NEW YORK STATE NOTARY EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Administrator - ANSWER✔✔-A person appointed by the court to manage the estate of a deceased
person who left no will.
Affiant - ANSWER✔✔-The person who makes and subscribes his signature to an affidavit.
Affidavit - ANSWER✔✔-a signed statement, duly sworn to, by the maker thereof, before a notary public
or other officer authorized to administer oaths. The venue or county wherein it was sworn to should be
accurately stated. [more.]
Affirmation - ANSWER✔✔-A solemn declaration made by persons who conscientiously decline taking an
oath; it is equivalent to an oath and is just as binding; if a person has religious or conscientious scruples
against taking an oath, the notary public should have the person affirm. [more...]
Apostile - ANSWER✔✔-Department of State authentication attached to a notarized and county-certified
document for possible international use.
Attest - ANSWER✔✔-To witness the execution of a written instrument, at the request of the person who
makes it, and subscribe the same as a witness.
Attestation Clause - ANSWER✔✔-The clause (e.g., at the end of a will) wherein the witness certify that
the instrument has been executed before them, and the manner of the execution of the same.
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Authentication (Notarial) - ANSWER✔✔-A certificate subjoined by a county clerk to any certificate of
proof or acknowledgment or oath signed by a notary; this county clerk's certificate authenticates or
verifies the authority of the notary public to act as such.
Bill of Sale - ANSWER✔✔-A written instrument given to pass title of personal property from vendor to
vendee.
Certified Copy - ANSWER✔✔-A copy of a public record signed and certified as a true copy by the public
official having custody of the original. A notary public has no authority to issue certified copies. Notaries
must not certify to the authenticity of legal documents and other papers required to be filed with foreign
consular officers. Within this prohibition are certificated of the following type: United States of America,
State of New York, County of New York: [more...]
Chattel - ANSWER✔✔-Personal property, such as household goods or fixtures.
Chattel Paper - ANSWER✔✔-A writing or writings which evidence both an obligation to pay money and a
security interest in a lease or specific goods. The agreement which creates or provides for the security
interest is known as a security agreement.
Codicil - ANSWER✔✔-An instrument made subsequent to a will and modifying it in some respect.
Consideration - ANSWER✔✔-Anything of value given to induce entering into a contract; it may be
money, personal services, or even love and affection.
Contempt of Court - ANSWER✔✔-Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court which disrupts the
execution of court orders.
Contract - ANSWER✔✔-An agreement between competent parties to do or not to do certain things for a
legal consideration, whereby each party acquires a right to what the other possess.
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Conveyance (Deed) - ANSWER✔✔-Every instrument, in writing, except a will, by which any estate or
interest in real property is created, transferred, assigned or surrendered.
County Clerk's Certificate - ANSWER✔✔-See "Authentication (Notarial)."
Deponent - ANSWER✔✔-One who makes oath to a written statement. Technically, a person subscribing a
deposition but used interchangeably with "Affiant."
Deposition - ANSWER✔✔-The testimony of a witness taken out of court or other hearing proceeding,
under oath or by affirmation, before a notary public or other person, officer or commissioner before
whom such testimony is authorized by law to be taken, which is intended to be used at the trial or
hearing.
Duress - ANSWER✔✔-Unlawful constraint exercised upon a person whereby he is forced to do some act
against his will.
Escrow - ANSWER✔✔-The placing of an instrument in the hands of a person as a depository who on the
happing of a designated event, is to deliver the instrument to a third person. This agreement, once
established, should be unalterable.
Executor - ANSWER✔✔-One named in a will to carry out the provisions of the will.
Ex Parte (From One Side Only) - ANSWER✔✔-A hearing or examination in the presence of, or on papers
filed by, one party and in the absence of the other.
Felony - ANSWER✔✔-A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison.
Guardian - ANSWER✔✔-A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
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Judgment - ANSWER✔✔-Decree of a court declaring that one individual is indebted to another and fixing
the amount of such indebtness.
Jurat - ANSWER✔✔-A jurat is that part of an affidavit where the officer (notary public) certifies that it
was sworn to before him. It is not the affidavit. The following is the form of jurat gerally employed:
"Sworn to before me this ....... Day of ......., 20...... " Those words placed directly after the signature in the
affidavit stating that the facts therein contained were sworn to or affirmed before the officer (notary
public) together with his official signature and such other data as required by 137 of the Executive Law.
Laches - ANSWER✔✔-The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal right.
Lease - ANSWER✔✔-A contract whereby, for a consideration, usually termed rent, one who is entitled to
the possession of real property transfers such right to another for life, for a term of years or at will.
Lien - ANSWER✔✔-A legal right or claim upon a specific property which attaches to the property until a
debt is satisfied.
Litigation - ANSWER✔✔-The act of carrying on a lawsuit.
Misdemeanor - ANSWER✔✔-Any crime other than a felony
Mortgage On Real Property - ANSWER✔✔-An instrument in writing, duly executed and delivered that
creates a lien upon real estate as security for the payment of a specified debt, which is usually in the
form of a bond.
Notary Public - ANSWER✔✔-A public officer who executes acknowledgments of deeds or writings in
order to render them available as evidence of the facts therein contained; administers oaths and
affirmation as to the truth of statements contained in papers or documents requiring the administration
Copyright ©Stuvia International BV 2010-2024 Page 4/85
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Administrator - ANSWER✔✔-A person appointed by the court to manage the estate of a deceased
person who left no will.
