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Quiz: How well do you know your Notary duties?

Answers

1. A customer brings you a signed document. “I signed this statement two days ago, but I was told I need it notarized with an acknowledgment,” he says. “Can you notarize the signature I already wrote if I show you my ID to prove I’m the person who signed it?”

A. Yes, I can notarize the signature with an acknowledgment.

B. No, the signature can’t be acknowledged because it wasn’t made in my presence.

Show Answer

Answer: A. In this case, the customer is asking for an acknowledgment — a notarization where the customer acknowledges to you that he is the person who signed the document and presents satisfactory evidence of his identity according to state Notary laws. For an acknowledgment, the signature does not have to be made in your presence — the customer may sign the document before appearing before you, and then bring the signed document to you to have the signature acknowledged.

2. A friend calls you at your office. “I need to mail a copy of my birth certificate, and I was told it needs to be a certified copy,” she says. “It would be a hassle to go to the county recorder’s office. Since you are a Notary, would it be OK if you certify it instead?”

A. Yes. In many states, Notaries are authorized to certify copies of documents.

B. No. A birth certificate is a vital record, and in most cases only the agency that issued the original record may certify copies of vital records.

Show Answer

Answer: B. While some — but not all — states authorize Notaries to certify copies of documents, in most jurisdictions, Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records such as birth, death or marriage certificates. Even if you are commissioned in a state that does not specifically prohibit certifying copies of vital records (such as Washington state), this is not a recommended practice.

3. A co-worker asks if you can notarize his signature on an affidavit using a jurat. “Just one thing,” he says. “I’m not comfortable using the word ‘God’ because of my beliefs. Can I say that the statement is truthful without mentioning a deity?”

A. Yes. Instead of taking an oath to a higher power for the jurat, a signer can take an affirmation, promising on personal honor to be truthful.

B. No. A jurat requires an oath to a Supreme Being or higher power with no exceptions.

Show Answer

Answer: A. When a signer requests a jurat, the signer may choose to either take an oath (a promise of truthfulness to a higher power) or an affirmation (a promise of truthfulness based on personal honor) based on the signer’s preference. Both oaths and affirmations are valid choices and may be used for a jurat.

4.  You have just finished notarizing signatures on a set of loan documents. “Good job,” the real estate agent says. “Just to be safe, can you give me some extra signed and stamped Notary certificates to take with me? If we find a mistake on the documents, I’ll just correct them and attach the new certificates myself.”

A. Yes, if you know the real estate agent personally you may do this.

B. No. Notaries may not provide unattached Notary certificates to anyone else.

Show Answer

Answer: B. Notaries are not allowed to do this because you have no way of knowing if someone will alter or falsify information on the certificate once it’s out of your control. Agreeing to this request could potentially result in you losing your Notary commission, paying large sums of damages in a lawsuit, or even criminal charges if the unattached certificates are used to commit fraud. Only the Notary should attach separate Notary certificate wording to a document during a notarization or make any corrections to the certificate wording. Also, some states (such as California and Florida) prohibit making any corrections to Notary certificate wording after the document has been notarized.

David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association.


Related Articles:

Quiz: Can Notaries do this?

3 things you can’t do as a Notary

Notary Essentials: The difference between acknowledgments and jurats


View All: Quizzes

32 Comments

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Constance Williams-Chance

10 Dec 2024

I found the pop quiz very helpful.

Sheila Marie Howell

09 Dec 2024

This quiz was very useful to me. It's always helpful to do refresher courses.

Celina

20 May 2024

If a signer signs the document when the notarize is not present, do you enter the same date as the signer or the current date?

National Notary Association

22 May 2024

Hello. When filling out the Notary certificate, you always enter the date the notarization takes place. Please see here for more information: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2022/04/how-to-fill-out-notary-certificate

Sandra Pujol

27 Dec 2023

Very useful !!!!!

Linda Martin

25 Dec 2023

Very informative.

Gilbert

17 Jun 2023

Great question and I pass, but it was hard to read the questions due to the background color. Maybe next time you can use a different background color. Thank you!

Rosalyn Cooper

15 Dec 2022

I really like taking a quiz, they can update me on the changes and make me more sufficient

Mayra V Cruz

12 Dec 2022

I will like to become a Notary Agent

National Notary Association

13 Dec 2022

Hello. You can find out more information about becoming a Notary here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/knowledge-center/about-notaries/how-to-become-a-notary-public and more information about becoming a Notary Signing Agent here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/signing-agent/nsa

Cresent Marriott

12 Dec 2022

Great quizs. Good reminder for all.

Bridgett Kuykendall

12 Dec 2022

Hello has a notary in Texas can you preform weddings?

National Notary Association

13 Dec 2022

Hello. No, Texas Notaries are not authorized to perform weddings as part of their official Notary duties.

Martina Rangel

12 Dec 2022

Question ? I no u mentioned not alled are birth or death certificates doe divorces fall under that?

National Notary Association

13 Dec 2022

Hello. Please see this article for more information on the definition of a vital record: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2019/07/what-is-vital-record-notarize

June Johnson-Parrish

12 Dec 2022

I agree. Great Pop-up Quiz. I think we should have more of these.

Pam White

07 Dec 2021

I wish these were the questions on the tests - notarial procedures instead of how much of a penalty certain infractions will cost. It's enough that there is a penalty....so just don't commit the infractions!

Betty Bell

01 Dec 2021

Awesome. Keep them coming...

Debra

29 Nov 2021

Question No. 1 is incorrect. In California, any document associated with real property must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public, or at least that is what I have been instructed to do.

Perry

05 Nov 2021

Great Pop Quiz 👍🏾👍🏾

Renita

31 Jul 2021

How do I get a Certificate

gina_massie@yahoo.com

10 Nov 2020

Very good learning new information

Chris E

29 Oct 2020

Regarding question number one, I don't believe that is the "correct" answer. The Governor's Reference Manual for Florida Notaries lists as a prohibited act: "A notary public may not notarize a signature on a document if the person whose signature is being notarized is not in the presence of the notary public at the time the signature is notarized." Based on this wording, it seems to be the case that the document must be signed in the presence of the notary and not before.

National Notary Association

29 Oct 2020

Hello. In the case of an acknowledgment, the document may be signed prior to the signer appearing before the Notary, but the signer must be physically present before the Notary at the time the signature is notarized.

Martino

19 Jul 2020

I enjoy taking all of the quizzes, however, it is EXTREMELY difficult to see and read them. Please consider changing to different contrasting colors, maybe the usual white text against black background, or some other contrasting combo. It's EXTREMELY difficult to see and read the quizzes. Thank you.

National Notary Association

20 Jul 2020

Thank you for the feedback. For future quizzes, we will see if we can adjust the colors to make them easier to read.

ameerahm411@gmail.com

12 Dec 2019

good quiz, I got all my answers correct

Barbara Morgan

12 Dec 2019

I enjoy taking your quizzes however I can’t see the questions because of the bright blue background. Is there any way you can tobe it down and use a darker print? Thank you.

National Notary Association

12 Dec 2019

Hi Barbara. Thank you for your feedback-we'll take that into consideration when designing our next quiz.

Ola Cox

08 Nov 2019

Very good information

Sheila Barton

04 Nov 2019

Why is this necessary to take a quiz?

National Notary Association

04 Nov 2019

Hello Sheila. Can you provide more information what you are referring to, please?

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