NOTARY TRAINING QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
4.5True5or5False:5As5of52021,5every5U.S.5state5has5permanent5laws5authorizing5Notari
es5to5perform5RONs.5-5answer-
False.5To5date5405U.S.5states5have5permanent5RON5laws.5However,5some5states,5su
ch5as5California,5do5not5authorize5Notaries5to5perform5remote5notarizations.
1.5A5customer5calls5you.5"I5need5a5copy5of5my5birth5certificate5notarized5so5the5agenc
y5I'm5sending5it5to5has5proof5it's5authentic.5Can5you5do5this5for5me?"5What5should5you
5do?5-5answer-
ANSWER:5C.5Certified5copies5of5vital5records5such5as5birth,5death5and5marriage5certifi
cates5can5only5be5issued5by5the5recording5office5that5holds5the5original5document.
3.5A5neighbor5asks5for5your5help.5"I'm5going5to5court5tomorrow,5and5I5need5to5present5
this5document5as5evidence,"5he5says.5"I5need5to5make5sure5it's5legal,5so5can5you5sta
mp5and5sign5it?"5What5do5you5do?5-5answer-
Tell5your5neighbor5that5notarization5does5not5automatically5"legalize"5a5document.
5Tell5your5neighbor5that5you5can't5affix5your5seal5to5a5document5without5performing5a5
notarization
Many5people5mistakenly5believe5that5affixing5a5Notary's5seal5and5signature5automatica
lly5makes5the5document5legally5binding5in5a5court5of5law,5but5this5is5simply5not5true.5A
5Notary5can5verify5the5identity5of5a5person5who5signs5a5document,5or5administer5an5o
ath5or5affirmation5to5a5document5signer,5but5a5notarization5cannot5"legalize"5a5docume
nt5simply5by5having5a5Notary5stamp5it.5In5fact,5some5states5specifically5prohibit5Notari
,es5from5affixing5their5official5seals5to5documents5except5when5the5Notary5is5performin
g5an5authorized5notarization.
4.5A5signer5brings5you5a5document5that5requires5the5signer5to5swear5that5the5stateme
nts5in5it5are5true.5But5when5you5are5about5to5administer5the5oath5to5the5signer,5he5bal
ks.5"I5don't5believe5in5God.5Can5you5just5perform5the5notarization5and5forget5the5oath?
"5What5do5you5do?5-5answer-
D.5Suggest5the5signer5can5take5an5affirmation5in5which5the5signer5confirms5the5statem
ents5in5the5document5are5true5based5on5personal5honor.
When5notarizing5a5signature5on5a5document5that5requires5the5signer5to5verbally5confir
m5the5statements5in5the5document5are5true,5a5signer5has5two5options.5The5signer5may
5take5an5oath,5which5is5a5promise5of5truthfulness5made5to5a5higher5power5or5the5sign
er5may5take5an5affirmation,5which5is5a5promise5of5truthfulness5based5on5personal5hon
or5without5invoking5a5deity5or5supreme5being.5Both5oaths5and5affirmations5are5equally
5acceptable5for5and5a5signer5can5choose5which5type5of5promise5they5prefer5based5on5
the5signer's5personal5beliefs.
A5customer5brings5you5a5signed5document.5"I5signed5this5statement5two5days5ago,5bu
t5I5was5told5I5need5it5notarized5with5an5acknowledgment,"5he5says.5"Can5you5notarize5
the5signature5I5already5wrote5if5I5show5you5my5ID5to5prove5I'm5the5person5who5signed
5it?"5-5answer-Yes,5I5can5notarize5the5signature5with5an5acknowledgment.
Yes,5I5can5notarize5the5signature5with5an5acknowledgment.5-5answer-
No.5A5birth5certificate5is5a5vital5record,5and5in5most5cases5only5the5agency5that5issued
5the5original5record5may5certify5copies5of5vital5records.
A5co-
worker5asks5if5you5can5notarize5his5signature5on5an5affidavit5using5a5jurat.5"Just5one5t
hing,"5he5says.5"I'm5not5comfortable5using5the5word5'God'5because5of5my5beliefs.5Can5
I5say5that5the5statement5is5truthful5without5mentioning5a5deity?"5-5answer-
Yes.5Instead5of5taking5an5oath5to5a5higher5power5for5the5jurat,5a5signer5can5take5an5af
firmation,5promising5on5personal5honor5to5be5truthful.
