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California Notary Public Exam
Contains Questions with Verified Answers
Passing Score: 94.67%.
The exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions & Possible Questions to be Tested
- What forms of satisfactory evidence can you use to identify a signer for a jurat? A. One credible witness B. Tribal ID C. CA state driver's license, 3 years expired D. All of the above Answer D. All of the above.
- A Notary is prohibited from advertising his or her notarial services under what circumstances? A. The Notary is advertising in a foreign lang. B. The Notary is an attorney C. The Notary is an immigration specialist D. The Notary is a private employee Answer C. The Notary is an immigration specialist.
- Which of the following statements describes a felony offense?
A. Knowingly making false statements in a notarial certificate B. Destruction, defacement, or concealment of Notary records or papers C. Impersonating or acting as a Notary without a valid commission D. Making a false statement to a Notary in relation to a grant deed Answer D. Making a false statement to a Notary in relation to a grant deed.
- Your employer paid for your Notary commission and your bond. She asks you to notarize only business documents while you are at work. What type of provision is this Answer A Limited Service Agreement
- You are notarizing a document for a personal friend. Which of the following must be included in your journal? A. Signer's name B. Signer's address C. Notary fee D. Length of time you have known that friend Answer C. Notary fee
- Karen needs to acknowledge her signature on a document. Upon scanning the document, however, the Notary notices that the document is missing a safe deposit box number. Since Karen was in a hurry, she left the number at home. She assures the Notary that she will fill it in when she gets home. Can the Notary notarize the document Answer No, the document is incomplete.
C. $2,500 fine
5 / 12 D. Commission suspension Answer D. Commission suspension. ($750 was not an option)
- A Notary was found guilty of a misdemeanor. For which of the following was the Notary most likely prosecuted? A. Failing to make family support payments B. Failing to remit any court ordered judgment to the Sec. of State C. Acting as a Notary without a valid commission Answer C. Acting as a Notary without a valid commission
- On which document may you NOT perform a proof of execution? A. Trustee's Deed B. Quitclaim Deed C. Demand Letter D. Business Contract Answer B. Quitclaim Deed (may NEVER use real estate related docs or power of attorney)
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith come into your office asking for jurats on three affi- davits they have both signed. One of the affidavits pertains to Mrs. Smith's pension with the school district where she works. One affidavit deals with consent to travel for their daughter. The third affidavit deals with items that were stolen from Mr. and Mrs. Smith's car. Mrs. Smith presents an expired CA driver's license that was issued in March of 2018. Mr. Smith presents his Nevada nondriver's ID, which is current. What is the maximum fee you may charge? a.
7 / 12 A. A Veterans Affairs life insurance form B. The oath for the credible witness C. A circulator's affidavit D. All of the above Answer D. All of the above.
- A Notary's commission expired on Oct 10, 2024. She renewed her com- mission before her old commission expired, and the new commission began on Oct 11, 2024. Since she has a new commission with a new commission number, which of the following should the Notary do? A. a new journal for the new commission number
8 / 12 B. Keep using the same journal C. Start a new journal to keep at home and leave one at the office D. Record notarizations on a new sheet of paper Answer B. Keep using the same journal
- A notary may only certify a copy of a journal item entry upon receipt of which of the following A. A subpoena B. A court order C. A written request by the Sec. of State D. All of the above Answer D. All of the above
- Which of the following is a statutory administrative penalty for negligent failure to perform the duties and responsibilities required of a Notary? A. Commission suspension and a $1,000 fine B. Commission suspension and a fine of up to $ C. Commission revocation and a $1,500 fine D. Commission denial and a $1,500 fine Answer B. Commission suspension and a fine of up to $750. (key word:negligent)
- A proof of execution by subscribing witness may be performed on a A. Deed of reconveyance B. Quitclaim deed C. Security agreement D. Deed of trust
10 / 12 A. They must get Live Scan Fingerprinting every time they recommission B. They do not need Live Scan Fingerprinting if their commission does not lapse. C. They do need Live Scan Fingerprinting unless they get a letter from an attorney saying they do not need to Live Scan Fingerprint again. D. They do not need Live Scan Fingerprinting if they have been a Notary for more than four terms. Answer A. They must get Live Scan Fingerprinting every time they recommission
- A commissioned Notary Public embezzled funds from their employer.Their employer discovered the embezzlement and did not want to officially file charges, instead the Notary and the employer agreed that the Notary would pay back the funds over time and the Notary signs a document agreeing to these terms. What is the maximum penalty for this violation? A. $ B. $ C. $ D. $ Answer B. $ *Willful failure to discharge fully and faithfully any of the duties or responsibilities required of a Notary Public.
