documents.
● Performing other duties as specified by Pennsylvania law.
2. What is the process for a notary to administer an oath?
Answer: To administer an oath, the notary must:
1. Ensure the person taking the oath is present.
2. Have the person clearly state their name.
3. Ask the person to raise their right hand.
4. Administer the oath by asking the person to swear or affirm to tell the truth.
5. Record the details of the oath in the notary’s journal.
3. What is required for a document to be properly notarized?
Answer: For a document to be properly notarized:
● The signer must be personally known to the notary or provide satisfactory evidence of
identity.
● The signer must sign the document in the notary's presence.
● The notary must complete a notarial certificate, including the date, the notary’s name,
and the type of act performed.
● The notary must affix their seal to the document.
4. Can a notary notarize a document if they are related to the signer?
Answer: No, a notary public should not notarize a document if they have a direct financial or
beneficial interest in the transaction or if they are related to the signer in a way that could create
a conflict of interest.
, 5. What is the purpose of the notary’s seal?
Answer: The notary’s seal is used to authenticate the notary’s act and to ensure that the
document has been properly notarized. It typically includes the notary’s name, commission
number, and the state and county in which the notary is authorized to act.
6. What should a notary do if they make an error on a notarized document?
Answer: If a notary makes an error on a notarized document, they should:
● Cross out the error with a single line and make the correction.
● Initial and date the correction.
● If the error is significant or the document needs to be re-executed, a new document
should be created and notarized again.
7. What records must a notary keep in their journal?
Answer: A notary must record the following in their journal for each notarial act:
● The date and time of the notarization.
● The type of notarial act performed.
● The name and address of the signer.
● The type of identification provided by the signer.
● Any fees charged for the notarial service.
8. How long must a notary maintain their journal after their commission
expires?
Answer: In Pennsylvania, a notary must maintain their journal for a period of ten years after the
expiration of their commission.
9. What is an acknowledgment in notarial terms?
Answer: An acknowledgment is a notarial act in which the notary certifies that a person has
appeared before them, acknowledged that they signed a document willingly and voluntarily, and
confirmed the authenticity of the signature.
10. What is a notarized affidavit?
Answer: A notarized affidavit is a written statement confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the
affiant before a notary public. The notary certifies that the affiant made the statement under oath
and the document is
11. What types of identification are acceptable for a notary to verify a
signer’s identity?
Answer: Acceptable forms of identification include:
● A government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card.
And Answers 2023/2024
1. What are the primary responsibilities of a notary public?
Answer: The primary responsibilities of a notary public include:
● Administering oaths and affirmations.
● Taking acknowledgements of signatures.
● Witnessing and certifying signatures on documents.
● Certifying copies of documents.
● Performing other duties as specified by Pennsylvania law.
2. What is the process for a notary to administer an oath?
Answer: To administer an oath, the notary must:
1. Ensure the person taking the oath is present.
2. Have the person clearly state their name.
3. Ask the person to raise their right hand.
4. Administer the oath by asking the person to swear or affirm to tell the truth.
5. Record the details of the oath in the notary’s journal.
3. What is required for a document to be properly notarized?
Answer: For a document to be properly notarized:
● The signer must be personally known to the notary or provide satisfactory evidence of
identity.
● The signer must sign the document in the notary's presence.
● The notary must complete a notarial certificate, including the date, the notary’s name,
and the type of act performed.
● The notary must affix their seal to the document.
4. Can a notary notarize a document if they are related to the signer?
Answer: No, a notary public should not notarize a document if they have a direct financial or
beneficial interest in the transaction or if they are related to the signer in a way that could create
a conflict of interest.
, 5. What is the purpose of the notary’s seal?
Answer: The notary’s seal is used to authenticate the notary’s act and to ensure that the
document has been properly notarized. It typically includes the notary’s name, commission
number, and the state and county in which the notary is authorized to act.
6. What should a notary do if they make an error on a notarized document?
Answer: If a notary makes an error on a notarized document, they should:
● Cross out the error with a single line and make the correction.
● Initial and date the correction.
● If the error is significant or the document needs to be re-executed, a new document
should be created and notarized again.
7. What records must a notary keep in their journal?
Answer: A notary must record the following in their journal for each notarial act:
● The date and time of the notarization.
● The type of notarial act performed.
● The name and address of the signer.
● The type of identification provided by the signer.
● Any fees charged for the notarial service.
8. How long must a notary maintain their journal after their commission
expires?
Answer: In Pennsylvania, a notary must maintain their journal for a period of ten years after the
expiration of their commission.
9. What is an acknowledgment in notarial terms?
Answer: An acknowledgment is a notarial act in which the notary certifies that a person has
appeared before them, acknowledged that they signed a document willingly and voluntarily, and
confirmed the authenticity of the signature.
10. What is a notarized affidavit?
Answer: A notarized affidavit is a written statement confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the
affiant before a notary public. The notary certifies that the affiant made the statement under oath
and the document is
11. What types of identification are acceptable for a notary to verify a
signer’s identity?
Answer: Acceptable forms of identification include:
● A government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID card.
