AL NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AL NOTARY facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which Alabama state office oversees and approves remote online notarization platforms? → The Secretary of State's office
2. Who is responsible for the security and safekeeping of an Alabama notary's official seal? → The notary public personally
3. In which situation would an Alabama notary's journal be most valuable? → When a signer later claims they did not sign a document or were not present
4. What must an Alabama notary do with their seal when their notary commission expires? → Discontinue use of the seal and destroy or secure it
5. A mobile Alabama notary charges $5 for the notarial act and $30 for travel. The client agreed to the travel fee beforehand. Is this lawful? → Yes, because the travel fee was disclosed and agreed to in advance
6. What is the purpose of the bond required for Alabama notaries? → To protect the public from damages caused by the notary’s misconduct or negligence
7. If an Alabama notary moves to a different county, what action must be taken regarding the notary's seal? → The notary must obtain a new commission and seal reflecting the new county
8. When completing an acknowledgment certificate in Alabama, what must the notary include? → Notary's signature, printed name, and commission expiration date
9. An Alabama notary is asked to serve as a subscribing witness on a real estate deed. This means the notary: → Signs the deed as a witness confirming they observed the grantor's signature
10. When is an Alabama notary permitted to perform a notarial act for free? → At any time — charging a fee is optional, and the notary may waive it
11. Which identifying information is recommended when recording a signer's ID in an Alabama notary journal? → Type of ID, issuing authority, and ID number
12. For an Alabama acknowledgment, the notary must be satisfied that the signer is acting: → Voluntarily and without coercion
13. If a document presented for acknowledgment in Alabama is written in a foreign language, the notary should: → Notarize only if the signer communicates sufficiently with the notary
14. Which of the following actions is prohibited for a notary in Alabama? → Notarizing a document in which they have a financial interest
15. An Alabama RON notary may refuse to perform a remote notarization if: → They have reasonable grounds to believe the signer's identity cannot be reliably verified
16. Which entity has the authority to revoke a notary's commission in Alabama? → Probate Judge
17. Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) in Alabama RON typically involves: → The signer answering multiple-choice questions based on their personal history
18. How long should an Alabama notary retain journal records after the commission expires? → Best practice recommends retaining records for at least 10 years
19. What should an Alabama notary do if the acknowledgment certificate wording is missing from a document? → Attach a separate certificate with the appropriate wording
20. Can an Alabama notary take an acknowledgment from a person who signed a document before appearing before the notary? → Yes, as long as the signer acknowledges the signature as their own
21. When must an Alabama notary affix their seal to a notarized document? → At the time the notarial act is performed
22. An Alabama notary who witnesses a signature on a will should understand that: → Alabama wills typically require two witnesses; the notary's witness counts as one
23. When an Alabama notary journal is lost or stolen, the notary should: → Report the loss to local law enforcement and notify the Secretary of State
24. An Alabama notary should use ink — not pencil — for journal entries because: → Ink entries cannot be erased and altered, protecting the integrity of the record
25. When did Alabama authorize remote online notarization (RON) for all notaries? → Alabama enacted permanent RON legislation effective January 1, 2021
26. Which of the following is a valid reason for the revocation of an Alabama notary's commission? → Committing a fraudulent act as a notary
27. An Alabama notary's journal should be kept: → In a bound, paginated book or secure electronic format
28. Under Alabama law, a notary's seal on an acknowledgment serves to: → Authenticate the notarial act and identify the notary's commission
29. What distinguishes an oath from an affirmation in Alabama notarial practice? → An oath is a solemn pledge invoking a higher power; an affirmation is a secular pledge
30. Who is responsible for approving or denying a notary application in Alabama? → Probate Judge