You5have5just5finished5notarizing5signatures5on5a5set5of5loan5documents.5"Good5job,"5
the5real5estate5agent5says.5"Just5to5be5safe,5can5you5give5me5some5extra5signed5and5
stamped5Notary5certificates5to5take5with5me?
5If5we5find5a5mistake5on5the5documents,5I'll5just5correct5them5and5attach5the5new5certif
icates5myself."5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5may5not5provide5unattached5Notary5certificates5to5anyone5else.
ANSWER:5B.5Notaries5are5not5allowed5to5do5this5because5you5have5no5way5of5knowi
ng5if5someone5will5alter5or5falsify5information5on5the5certificate5once5it's5out5of5your5co
ntrol.5Agreeing5to5this5request5could5potentially5result5in5you5losing5your5Notary5commi
ssion,5paying5large5sums5of5damages5in5a5lawsuit,5or5even5criminal5charges5if5the5una
ttached5certificates5are5used5to5commit5fraud.5Only5the5Notary5should5attach5separate
5Notary5certificate5wording5to5a5document5during5a5notarization5or5make5any5correctio
, ns5to5the5certificate5wording.5Also,5some5states5(such5as5California5and5Florida)5prohi
bit5making5any5corrections5to5Notary5certificate5wording5after5the5document5has5been5
notarized.
1.5A5signer5explains5that5she5is5organizing5a5fundraiser5for5a5local5school.5She5asks5if
5you5can5endorse5the5event5so5she5can5advertise5it5as5"1005percent5Notary5approved.
"5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5are5not5authorized5to5use5their5commissions,5title5of5"Notary5Public"5or5N
otary5seals5to5endorse5events5or5products.
A5friend5of5yours5has5been5elected5as5a5local5official.5He5is5required5to5take5an5oath5o
f5office5and5asks5if5you5can5administer5one5to5him5even5though5there's5no5document5f
or5him5to5sign.5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
Yes.5A5Notary5is5authorized5to5administer5a5verbal5oath5or5affirmation5to5an5individual,
5even5if5there5is5no5written5signature5or5document5involved.
Your5neighbor5says5he5needs5an5urgent5notarization.5"I5have5to5submit5this5letter5for5a
5court5case.5Can5you5put5your5seal5on5it?
5I5just5want5to5make5sure5the5letter5is5legally5binding."5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Sometimes5customers5mistakenly5believe5that5a5Notary's5seal5will5automatically5m
ake5a5document5legally5binding5in5a5court5of5law.5This5is5not5the5case5—
5a5Notary5simply5verifies5the5identity5of5the5signer,5takes5the5signer's5acknowledgment
5of5a5signature,5or5witnesses5the5signing5of5documents.5Simply5affixing5a5Notary5seal5t
o5a5document5without5performing5an5authorized5notarization5or5completing5a5notarial5c
ertificate5is5not5allowed.
A5co-
worker5comes5to5you5with5a5question.5"I5received5this5document5in5Spanish5from5one5
of5our5international5clients.5You5speak5Spanish5—
5would5you5translate5the5document5and5then5certify5that5your5translation5is5accurate?"
5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5are5not5authorized5to5certify5translations.5While5a5Notary5could5notarize5
another5translator's5signature5on5a5declaration5stating5that5the5document5was5translat
ed5correctly,5in5this5case5it5would5not5be5possible5because5you5may5not5notarize5your
5own5signature.
A5customer5comes5to5your5office.5"I5need5this5document5notarized,5but5there5is5no5Not
ary5wording5printed5on5it,"5she5says.5"Can5you5tell5me5which5type5of5notarization5it5ne
eds?5You're5the5Notary,5you5should5know."5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5If5a5customer5doesn't5know5what5type5of5notarization5is5needed,5you5may5describ
e5the5different5types5of5notarizations5(such5as5acknowledgments5or5jurats)5and5let5the5
signer5pick5what5notarization5they5want.5However,5you5should5never5choose5the5type5
of5notarization5on5the5signer's5behalf.5Doing5so5would5be5the5unauthorized5practice5of
5law5unless5you5are5a5qualified5attorney.
