Hawaii Notary Public Actual Practice Exam &
State Certification Preparation
DOMAIN 1: HAWAII NOTARY LAWS & ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (Q1-15)
1. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §456-3, the minimum age requirement to
become a notary public in Hawaii is:
A. 18 years old (common state requirement but not Hawaii's)
B. 19 years old (incorrect interpretation of Hawaii law)
C. 20 years old (correct per HRS §456-3)
D. 21 years old (age for some states but not Hawaii)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 specifically states that a notary public in Hawaii
must be at least 20 years of age. This differs from many states that require only 18
years. Candidates must know this specific Hawaii requirement, as it is not the same as
the general age of majority.
2. A notary public's commission in Hawaii expires:
A. 2 years from date of commission (some states but not Hawaii)
B. 3 years from date of commission (incorrect duration)
C. 4 years from date of commission (correct per HRS §456-6)
D. 5 years from date of commission (longer than Hawaii allows)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. Per HRS §456-6, a notary public commission in Hawaii is valid
for four years from the date of commission. Notaries must track this expiration date
carefully, as practicing with an expired commission constitutes unauthorized practice.
Renewal applications should be submitted well before expiration.
,3. Per HRS §456-3, which of the following disqualifies an individual from becoming a
Hawaii notary public?
A. A conviction of a felony within the past five years (correct per HRS §456-3)
B. Being a non-resident of Hawaii with a Hawaii-based office
C. Having filed for bankruptcy within the past three years
D. Being employed as a paralegal at a law firm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 states that a person is disqualified from becoming a
notary public if they have been convicted of a felony within the past five years. This is a
mandatory disqualification period in Hawaii law. Being a non-resident (B) is permissible
with proper residency requirements, and bankruptcy (C) or paralegal employment (D) do
not constitute disqualifying factors under Hawaii law.
4. Under HRS §456-6, what is the maximum fee a Hawaii notary may charge for a single
notarial act in 2024?
A. $5 per signature notarized
B. $10 per notarial act (correct per Hawaii Administrative Rules)
C. $15 per notarial act including travel fees
D. There is no statutory limit on notary fees in Hawaii
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. Hawaii Administrative Rules §5-79-3 establishes that the
maximum fee a Hawaii notary may charge for a single notarial act is $10. This includes
acknowledgments, jurats, and other official acts. The $5 amount (A) is outdated or from
other states. Notaries must conspicuously post their fees or provide fee schedules upon
request.
5. A Hawaii notary public moves from Honolulu to Seattle but maintains a principal
place of business in Hawaii. According to HRS §456-3, the notary must:
A. Immediately resign the commission upon leaving Hawaii
B. Notify the Department of the Attorney General within 10 days
C. Notify the Department of the Attorney General within 30 days (correct per HRS
§456-3)
D. No notification is required as long as a Hawaii business address is maintained
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 requires a notary public to notify the Department of
the Attorney General within 30 days of any change of residence or business address.
Failure to provide this notification can result in administrative sanctions. Merely
maintaining a Hawaii business address (D) does not exempt the notary from the
notification requirement when changing residence.
6. Under HRS §456-7, the Attorney General may deny, suspend, or revoke a notary
commission for which of the following reasons?
A. Failure to maintain a business address in Hawaii
B. Charging fees exceeding $10 per notarial act
C. Notarizing a document while the notary is a party to the transaction
D. All of the above (correct per grounds for disciplinary action)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-7 grants the Attorney General broad authority to deny,
suspend, or revoke a notary commission for violations of notary law, including all listed
violations: failure to maintain proper address (A), overcharging fees (B), and engaging in
conflicts of interest by notarizing when the notary is a party (C). These grounds protect
public trust in notarial acts.
7. Which Hawaii Administrative Rule specifies the requirements for the design and
content of the notary public seal?
