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Quiz: All about acknowledgments

Acknowledgments are the most common notarial act requested by signers. But do you know all the ins and outs of performing this kind of notarization properly? Take our quiz and see how well you know acknowledgments. (See below for detailed answers.)

1. When requesting an acknowledgment, a signer must:

A. Be positively identified by the Notary according to state rules
B. Take an oath or affirmation
C. Acknowledge that the signature on the document is theirs
D. Both A and C

ANSWER: D. In order to take an acknowledgment, a Notary must positively identify the signer according to the rules prescribed in state Notary law. Because the individual is asking you to take the acknowledgment of their signature on the document, they must acknowledge to you that it is theirs.

2. What type of certificate wording should a Notary complete when performing an acknowledgment?

A. Any certificate wording may be used
B. Either acknowledgment or jurat wording may be used, as long as the wording complies with state law
C. Acknowledgment wording that complies with your state’s laws
D. No certificate wording is required

ANSWER: C. When taking an acknowledgment, the Notary must complete appropriate acknowledgment certificate wording that complies with state law. You should never complete certificate wording for a different notarial act such as a jurat when taking an acknowledgment.

3. True or False. A signer requesting an acknowledgment must declare that he or she willingly signed the document to the Notary.

ANSWER: True. The reason this notarial act is referred to as an “acknowledgment” is because the signer must verbally acknowledge making the signature on the document of their own free will. In most states, the signer must communicate this directly to the Notary. Arizona, however, permits a signer to communicate with Notaries using the help of a third party such as an interpreter.

4. True or False. A person who acknowledges his or her signature may sign the document before meeting with the Notary.

ANSWER: True. A signer making an acknowledgment can either sign the document prior to the notarization or in the presence of the Notary.

David Thun is the Assistant Managing Editor with the National Notary Association.


Related Articles:

How to complete an acknowledgment

Notary Essentials: The difference between acknowledgments and jurats

View All: Quizzes

17 Comments

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Leona Jeffery

10 Jul 2017

Why is it necessary to enter comment when one wants to do is take the Acknowledgment Quiz?

National Notary Association

11 Jul 2017

Hello. There is no requirement to enter a comment to take the quiz, but it is possible you are encountering a technical issue. Please contact us at social@nationalnotary.org with a description of what type of device you are using to view the article and we'll be happy to try and help you resolve the issue.

Tauheedah A. Rahim

10 Jul 2017

This is very good! I am not sure about anyone else, but I could use more questions like these. Thank you

Leslie S Ladi

10 Jul 2017

Hi I need to pay a registration and I need notary stamp best regards leslie

National Notary Association

10 Jul 2017

Hello Leslie. If you'd like to purchase a Notary stamp from us, you can contact our Customer Care team at 1-800-876-6827.

David Marzane

10 Jul 2017

None

April Hughes

10 Jul 2017

Quiz is imcompatible with android phones, returned different results than selected. In this day and age of statistics and algorithms, it's important for quiz takers to be rated on their andsers rather than screen-touch errors. Thanks.

National Notary Association

10 Jul 2017

Hello, April. We checked the quiz on an Android phone and were not able to find the error you are describing. If you can email us at social@nationalnotary.org with more details about the issue you are encountering, we'll be happy to try and help you.

Maria

10 Jul 2017

enjoyed this small quiz - helpful reminders. would like to have more quizzes on a regular bases.

Michael Houston

12 Jul 2017

Enlightening and very relivent

VB Mcgowan

13 Jul 2017

As many have already stated, I appreciate these quizzes very much. They offer a quick refresher that sometimes brings us back to the basics.

TITO GARCIA

19 Jul 2017

Its a very good refresher fro the basics acknowledge

Gary B.

10 Aug 2017

It should be that all notary's receive 100% on this quiz, anything less is unacceptable.

Lillian Mauldin

10 Aug 2017

The 2 questions on a signer saying that they signed the document can be misleading. In NC it is normal practice to only notarize documents that are signed in your presence. Thus I answered the questions accordingly and got them wrong. :-(

Susanne Pellicano

10 Aug 2017

I love these quizzes! They help refresh what you have already learned and keeps it current in your mind.

javob

22 Aug 2022

hi

Jeff Newsome

13 Nov 2023

Good info

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