CO Notary Ethical Considerations Flashcards
7 cards from real Colorado Notary Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 CO Notary Ethical Considerations flashcards as text
A client asks a Colorado notary (who is not an attorney) to explain the legal consequences of a document before signing. The notary should:
Answer: Refer the client to a licensed attorney for legal advice
Explaining legal consequences constitutes the practice of law; non-attorney notaries in Colorado must refer clients to licensed attorneys for such questions.
A non-attorney Colorado notary's advertisement reads: 'Notary Services — Legal Document Preparation Available.' This advertisement is:
Answer: A potential violation constituting unauthorized practice of law
Advertising legal document preparation services implies legal expertise that non-attorney notaries do not possess, potentially constituting unauthorized practice of law.
What is the maximum fee a Colorado notary may charge for a single traditional (in-person) notarial act?
Answer: $10.00
Colorado Revised Statutes cap the fee for each traditional notarial act at $10, though notaries may charge less.
A Colorado notary advertises using the Spanish term 'Notario Público' to attract Spanish-speaking clients. This practice is:
Answer: Prohibited because it falsely implies the broader legal authority of a Latin American notary
Colorado law prohibits using 'notario' because in Latin American legal tradition a notario has extensive legal authority, which could mislead Spanish-speaking clients.
A client asks a non-attorney Colorado notary to fill in blank fields on a legal contract. The notary should:
Answer: Refuse, as completing legal blanks may constitute unauthorized practice of law
Completing blanks in a legal document goes beyond ministerial tasks and may constitute unauthorized practice of law for a non-attorney notary in Colorado.
Which of the following is a clearly prohibited advertising practice for a Colorado notary who is not an attorney?
Answer: Using the title 'notario' to attract Spanish-speaking clients
Colorado law specifically prohibits non-attorney notaries from using the term 'notario' because it falsely implies legal authority beyond that of a U.S. notary public.
A Colorado notary charges $15 for a notarial act. The signer pays without complaint. Is this ethical?
Answer: No, because Colorado's statutory fee cap is $10 per notarial act
Colorado sets a hard statutory cap of $10 per notarial act; client agreement and local market rates cannot override this limit.