ANSWERS
4.5True5or5False:5As5of52021,5every5U.S.5state5has5permanent5laws5authorizing5Notari
es5to5perform5RONs.5-5answer-
False.5To5date5405U.S.5states5have5permanent5RON5laws.5However,5some5states,5su
ch5as5California,5do5not5authorize5Notaries5to5perform5remote5notarizations.
1.5A5customer5calls5you.5"I5need5a5copy5of5my5birth5certificate5notarized5so5the5agenc
y5I'm5sending5it5to5has5proof5it's5authentic.5Can5you5do5this5for5me?"5What5should5you
5do?5-5answer-
ANSWER:5C.5Certified5copies5of5vital5records5such5as5birth,5death5and5marriage5certifi
cates5can5only5be5issued5by5the5recording5office5that5holds5the5original5document.
3.5A5neighbor5asks5for5your5help.5"I'm5going5to5court5tomorrow,5and5I5need5to5present5
this5document5as5evidence,"5he5says.5"I5need5to5make5sure5it's5legal,5so5can5you5sta
mp5and5sign5it?"5What5do5you5do?5-5answer-
Tell5your5neighbor5that5notarization5does5not5automatically5"legalize"5a5document.
5Tell5your5neighbor5that5you5can't5affix5your5seal5to5a5document5without5performing5a5
notarization
Many5people5mistakenly5believe5that5affixing5a5Notary's5seal5and5signature5automatica
lly5makes5the5document5legally5binding5in5a5court5of5law,5but5this5is5simply5not5true.5A
5Notary5can5verify5the5identity5of5a5person5who5signs5a5document,5or5administer5an5o
ath5or5affirmation5to5a5document5signer,5but5a5notarization5cannot5"legalize"5a5docume
nt5simply5by5having5a5Notary5stamp5it.5In5fact,5some5states5specifically5prohibit5Notari
,es5from5affixing5their5official5seals5to5documents5except5when5the5Notary5is5performin
g5an5authorized5notarization.
4.5A5signer5brings5you5a5document5that5requires5the5signer5to5swear5that5the5stateme
nts5in5it5are5true.5But5when5you5are5about5to5administer5the5oath5to5the5signer,5he5bal
ks.5"I5don't5believe5in5God.5Can5you5just5perform5the5notarization5and5forget5the5oath?
"5What5do5you5do?5-5answer-
D.5Suggest5the5signer5can5take5an5affirmation5in5which5the5signer5confirms5the5statem
ents5in5the5document5are5true5based5on5personal5honor.
When5notarizing5a5signature5on5a5document5that5requires5the5signer5to5verbally5confir
m5the5statements5in5the5document5are5true,5a5signer5has5two5options.5The5signer5may
5take5an5oath,5which5is5a5promise5of5truthfulness5made5to5a5higher5power5or5the5sign
er5may5take5an5affirmation,5which5is5a5promise5of5truthfulness5based5on5personal5hon
or5without5invoking5a5deity5or5supreme5being.5Both5oaths5and5affirmations5are5equally
5acceptable5for5and5a5signer5can5choose5which5type5of5promise5they5prefer5based5on5
the5signer's5personal5beliefs.
A5customer5brings5you5a5signed5document.5"I5signed5this5statement5two5days5ago,5bu
t5I5was5told5I5need5it5notarized5with5an5acknowledgment,"5he5says.5"Can5you5notarize5
the5signature5I5already5wrote5if5I5show5you5my5ID5to5prove5I'm5the5person5who5signed
5it?"5-5answer-Yes,5I5can5notarize5the5signature5with5an5acknowledgment.
Yes,5I5can5notarize5the5signature5with5an5acknowledgment.5-5answer-
No.5A5birth5certificate5is5a5vital5record,5and5in5most5cases5only5the5agency5that5issued
5the5original5record5may5certify5copies5of5vital5records.
A5co-
worker5asks5if5you5can5notarize5his5signature5on5an5affidavit5using5a5jurat.5"Just5one5t
hing,"5he5says.5"I'm5not5comfortable5using5the5word5'God'5because5of5my5beliefs.5Can5
I5say5that5the5statement5is5truthful5without5mentioning5a5deity?"5-5answer-
Yes.5Instead5of5taking5an5oath5to5a5higher5power5for5the5jurat,5a5signer5can5take5an5af
firmation,5promising5on5personal5honor5to5be5truthful.
