NOTARY FINAL EXAM Verified Questions and Answers Graded A+ Latest Update 2024, Exams of Law

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NOTARY FINAL EXAM Verified

Questions and Answers Graded A+

Latest Update 2024

If you are a notary commissioned by the State of California on July 1st, 2015 and you do not renew your commission, which of the following is the first day you would be in violation of the law if you were to acknowledge a signature? Select one: a. July 1st, 2018 b. July 2, 2019 c. July 1st, 2019 d. July 1st, 2018 ✔✔c. This question makes you know two things:

1. The Commission Term (4 years)
2. The fact that you cannot perform service after your commission expires.

Your commission starts at 12:00am on the start date and ends at 11:59:59pm the last day of the commission. If you were allowed to perform notary service on the 4 year anniversary date, that would be 4 years and 1 day, which is against statute. In this scenario, the last day you could legally perform notary service is June 30th, 2019 until midnight. The correct answer is: July 1st, 2019 Every notary is required to have a bond. What is the purpose of the bond and who does the bond protect? Select one: a. The bond is an insurance policy that covers the notary in the event that they make a mistake. b. The $15,000 bond is purchased from a surety insurer licensed to sell bonds in California and it protects the public for claims against the notary up to $15,000. c. There is no limit as to how much the bonding company will have to pay and the bond protects both the notary and the public. d. None of the above are true. ✔✔b

The bond protects the public up to $15,000. The notary is still responsible to pay any judgments against them. The correct answer is: The $15,000 bond is purchased from a surety insurer licensed to sell bonds in California and it protects the public for claims against the notary up to $15,000. The legislators in the State of California realized there was a need for notaries public to be adequately trained to insure that the laws were being followed. In order to do this they passed a law. Which of the following would best describe what that law said? Select one: a. The test was to be rewritten and made more difficult and made available in all different languages that are spoken in California. b. All new and renewing notaries would have to have a six hour training course by state approved education vendor. c. After the taking the initial six hour course, a three hour course would be required for renewing notaries. d. Both B and C are correct. ✔✔c After the taking the initial six hour course, a three hour course would be required for renewing notaries.

A notary is considered to have a disqualifying interest when acting as: Select one: a. An employee notarizing for an employer. b. A real estate agent selling a condominium. c. A mortgagor in a real estate transaction. d. An attorney who has drafted papers for a client. ✔✔c If the Secretary of State sends a written request for a certified copy of the notary's journal, the notary must Select one: a. Decline and let the constituent know that the journal entry is private information known only to the signer and the notary. b. Make certified copies of the requested material and immediately send it to the Secretary of State. c. The notary must send the requested material to the Secretary of State by certified mail. d. Both B and C are true. ✔✔both c and b

A California notary has jurisdiction only in Select one: a. The State of California. b. Anywhere in the world as long as the client is a California resident. c. As long as the document is going to be recorded in California, it does not make any difference where the notary is located. d. None of the above are true. ✔✔a. state of california If you change your name while you are a notary, what must you do? Select one: a. Submit a name change application to the Secretary of State within 30 days. b. A name change is not required until you renew your commission. c. File a modified bond and take a new oath of office. d. A and C are correct. ✔✔a and c are correct

If a California notary changes his/her business or residential address while a notary, which of the following is/are true? Select one: a. As long as the notary does not move out of California, no action is required. b. If the business address is a P. O. Box the notary must have a physical home address on file with the secretary of state. c. The notary may refile the oath and bond in the new county, but is not required to. d. Both B and C are correct. ✔✔both b and c correct Notaries often use the notary commission in the workplace during regular business hours. This situation provides for a "private employer agreement." Which of the following is not true about that agreement? Select one: a. If the employer has paid for all the notary expenses, the employer is allowed to exclude the public from service and have the notary only acknowledge company documents during business hours. b. Fees charged during the business day can go to the employer. c. The notary can charge, but all the fees always go to the notary.

d. Even though the employer paid for the stamp and journal, if the notary leaves the job for any reason, the seal journal and all notary records belong to the notary and the notary takes those items with him/her if he/she is no longer employed by that employer. ✔✔c There are certain documents that a notary will perform notary service on that requires that the notary have the constituent put the thumb print in the journal. Which of the following does not require a thumb print in the journal? Select one: a. Signatures on a Power of Attorney b. Notarization of a grant deed c. When acknowledging the signature on a deed of trust or quitclaim deed. d. If the notary is signing and sealing documents for a deed of reconveyance or deed in a foreclosure. ✔✔d If the notary is signing and sealing documents for a deed of reconveyance or deed in a foreclosure. A journal entry is required every time a notary performs notary service in the State of California. What is required to be in the notary journal in order to comply with the law?

