Notary Oaths, Affirmations, and Witnessing Flashcards
6 cards from real AL NOTARY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Notary Oaths, Affirmations, and Witnessing flashcards as text
An Alabama notary is asked to certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate. The notary should:
Answer: Decline, as vital records must be certified by the issuing government agency, not a notary
Vital records like birth and death certificates must be certified by the issuing government agency; notaries in Alabama generally cannot certify such records.
Which of the following documents may an Alabama notary typically certify as a true copy?
Answer: A private contract or personal letter that is not a government-issued record
Alabama notaries may certify true copies of private documents, but not government-issued records like IDs, passports, or court-certified judgments.
When certifying a copy in Alabama, the notary must:
Answer: Compare the copy to the original in their presence and attest that it is a true and accurate copy
Copy certification requires the notary to personally compare the copy against the original document and attest to their agreement.
An Alabama notary who also serves as a subscribing witness may sign in both capacities on the same document if:
Answer: The document is not a will — they generally cannot serve as both notary and required witness on a will
Alabama wills have specific requirements about who may serve as a witness, and a notary may be restricted from serving as both the notarizing officer and a required witness on the same will.
An Alabama notary witnessing a signature notices the signer appears to be under duress. The notary should:
Answer: Pause and privately speak with the signer to assess whether they are signing voluntarily
The notary should create an opportunity to speak with the signer privately to assess whether the signing is truly voluntary before proceeding.
Which statement BEST describes an Alabama notary's duty of impartiality when witnessing documents?
Answer: The notary must serve all parties equally and avoid favoring any party to the transaction
Alabama notaries are impartial witnesses who must treat all parties fairly and avoid any conduct that suggests they favor one party over another.