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Notary Public Exam — Core Principles

Scenarios: practice questions

Our Notary Public bank has 52 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

A signer wants an acknowledgment but the document has a jurat certificate already printed. What should you do?

  1. Choose the acknowledgment for them
  2. Cross out the jurat yourself and add an acknowledgment, since it's the more common act
  3. Explain the difference and let the signer choose; complete the correct certificate
  4. Cross out the jurat yourself and add an acknowledgment without asking
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C. Explain the difference and let the signer choose; complete the correct certificate — The signer decides; you perform the act.

Question 2

A signer asks you to notarize a 'certified copy' of their college diploma. What should you do?

  1. Write 'true copy' on the diploma
  2. Certify it in every state
  3. Follow state law; many states don't allow notaries to certify copies, so a signer's copy certification affidavit may be used
  4. Refuse to speak to them
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C. Follow state law; many states don't allow notaries to certify copies, so a signer's copy certification affidavit may be used — Some states allow 'copy certification by document custodian'.

Question 3

A signer asks you to date the certificate last week, when they actually signed. What should you do?

  1. Agree for a small fee
  2. Use last week's date if the signer has proof they signed
  3. Use whichever date the signer prefers
  4. Refuse; use the actual date of the notarization
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D. Refuse; use the actual date of the notarization — False dates are fraud.

Question 4

A signer presents an ID, but the photo looks nothing like them. What should you do?

  1. Take a photo of the signer for the journal and proceed with the act
  2. Accept it if the signer explains
  3. Ask for other satisfactory evidence of identity, or refuse
  4. Ask a coworker to decide
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C. Ask for other satisfactory evidence of identity, or refuse — You must be satisfied about identity.

Question 5

A document has a pre-printed venue for a different county from where you are. What should you do?

  1. Leave it
  2. Correct the venue to show where the notarization actually takes place, as state law allows
  3. Travel to that county
  4. Refuse
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B. Correct the venue to show where the notarization actually takes place, as state law allows — Line through and correct, often with initials.

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