Select one: a. Signature of signer, date and time of service, type of service, character of document, method of identification, fee charged and thumb print with most deeds and powers of attorney. b. Name, address, phone, type of document, fee charged, method of identification, and date of document. c. Name, date, county where service performed, fee charged and method of identification. d. Signature of the notary, type of service, date and time of day service took place, fee charged and identification. ✔✔a Sometimes the constituent will not have a proper identification card that is acceptable to the Secretary of State. Which of the following is true about a "credible witness" when the notary uses this form of identification? Select one: a. If the credible witness knows the signer and is known by the notary and provides ID, the witness has to swear that the person is the person named on the document and sign the journal. b. If the credible witness is not known to the notary, the notary must require two credible witnesses with proper identification. c. A credible witness or credible witnesses are used to prove identification. d. All of the above are true. ✔✔all of the above

Which of the following best describes the use of "Personal Knowledge" when a notary uses this for identification purposes? Select one: a. If the notary knows the signer's signature, no journal entry is required because the notary already "knows" the information. b. Personal knowledge is the best form of ID, and is the only method of ID allowed. c. Personal knowledge is only allowed in addition to ID cards. d. Both B and C are correct. ✔✔c Journals are the public record of the notary and can only be used for the completion of notary service. Which of the following is true about the journal? Select one: a. If the journal is damaged, destroyed, lost or is no longer in the exclusive control of the notary, the notary is required to notify the Secretary of State immediately by certified or registered mail. b. After the notary resigns, he/she is to notify the Secretary by certified or registered mail where he/she plans on keeping the journal for the next 10 years.

c. Because the journal is the tool for the notary, the care and storing of the journal is up to the notary. The Secretary of state has no say in what the notary does with the journal. d. Notaries are allowed to have as many active journals as they want; however, they are required to state in the front of the journal what that journal is being used for. ✔✔a A peace officer has good cause to examine your journal and comes to take it. Which of the following is the correct procedure for the notary? Select one: a. Call the Secretary of State and have them tell the officer that the court has no right to the notary record. b. Give the officer the journal immediately. c. Decline to give the journal because a warrant must be issued by a magistrate. d. The notary would request a receipt and send a copy of the receipt to the Secretary of State within 10 days. ✔✔b Only a notary is allowed to be in possession of the notary journal, no matter who paid for it. Which of the following is not true about copies of journal entries?

Select one: a. Any member of the public can request a copy of a journal entry as long as it is a proper request and it is in writing. b. The notary is required to give certified copies of the journal entries upon service of a subpoena or court order. c. The notary's employer or a representative of the employer can have copies of business related journal entries, if the copying is done in the presence of the notary. d. Because the journal contains private information, no one other than the notary can have a copy of the journal. ✔✔d A notary must use the official seal in all cases except: Select one: a. There are no exceptions to this rule. b. When performing acknowledgments for California subdivision map certificates. c. When you type the information instead. d. When a seal and a rubber stamp are used at the same time. ✔✔b

California notaries are required to have a seal. Which of the following is true about the laws governing the seal? Select one: a. The seal must be placed on the document in a way that it is clear and legible (photographically reproducible). b. Any notary seal may be used by any notary, for any good reason as long as you have permission from the other notary to do so. c. Each seal has the name of the notary and only that notary may use it or be in possession of the seal no matter who paid for it, so when a notary resigns or is no longer a notary, the notary must destroy it. d. Both A and C are correct. ✔✔d When a notary signs and seals a document, sometimes it must be recorded. Which of the following is not true? Select one: a. The recorder of the document could reject a document if it does not have a clear seal with all elements discernible. b. Documents from out of the country cannot be recorded in California.