A. HAR §5-79-1 (definitions)
B. HAR §5-79-2 (qualifications)
C. HAR §5-79-4 (seal requirements, correct answer)
D. HAR §5-79-5 (journal requirements)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HAR §5-79-4 specifies the design and content requirements for
the Hawaii notary public seal, including that it must be a rubber stamp seal (not an
embosser), contain the notary's name exactly as commissioned, the words "Notary
State Certification Preparation
DOMAIN 1: HAWAII NOTARY LAWS & ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (Q1-15)
1. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §456-3, the minimum age requirement to
become a notary public in Hawaii is:
A. 18 years old (common state requirement but not Hawaii's)
B. 19 years old (incorrect interpretation of Hawaii law)
C. 20 years old (correct per HRS §456-3)
D. 21 years old (age for some states but not Hawaii)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 specifically states that a notary public in Hawaii
must be at least 20 years of age. This differs from many states that require only 18
years. Candidates must know this specific Hawaii requirement, as it is not the same as
the general age of majority.
2. A notary public's commission in Hawaii expires:
A. 2 years from date of commission (some states but not Hawaii)
B. 3 years from date of commission (incorrect duration)
C. 4 years from date of commission (correct per HRS §456-6)
D. 5 years from date of commission (longer than Hawaii allows)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. Per HRS §456-6, a notary public commission in Hawaii is valid
for four years from the date of commission. Notaries must track this expiration date
carefully, as practicing with an expired commission constitutes unauthorized practice.
Renewal applications should be submitted well before expiration.
,3. Per HRS §456-3, which of the following disqualifies an individual from becoming a
Hawaii notary public?
A. A conviction of a felony within the past five years (correct per HRS §456-3)
B. Being a non-resident of Hawaii with a Hawaii-based office
C. Having filed for bankruptcy within the past three years
D. Being employed as a paralegal at a law firm
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 states that a person is disqualified from becoming a
notary public if they have been convicted of a felony within the past five years. This is a
mandatory disqualification period in Hawaii law. Being a non-resident (B) is permissible
with proper residency requirements, and bankruptcy (C) or paralegal employment (D) do
not constitute disqualifying factors under Hawaii law.
4. Under HRS §456-6, what is the maximum fee a Hawaii notary may charge for a single
notarial act in 2024?
A. $5 per signature notarized
B. $10 per notarial act (correct per Hawaii Administrative Rules)
C. $15 per notarial act including travel fees
D. There is no statutory limit on notary fees in Hawaii
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. Hawaii Administrative Rules §5-79-3 establishes that the
maximum fee a Hawaii notary may charge for a single notarial act is $10. This includes
acknowledgments, jurats, and other official acts. The $5 amount (A) is outdated or from
other states. Notaries must conspicuously post their fees or provide fee schedules upon
request.
5. A Hawaii notary public moves from Honolulu to Seattle but maintains a principal
place of business in Hawaii. According to HRS §456-3, the notary must:
A. Immediately resign the commission upon leaving Hawaii
B. Notify the Department of the Attorney General within 10 days
C. Notify the Department of the Attorney General within 30 days (correct per HRS
§456-3)
D. No notification is required as long as a Hawaii business address is maintained
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-3 requires a notary public to notify the Department of
the Attorney General within 30 days of any change of residence or business address.
Failure to provide this notification can result in administrative sanctions. Merely
maintaining a Hawaii business address (D) does not exempt the notary from the
notification requirement when changing residence.
6. Under HRS §456-7, the Attorney General may deny, suspend, or revoke a notary
commission for which of the following reasons?
A. Failure to maintain a business address in Hawaii
B. Charging fees exceeding $10 per notarial act
C. Notarizing a document while the notary is a party to the transaction
D. All of the above (correct per grounds for disciplinary action)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HRS §456-7 grants the Attorney General broad authority to deny,
suspend, or revoke a notary commission for violations of notary law, including all listed
violations: failure to maintain proper address (A), overcharging fees (B), and engaging in
conflicts of interest by notarizing when the notary is a party (C). These grounds protect
public trust in notarial acts.
7. Which Hawaii Administrative Rule specifies the requirements for the design and
content of the notary public seal?
A. HAR §5-79-1 (definitions)
B. HAR §5-79-2 (qualifications)
C. HAR §5-79-4 (seal requirements, correct answer)
D. HAR §5-79-5 (journal requirements)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: C is correct. HAR §5-79-4 specifies the design and content requirements for
the Hawaii notary public seal, including that it must be a rubber stamp seal (not an
embosser), contain the notary's name exactly as commissioned, the words "Notary