You5have5just5finished5notarizing5signatures5on5a5set5of5loan5documents.5"Good5job,"5
the5real5estate5agent5says.5"Just5to5be5safe,5can5you5give5me5some5extra5signed5and5
stamped5Notary5certificates5to5take5with5me?
5If5we5find5a5mistake5on5the5documents,5I'll5just5correct5them5and5attach5the5new5certif
icates5myself."5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5may5not5provide5unattached5Notary5certificates5to5anyone5else.
ANSWER:5B.5Notaries5are5not5allowed5to5do5this5because5you5have5no5way5of5knowi
ng5if5someone5will5alter5or5falsify5information5on5the5certificate5once5it's5out5of5your5co
ntrol.5Agreeing5to5this5request5could5potentially5result5in5you5losing5your5Notary5commi
ssion,5paying5large5sums5of5damages5in5a5lawsuit,5or5even5criminal5charges5if5the5una
ttached5certificates5are5used5to5commit5fraud.5Only5the5Notary5should5attach5separate
5Notary5certificate5wording5to5a5document5during5a5notarization5or5make5any5correctio
, ns5to5the5certificate5wording.5Also,5some5states5(such5as5California5and5Florida)5prohi
bit5making5any5corrections5to5Notary5certificate5wording5after5the5document5has5been5
notarized.
1.5A5signer5explains5that5she5is5organizing5a5fundraiser5for5a5local5school.5She5asks5if
5you5can5endorse5the5event5so5she5can5advertise5it5as5"1005percent5Notary5approved.
"5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5are5not5authorized5to5use5their5commissions,5title5of5"Notary5Public"5or5N
otary5seals5to5endorse5events5or5products.
A5friend5of5yours5has5been5elected5as5a5local5official.5He5is5required5to5take5an5oath5o
f5office5and5asks5if5you5can5administer5one5to5him5even5though5there's5no5document5f
or5him5to5sign.5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
Yes.5A5Notary5is5authorized5to5administer5a5verbal5oath5or5affirmation5to5an5individual,
5even5if5there5is5no5written5signature5or5document5involved.
Your5neighbor5says5he5needs5an5urgent5notarization.5"I5have5to5submit5this5letter5for5a
5court5case.5Can5you5put5your5seal5on5it?
5I5just5want5to5make5sure5the5letter5is5legally5binding."5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Sometimes5customers5mistakenly5believe5that5a5Notary's5seal5will5automatically5m
ake5a5document5legally5binding5in5a5court5of5law.5This5is5not5the5case5—
5a5Notary5simply5verifies5the5identity5of5the5signer,5takes5the5signer's5acknowledgment
5of5a5signature,5or5witnesses5the5signing5of5documents.5Simply5affixing5a5Notary5seal5t
o5a5document5without5performing5an5authorized5notarization5or5completing5a5notarial5c
ertificate5is5not5allowed.
A5co-
worker5comes5to5you5with5a5question.5"I5received5this5document5in5Spanish5from5one5
of5our5international5clients.5You5speak5Spanish5—
5would5you5translate5the5document5and5then5certify5that5your5translation5is5accurate?"
5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5Notaries5are5not5authorized5to5certify5translations.5While5a5Notary5could5notarize5
another5translator's5signature5on5a5declaration5stating5that5the5document5was5translat
ed5correctly,5in5this5case5it5would5not5be5possible5because5you5may5not5notarize5your
5own5signature.
A5customer5comes5to5your5office.5"I5need5this5document5notarized,5but5there5is5no5Not
ary5wording5printed5on5it,"5she5says.5"Can5you5tell5me5which5type5of5notarization5it5ne
eds?5You're5the5Notary,5you5should5know."5Can5you5do5this?5-5answer-
No.5If5a5customer5doesn't5know5what5type5of5notarization5is5needed,5you5may5describ
e5the5different5types5of5notarizations5(such5as5acknowledgments5or5jurats)5and5let5the5
signer5pick5what5notarization5they5want.5However,5you5should5never5choose5the5type5
of5notarization5on5the5signer's5behalf.5Doing5so5would5be5the5unauthorized5practice5of
5law5unless5you5are5a5qualified5attorney.