c. A document could be signed and sealed in another state by an out-of-state notary, it can be recorded in California. d. A document that is acknowledged today could be recorded at a date in the future. ✔✔b The State mandates the requirements for the seal. Which of the following are part of that mandate? Select one: a. State seal and Notary Public, Name, County where oath taken, Manufacturer number, Commission number, Date Commission expires, milled or serrated border. b. Signature of the notary, Date commission expires, county where the notary is allowed to serve, and the notary number. c. Manufactured by a company authorized by the Secretary of State. d. Both A and C are correct. ✔✔d Which of the following is not a requirement for identification? Select one: a. A foreign passport.

b. An identification card must have a photo, physical description, serial number, signature and be current or issued in the last five years. c. Personal knowledge is the best form of identification in all matters relating to notary service. d. Satisfactory evidence includes "credible witness(es)" as long as they have acceptable identification cards. ✔✔c There are times that a notary will have a person who does not read or write or is physically unable to sign so those clients make the signature by mark. Which best describes the requirements of the witnesses to the mark? Select one: a. Only one witness is required if the witness is a good friend of the signer or the notary. b. The notary will have to identify all witnesses and have a journal entry for each of the witnesses. c. The notary will identify the signer and have the signer sign the document in front of two witnesses who will not need identification or be required to sign the journal; however, the witnesses will have to sign the document. d. Witnesses only have to watch the mark on the document and nothing else is required of the witnesses. ✔✔c

The most common service that a notary performs is Select one: a. Acknowledgments b. Affidavits c. Depositions d. Certified copies ✔✔a Which of the following is true of an acknowledgement? Select one: a. The acknowledgement form must be completely filled out by the notary at the time of service or the notary could be fined $750 or have the commission revoked or both. b. The acknowledged signature has to be signed in front of the notary in order for the notary to acknowledge the signature. c. In an acknowledgement the notary is assuring that the constituent personally appeared in front of the notary on the date and in the county indicated and was identified by the notary and the signer acknowledged signing the document. d. Both A and C are true. ✔✔d

The second most common service that a notary performs is a jurat. Which of the following is not true of a jurat? Select one: a. The notary is guaranteeing under penalty of perjury that the statement is true. b. After the oath is given, the jurat is filled out by the notary and the client could be guilty of perjury if he/she lied. c. The person swearing to the oath is in the presence of the notary. d. The notary administered the oath or affirmation. ✔✔a If the document says "subscribed and sworn to" and the document states that the person taking the oath is swearing to their date of birth or age and the document includes a photograph or a finger or thumbprint of the person, the notary would Select one: a. Verify the birth date or age by examining a certified copy of the person's birth certificate or an ID or Driver's License issued by the DMV. b. Require an acceptable identification document and record the information in your journal.

c. Administer the oath in the presence of the affiant and make sure that the affidavit is signed in the presence of the notary. d. The notary is required to do all of the above. ✔✔d The jurat is the service and the document is the affidavit. What best describes what the notary does with a jurat? Select one: a. Makes sure that the document is complete before administering the oath by scanning it. b. Identifies the affiant and uses the approved identification card to fill out the journal entry. c. Gives the oath and watches them sign the document in the presence of the notary. d. All of the above are true. ✔✔d Almost all service in front of the notary will be either acknowledgement or jurat. Although there are differences, the notary will be filling out the notary text on the document. All except one of the answers is correct about every document: Select one:

a. The notary must scan the document to make sure it is complete and deny service if it is not complete. b. If the notary has prior knowledge that the document is fraudulent, the notary is not allowed to sign and seal the document. c. If the document is in a language unknown to the notary, the notary may use a translator to help understand what type of service to perform and help fill in the notary text. d. The document could be in a different language if the notary is able to communicate with the signer in a language that both understand. ✔✔c A California notary is authorized to certify copies of Select one: a. Birth certificates b. A power of attorney and his/her own journal c. Deeds d. Immigration documents ✔✔b A subscribing witness may be used

Select one: a. Instead of a credible witness. b. After two credible witnesses have identified him. c. When a document signer is unable to appear before a notary. d. In deeds transferring real estate. ✔✔c When a notary has a proof of execution by subscribing witness, which of the following is not true? Select one: a. The subscribing witness must have watched the signer sign the document or heard from the signer tell the witness that they signed the document. b. A notary may not use a subscribing witness for deeds, mortgage or security agreements, or affidavits. c. The notary must use a credible witness to identify the subscribing witness and the credible witness personally known to the notary must also provide a proper identification document. d. If the notary does not know the subscribing witness, the notary is allowed to use two credible witnesses with identification cards. ✔✔d

