Your Cookies are Disabled! NationalNotary.org sets cookies on your computer to help improve performance and provide a more engaging user experience. By using this site, you accept the terms of our cookie policy. Learn more.

Quiz: The Many Types Of Notarial Acts

Notaries perform many different duties for the public — and it’s easy to lose track of the different acts and what states they’re authorized in. Test your familiarity with common — and uncommon — notarial acts.

Take the Quiz: The Many Types Of Notarial Acts (answers below)

 

 

ANSWERS:

1. The two most common notarial acts are:
A. Acknowledgments and copy certifications
B. Protests and acknowledgments
C. Acknowledgments and jurats
D. Jurats and copy certifications

Answer: C. The two most common notarial acts are the acknowledgment (when a signer is positively identified by the Notary and acknowledges signing a document in the Notary’s presence) and the jurat (when the signer swears or affirms before the Notary that the contents of a document signed in the Notary’s presence are true). Because every U.S. jurisdiction authorizes Notaries to perform these acts, they are the two most common types of notarization performed.

2. A “protest” is:
A. A request for a notarized draft waiver by a conscientious objector
B. A rarely-requested notarial act involving nonpayment of funds
C. A notarized document exempting the signer from paying taxes
D. A formal complaint filed by a signer against a Notary

Answer: B. A protest is a written statement by a Notary or authorized officer verifying that payment was not received on an instrument such as a bank draft. Commonly used in the 19th century, protests are usually not needed today due to changes in the modern banking system. Protests are usually only performed today by Notaries with specialized training by a financial institution or under the supervision of a qualified attorney or bank officer. If you are asked to perform a “protest” and are unsure how to proceed, we suggest you contact the NNA Hotline or your state Notary-regulating agency before going forward.

3. Notaries may perform marriages:
A. In no U.S. state or territory
B. In every U.S. state or territory
C. If they are also commissioned as “prothonotaries”
D. In four states-Florida, Maine, Nevada and South Carolina

Answer: D. Florida, Maine, Nevada and South Carolina authorize commissioned Notaries to officiate weddings as part of their duties.

4. Notaries may administer a verbal oath or affirmation to a signer with no written document:
A. In no state or U.S. territory
B. In every state and U.S. territory
C. Only if the signer is an attorney or judge
D. Only if the Notary is a court employee

Answer: B. Notaries are authorized to administer a verbal oath or affirmation upon a signer’s request in every U.S. jurisdiction. A written document is not required to administer a verbal oath or affirmation. If not required by law, it is recommended that the Notary ask the person taking the oath or affirmation to raise their right hand to emphasize that this is a serious act and should not be taken lightly. Remember that administering a verbal oath/affirmation is still a notarial act and should be recorded in the Notary’s journal. Fees should be charged according to the rules of the state or territory in which the Notary is commissioned.

David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.

View All: Quizzes

15 Comments

Add your comment

Nabil Tadros

11 Aug 2014

I would like to know that I have a family member owens a property in PA under a corporation name, would I be able to notarize his selling documentations if he cannot make it on the closing date, please email me at the above address, Thanks Nabil Tadros, NJ Notary Public.

National Notary Association

11 Aug 2014

Hi Nabil. I apologize, but we could not find your email and contact information in your comment above. There are several additional details we would need to know before we can answer your question, including what relation the family member is to you, if you have a beneficial interest in the transaction, and where and when the notarization would be taking place. If you can please send an email to our Hotline team at hotline@nationalnotary.org with your question and provide those additional details about the notarization taking place, they should be able to assist you. Please be sure to include your contact information in your email. Thanks and have a good day.

Susan Payne

06 Apr 2015

I have been asked several times what me fees are. What does one charge for this service?

National Notary Association

07 Apr 2015

Hello Susan. Because different states permit Notaries to charge different maximum fees for their services, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

Elsa villalonga

14 Sep 2016

Should I charge by pages in the state of nj

National Notary Association

15 Sep 2016

Hi Elsa. New Jersey law authorizes the following fees for notarial acts (NJSA 22A:4-14): 1. Taking an acknowledgment: $2.50; 2. Taking proof of a deed: $2.50; 3. Executing a jurat: $2.50; 4. Administering an oath/affirmation: $2.50.

RT Stokes, Notary

22 Sep 2016

What can I charge to administer a verbal oath in California?

National Notary Association

22 Sep 2016

Hello. Currently the maximum fee is $10 per person. As of January 1, 2017, the maximum will be increased to $15 per person. Please see here for more information: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2016/08/ca-notaries-get-raise-15-fee

RT Stokes

22 Sep 2016

If a credible witness is used to notarize a document for a signer, and there are two pages to be notarized ( 2 signatures in total) can I charge for the two signatures and the credible witness signature? If so, how much can I charge for the credible witness? Can I charge the CW for each signature of the signer, or just the single signature of the credible witness?

National Notary Association

22 Sep 2016

Hello. Notaries may not charge a credible witness for identifying a signer. A credible witness is not having his or her signature notarized. The credible witness is serving as proof of the signer's identity.

SE Busch

12 Oct 2016

My brother and mother are co-owners of a house she bought when my grandmother died. He is only on it because at the time (he was 17 or 18) had a job. He is listed as 25% owner and has been in the hospital (from a stroke) since 2007. He wants to sign a Quit Claim Deed giving his portion (which really isn't his) back to my mother. Can I notarize this for them?

National Notary Association

14 Oct 2016

Hello. Different states have different rules regarding notarizing for relatives. To help us answer your question, can you please tell us what state you are commissioned in?

June

15 Aug 2021

How would you administer a verbal oath without any certificate? In what instances would you do this and can you give an example of how the verbal oath is worded?

National Notary Association

16 Aug 2021

Hello. Please see this article for more information: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2015/05/your-guide-notary-oaths-affirmations

Victor Galloway

20 Jun 2022

I need a notary to issue a notice of non response.

Leave a Comment

Required *

All comments are reviewed and if approved, will display.

Close