ANSWERS:
1. What is a “jurat?”
A. A small rodent often found in law offices and courthouses
B. The formal name for a jury summons
C. A notarization in which a signer promises that the contents of a document are truthful
D. A notarization in which a public official promises to uphold his or her duties
ANSWER: C. A jurat is a notarization where the signer makes a solemn promise that a document is truthful. For a Notary to perform a jurat, the signer must first sign the document in the Notary’s presence. The signer then swears or affirms that the document’s content is true and accurate.
2. For Notaries, a “protest” is:
A. When a Notary verifies a signer is eligible for pension benefits
B. An archaic form of notarization used by banks to make legal claims about unpaid debt
C. A regular part of modern politics
D. A tactic young children often try when told to eat their vegetables
ANSWER: B. A protest is a method under the Uniform Commercial Code for banks and financial institutions used to make a legal claim for an unpaid debt. While it’s an archaic process that has been largely replaced by modern collection methods, some states still allow Notaries to perform protests.
3. A “venue” on Notary certificate wording indicates:
A. The location where the Notary’s commission is filed
B. The location where the signer resides
C. The location where a concert takes place
D. The location where a notarization takes place
ANSWER: D. The venue on a Notary certificate — typically indicated by the words “State Of _____” and “County Of ______” — indicates the location where a notarization takes place.
4. What is an “attorney in fact?”
A. A person authorized to sign a document on someone else’s behalf
B. The opposite of an “attorney in fiction”
C. A lawyer who has been certified as ethical and honest
D. A law student signing a document who hasn’t passed the bar exam
ANSWER: A. An attorney in fact is a person authorized to sign documents on behalf of another party, known as a “principal.” Notarizing for an attorney in fact may have special rules or requirements, depending on what state you are commissioned in.
5. An “embosser” refers to:
A. A dishonest boss who asks Notaries to perform improper acts
B. A Notary affixing a seal impression on a journal page
C. A type of Notary seal that leaves a raised impression on the page
D. A Notary seal that may be used by the Notary’s employer or coworkers
ANSWER: C. An embosser is a type of Notary seal that crimps paper to leave a raised indentation of the Notary’s seal impression on a page. Embossers are not permitted for use by Notaries in every state, though some states permit Notaries to use embossers as an optional addition to a mandatory ink stamp.
6. The term “instrument” in the wording of a notarial certificate typically refers to:
A. A document
B. A piano
C. A thermometer
D. An agency of a higher power
ANSWER: A. When a notarial certificate refers to a signature on an “instrument,” the word “instrument” is referring to the document in question.
7. What must a Notary do when a signer “acknowledges” a signature?
A. Stamp the document and then take a photograph of the notarized signature
B. Confirm that the Notary recognizes the signer’s handwriting
C. Stamp the document and then post a notice on the Secretary of State’s website
D. Positively identify and require the signer to acknowledge signing the document willingly
ANSWER: D. When a signer acknowledges a signature, the Notary must positively identify the signer using a method permitted by state law. The signer must then verbally acknowledge to the Notary that he or she is the person who signed the document willingly.
8. What does an “affirmation” during a notarization require?
A. A signer must tell the Notary what a great person the Notary is
B. A Notary must tell the signer what a great person the signer is
C. A signer promises on their personal honor to tell the truth under penalty of perjury
D. A Notary promises to a higher power to tell the truth
ANSWER: C. An affirmation is a promise made by a signer on their personal honor to tell the truth during a notarization. An affirmation is different than an oath, which is a personal promise of truthfulness made to a deity or higher power. The signer may choose to take an oath or an affirmation before the Notary, based on the signer’s preference.
David Thun is an Associate Editor at the National Notary Association.