Affiant - ANSWER✔✔-The person who makes and subscribes his signature to an affidavit.
Affidavit - ANSWER✔✔-a signed statement, duly sworn to, by the maker thereof, before a notary public
or other officer authorized to administer oaths. The venue or county wherein it was sworn to should be
accurately stated. [more.]
Affirmation - ANSWER✔✔-A solemn declaration made by persons who conscientiously decline taking an
oath; it is equivalent to an oath and is just as binding; if a person has religious or conscientious scruples
against taking an oath, the notary public should have the person affirm. [more...]
Apostile - ANSWER✔✔-Department of State authentication attached to a notarized and county-certified
document for possible international use.
Attest - ANSWER✔✔-To witness the execution of a written instrument, at the request of the person who
makes it, and subscribe the same as a witness.
Attestation Clause - ANSWER✔✔-The clause (e.g., at the end of a will) wherein the witness certify that
the instrument has been executed before them, and the manner of the execution of the same.
Copyright ©Stuvia International BV 2010-2024 Page 1/85
, Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Authentication (Notarial) - ANSWER✔✔-A certificate subjoined by a county clerk to any certificate of
proof or acknowledgment or oath signed by a notary; this county clerk's certificate authenticates or
verifies the authority of the notary public to act as such.
Bill of Sale - ANSWER✔✔-A written instrument given to pass title of personal property from vendor to
vendee.
Certified Copy - ANSWER✔✔-A copy of a public record signed and certified as a true copy by the public
official having custody of the original. A notary public has no authority to issue certified copies. Notaries
must not certify to the authenticity of legal documents and other papers required to be filed with foreign
consular officers. Within this prohibition are certificated of the following type: United States of America,
State of New York, County of New York: [more...]
Chattel - ANSWER✔✔-Personal property, such as household goods or fixtures.
Chattel Paper - ANSWER✔✔-A writing or writings which evidence both an obligation to pay money and a
security interest in a lease or specific goods. The agreement which creates or provides for the security
interest is known as a security agreement.
Codicil - ANSWER✔✔-An instrument made subsequent to a will and modifying it in some respect.
Consideration - ANSWER✔✔-Anything of value given to induce entering into a contract; it may be
money, personal services, or even love and affection.
Contempt of Court - ANSWER✔✔-Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court which disrupts the
execution of court orders.
Contract - ANSWER✔✔-An agreement between competent parties to do or not to do certain things for a
legal consideration, whereby each party acquires a right to what the other possess.
Copyright ©Stuvia International BV 2010-2024 Page 2/85
, Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Conveyance (Deed) - ANSWER✔✔-Every instrument, in writing, except a will, by which any estate or
interest in real property is created, transferred, assigned or surrendered.
County Clerk's Certificate - ANSWER✔✔-See "Authentication (Notarial)."
Deponent - ANSWER✔✔-One who makes oath to a written statement. Technically, a person subscribing a
deposition but used interchangeably with "Affiant."
Deposition - ANSWER✔✔-The testimony of a witness taken out of court or other hearing proceeding,
under oath or by affirmation, before a notary public or other person, officer or commissioner before
whom such testimony is authorized by law to be taken, which is intended to be used at the trial or
hearing.
Duress - ANSWER✔✔-Unlawful constraint exercised upon a person whereby he is forced to do some act
against his will.
Escrow - ANSWER✔✔-The placing of an instrument in the hands of a person as a depository who on the
happing of a designated event, is to deliver the instrument to a third person. This agreement, once
established, should be unalterable.
Executor - ANSWER✔✔-One named in a will to carry out the provisions of the will.
Ex Parte (From One Side Only) - ANSWER✔✔-A hearing or examination in the presence of, or on papers
filed by, one party and in the absence of the other.
Felony - ANSWER✔✔-A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison.
Guardian - ANSWER✔✔-A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
Copyright ©Stuvia International BV 2010-2024 Page 3/85
, Copyright © KAYLIN 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Judgment - ANSWER✔✔-Decree of a court declaring that one individual is indebted to another and fixing
the amount of such indebtness.
Jurat - ANSWER✔✔-A jurat is that part of an affidavit where the officer (notary public) certifies that it
was sworn to before him. It is not the affidavit. The following is the form of jurat gerally employed:
"Sworn to before me this ....... Day of ......., 20...... " Those words placed directly after the signature in the
affidavit stating that the facts therein contained were sworn to or affirmed before the officer (notary
public) together with his official signature and such other data as required by 137 of the Executive Law.
Laches - ANSWER✔✔-The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal right.
Lease - ANSWER✔✔-A contract whereby, for a consideration, usually termed rent, one who is entitled to
the possession of real property transfers such right to another for life, for a term of years or at will.
Lien - ANSWER✔✔-A legal right or claim upon a specific property which attaches to the property until a
debt is satisfied.
Litigation - ANSWER✔✔-The act of carrying on a lawsuit.
Misdemeanor - ANSWER✔✔-Any crime other than a felony
Mortgage On Real Property - ANSWER✔✔-An instrument in writing, duly executed and delivered that
creates a lien upon real estate as security for the payment of a specified debt, which is usually in the
form of a bond.
Notary Public - ANSWER✔✔-A public officer who executes acknowledgments of deeds or writings in
order to render them available as evidence of the facts therein contained; administers oaths and
affirmation as to the truth of statements contained in papers or documents requiring the administration
Copyright ©Stuvia International BV 2010-2024 Page 4/85
