NEW YORK STATE NOTARY EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Administrator - ANS A person appointed by the court to manage the estate of a deceased
person who left no will.
Affiant - ANS The person who makes and subscribes his signature to an affidavit.
Affidavit - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS Department of State authentication attached to a notarized and county-
certified document for possible international use.
Attest - ANS To witness the execution of a written instrument, at the request of the person
who makes it, and subscribe the same as a witness.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Attestation Clause - ANS 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.
Authentication (Notarial) - ANS 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 - ANS A written instrument given to pass title of personal property from vendor to
vendee.
Certified Copy - ANS 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 - ANS Personal property, such as household goods or fixtures.
Chattel Paper - ANS 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 - ANS An instrument made subsequent to a will and modifying it in some respect.
Consideration - ANS Anything of value given to induce entering into a contract; it may be
money, personal services, or even love and affection.
Contempt of Court - ANS Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court which disrupts the
execution of court orders.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Contract - ANS 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.
Conveyance (Deed) - ANS 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 - ANS See "Authentication (Notarial)."
Deponent - ANS One who makes oath to a written statement. Technically, a person
subscribing a deposition but used interchangeably with "Affiant."
Deposition - ANS 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 - ANS Unlawful constraint exercised upon a person whereby he is forced to do some
act against his will.
Escrow - ANS 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 - ANS One named in a will to carry out the provisions of the will.
Ex Parte (From One Side Only) - ANS A hearing or examination in the presence of, or on
papers filed by, one party and in the absence of the other.
Felony - ANS A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison.
Guardian - ANS A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Judgment - ANS Decree of a court declaring that one individual is indebted to another and
fixing the amount of such indebtness.
Jurat - ANS 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 - ANS The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal right.
Lease - ANS 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 - ANS A legal right or claim upon a specific property which attaches to the property until
a debt is satisfied.
Litigation - ANS The act of carrying on a lawsuit.
Misdemeanor - ANS Any crime other than a felony
Mortgage On Real Property - ANS 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 - ANS 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 of an oath. The notary's general authority is defined in €135 of the Executive
Law; the notary has certain other powers which can be found in the various provisions of law
set forth earlier in this publication.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Administrator - ANS A person appointed by the court to manage the estate of a deceased
person who left no will.
Affiant - ANS The person who makes and subscribes his signature to an affidavit.
Affidavit - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS Department of State authentication attached to a notarized and county-
certified document for possible international use.
Attest - ANS To witness the execution of a written instrument, at the request of the person
who makes it, and subscribe the same as a witness.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Attestation Clause - ANS 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.
Authentication (Notarial) - ANS 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 - ANS A written instrument given to pass title of personal property from vendor to
vendee.
Certified Copy - ANS 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 - ANS Personal property, such as household goods or fixtures.
Chattel Paper - ANS 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 - ANS An instrument made subsequent to a will and modifying it in some respect.
Consideration - ANS Anything of value given to induce entering into a contract; it may be
money, personal services, or even love and affection.
Contempt of Court - ANS Behavior disrespectful of the authority of a court which disrupts the
execution of court orders.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Contract - ANS 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.
Conveyance (Deed) - ANS 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 - ANS See "Authentication (Notarial)."
Deponent - ANS One who makes oath to a written statement. Technically, a person
subscribing a deposition but used interchangeably with "Affiant."
Deposition - ANS 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 - ANS Unlawful constraint exercised upon a person whereby he is forced to do some
act against his will.
Escrow - ANS 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 - ANS One named in a will to carry out the provisions of the will.
Ex Parte (From One Side Only) - ANS A hearing or examination in the presence of, or on
papers filed by, one party and in the absence of the other.
Felony - ANS A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in a state prison.
Guardian - ANS A person in charge of a minor's person or property.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Judgment - ANS Decree of a court declaring that one individual is indebted to another and
fixing the amount of such indebtness.
Jurat - ANS 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 - ANS The delay or negligence in asserting one's legal right.
Lease - ANS 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 - ANS A legal right or claim upon a specific property which attaches to the property until
a debt is satisfied.
Litigation - ANS The act of carrying on a lawsuit.
Misdemeanor - ANS Any crime other than a felony
Mortgage On Real Property - ANS 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 - ANS 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 of an oath. The notary's general authority is defined in €135 of the Executive
Law; the notary has certain other powers which can be found in the various provisions of law
set forth earlier in this publication.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
