AK Notary Laws and Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How long is a notary public commission term in Alaska?
- 2 years
- 4 years (Correct answer)
- 6 years
- Lifetime appointment
Correct answer: 4 years
Alaska Statutes AS 44.50.030 establishes a four-year commission term for notaries public.
Question 2: Who has authority to appoint notaries public in Alaska?
- The Governor
- The Lieutenant Governor (Correct answer)
- The Secretary of State
- The Attorney General
Correct answer: The Lieutenant Governor
Under AS 44.50.010, the Lieutenant Governor is empowered to appoint and commission notaries public in Alaska.
Question 3: What is the required surety bond amount for an Alaska notary public?
- $500
- $1,000 (Correct answer)
- $5,000
- $10,000
Correct answer: $1,000
AS 44.50.060 requires Alaska notaries to obtain and maintain a $1,000 surety bond as a condition of their commission.
Question 4: Which of the following must appear on an Alaska notary public's official seal?
- The notary's home address
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's bond number
- The notary's employer's name
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
Alaska law requires the seal to display the notary's name, 'Notary Public - State of Alaska,' and the commission expiration date.
Question 5: What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Alaska?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
Alaska requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age to qualify for a notary public commission.
Question 6: What is the maximum fee an Alaska notary may charge per notarial act under state statute?
- $2
- $5 (Correct answer)
- $15
- $25
Correct answer: $5
Alaska statute AS 44.50.062 caps the fee a notary may charge at $5 per individual notarial act performed.
Question 7: An Alaska notary's commission expires on March 15. On March 16, the notary performs a notarization. This act is:
- Valid if the document is backdated
- Invalid because the commission has expired (Correct answer)
- Valid within a 30-day grace period
- Valid if witnessed by another notary
Correct answer: Invalid because the commission has expired
A notarial act performed after a commission expires is unauthorized and legally invalid; there is no grace period under Alaska law.
AK Notary Laws and Regulations 2
How long is a notary public commission term in Alaska?