- If you request a new Certificate of Authorization, the State of California must respond within A. One month
11 / 12 B. 5 days C. One year D. 30 days Answer B. 5 days
13 / 12 9/25/05. Your commission will expire A. Immediately B. 8/31/ C. 9/24/ D. 9/1/ Answer B. 8/31/ 4 years from date of commission
- Your commission expires in a month and you are applying to renew your commission today. What is the minimum educational requirement Answer 3 hours
- Mike and his wife Kim need to have their signatures notarized. Mike has an acceptable ID, but Kim recently lost her wallet and hasn't had time to replace her ID. When they appear before the Notary, Kim brings two friends with her. Her friends swear that they know Kim to be the person who signed the document. How was Kim identified Answer Two credible witnesses.
- Linda Martinez, a law student, is starting a business as an immigration consultant. She may not advertise A. That she is a Notary Public B. Her fee C. Her office hours
14 / 12 D. None of the above Answer A. That she is a Notary Public
- A Notary may not certify a copy of a A. Journal entry requested by the Sec of State B. Durable power of attorney for health care C. Journal entry requested by a member of the public D. Limited power of attorney Answer C. Journal entry requested by a member of the public. (must be plain photocopy)
- Maria is a commissioned notary public, her principal place of business is in Truckee, California. Accordingly, Maria filed her oath and bond at the Nevada County Clerk's office in Nevada County, California. Maria often travels to South Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, to perform notarial acts for residents there. Her friend Patrick asks her to come to his home in Stateline, Nevada, to
16 / 12 C. Jim may not notarize this document D. Jim may notarize this document but, may not charge any fees Answer A. Jim may notarize this document and keep the fees.
- Notaries can withhold services a. When their employer limits services to transactions related to the employ- er's business b. When a document is incomplete c. When they believe someone does not understand what they are signing d. All of the above Answer d. all of the above
- A man inherits a property in Alabama with his sister and they must send an affidavit to the court. He can have a friend notarize his signature and A. He can notarize his sister's document. B. He can notarize both signatures. C. He can never notarize an Alabama document D. He can't do either notarization. Answer D. He can't do either notarization.
- When a subscribing witness brings a document the action is called Answer Proof of Execution
- A non-attorney notary (qualified & bonded as an immigration consultant) may charge up to $10 for A. Completing a person's immigration application B. Oaths and Affirmation C. Per signature on a Jurat D. All of the above
17 / 12 Answer D. All of the above all a part of the process
- a document signer comes to you with a document they have already signed and asks to make an acknowledgment. How do you proceed Answer Identify the signer and ask them to acknowledge the signature on the document is theirs.
- What is the maximum fee a Notary may charge by law for administering an oath for a deposition Answer $
- Must a Notary make the copy when certifying a copy of a power of attor- ney Answer No, but the Notary should make or supervise the making of the copy so they know it is exact.
- May a Notary certify a photocopy of a birth certificate Answer No. Vital Records are only certified by specifically appointed agencies.
19 / 12 Answer Yes, the notary is not the grantor.
- When a credible witness is used, the credible witness's primary function is to Answer Swear or affirm to the document signer's identity.
- May a notary accept a current Canadian ID card as proof of identity Answer No. Only Canadian Driver's Licenses acceptable. (Same for Mexico)
- A California Notary Public who is also a bonded immigration consultant may Notarize an immigration document that they helped complete Answer True
- If there is no room to place a Notary seal directly on the document, a Notary must Answer Affix the seal on a loose certificate.
- A Notary Public applicant takes a picture of the official Notary Public exam during their test. What is the maximum penalty for this violation Answer $1,
- A Proof of Completion, from an approved education vendor, can be used to take the official Notary exam for how long Answer 2 years
- What makes an acknowledgment authentic Answer Notary's signature, printed name, the words Notary Public written and Notary seal impression.
- A commissioned Notary Public completes an Acknowledgment having accepted a Social Security card as identification. In addition to the penalty incurred for stating true any material fact they know to be false, what is the penalty for this violation Answer $1,
20 / 12
- When notifying the SOS about an address change, a Notary should use Answer - Any method of delivery which provides a receipt.