California notaries are allowed to acknowledge signatures on immigration documents as part of business; however, immigration consultants qualified and bonded are allowed to do all the listed except Select one: a. Assist in the filling out of immigration forms, but may not charge more than $15.00 per set of forms. b. Charge a maximum of $15.00 per notarized signature on the document. c. Speak to the client in a different language and acknowledge signatures on foreign language documents. d. Advertise that they are notaries public. ✔✔d Notaries are allowed to advertise their services in English and other languages; however, there are restrictions on advertising in a foreign language. Which describe these restrictions? Select one: a. A notary in California is never allowed to use the term "notario" or "notario publico" in advertising or in any other way.

b. Any ad in a foreign language by a non-attorney has to have a disclaimer stating that the notary is not an attorney and may not practice law or give legal advice on any matter. c. The foreign ad must also list the fee for services. d. All of the above are restrictions required by the State of California. ✔✔d The State of California sets the maximum fees that a notary may charge for the services; however, some services the notary is not allowed to charge. Which of the answers below describe the documents that the notary would not charge for service? Select one: a. A notary can never charge for travel fees or work done away from the office. b. Public agency notaries are not allowed to charge. c. Voter related items, Veteran's benefits, and on Military installations. d. If you have a private employer agreement, no fees can be charged. ✔✔c Which of the following statements are true about the fees that a notary is allowed to charge? Select one:

a. The notary may charge no more than $.30 (thirty cents) for a copy of a journal entry when requested in writing. b. A public agency is required to charge; however, the fees collected go to the public agency. c. If a notary gives an oath in a deposition, that notary is only allowed to charge $7. d. All of the above are true. ✔✔d Even though the notary is not reading the document, if the notary knows that the document is fraudulent and it is a real estate document the notary has committed a crime. What type of crime is it? Select one: a. A felony b. A misdemeanor c. A tort d. A civil case and not a problem for the notary ✔✔a There are two major crimes listed in the notary handbook, felonies and misdemeanors, which of the following constitutes a misdemeanor?

Select one: a. A person who solicits or coerces or in any manner influences the notary to act improperly. b. Any person who destroys, defaces, or conceals any records or papers belonging to the office of the notary public. c. Any person who acts as a notary or advertises that he/she is a notary when he/she is not commissioned or duly qualified. d. All of the above are misdemeanors. ✔✔d All offenses that are committed by the notary could result in a suspension or revocation of the notary commission, but the notary may also be fined $750.00. Which of the following is not punishable by the fine or suspension of the commission? Select one: a. Charging more than allowed to perform notary service. b. Not performing service on a document in a foreign language when you cannot read the text in that language. c. Failure to give the oath with a jurat. d. Failure to fill out the form in an acknowledgement. ✔✔b

There are crimes that could cause the notary to have a fine of up to $1500 or worse. Which of the following would fall into that category? Select one: a. Advertising as a notary public when one is an immigration specialist. b. Advertising in a foreign language without the disclaimer. c. Misleading advertising. d. All of the above. ✔✔d Which of the following is true about the liability of the notary in the performance of the duties? Select one: a. Because the notary is a Commissioned officer of the State, the State will take care of all liability. b. The notary is required to file a $15,000 bond and that bond takes care of all liability for the notary. If there are any problems the constituent contacts the bonding company. c. The notary has unlimited liability on every document they sign. d. All of the above are true. ✔✔c

If a notary breaks any of the laws governing the notary, which of the following is true about the notary's right to defend him/herself? Select one: a. Every notary has the right to a fair hearing. b. When the notary takes the oath of office, he/she states that they give up all rights if he/she breaks the law. c. If the notary made an accidental mistake he/she cannot be held liable so no hearing is necessary. d. None of the above have to do with notary law. ✔✔a California has many Spanish speaking residents so using the term "Notario Publico" or Spanish translation for Notary Public is against the law. What punishment could a notary receive for doing this? Select one: a. The first time the notary breaks the law, he/she will receive no less than one year suspension. b. If you read, write, and understand Spanish, you will be fined $ 750. c. The second time will result in permanent revocation of the commission.