CT Notary Notarial Acts and Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A signer brings a document to a Connecticut notary that was already signed at home yesterday. For an acknowledgment, what must the notary require?
- The signer must personally appear and acknowledge the signature as their own (Correct answer)
- The document must be re-signed in front of the notary
- A witness who saw the original signing must be present
- The notary must refuse because the signature is not fresh
Correct answer: The signer must personally appear and acknowledge the signature as their own
An acknowledgment does not require signing in the notary's presence, only that the signer personally appear and acknowledge the signature as freely made.
Question 2: Which notarial act requires the signer to both sign in the notary's presence and swear to the truthfulness of the document's contents?
- Acknowledgment
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Copy certification
- Signature witnessing
Correct answer: Jurat
A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation that the contents are true.
Question 3: When administering an oath in Connecticut, the notary should ensure the ceremony includes which element?
- A written transcript of the oath
- The signer raising both hands
- A verbal exchange in which the signer swears or affirms before the notary (Correct answer)
- At least two witnesses to the oath
Correct answer: A verbal exchange in which the signer swears or affirms before the notary
An oath or affirmation is a verbal ceremony in which the signer swears or solemnly affirms directly to the notary.
Question 4: A customer asks a Connecticut notary to certify a copy of his birth certificate. What should the notary do?
- Certify the copy after comparing it to the original
- Refuse, because copies of vital records must be certified by the record custodian (Correct answer)
- Certify it only if the customer signs an affidavit
- Certify it only if the original is less than 10 years old
Correct answer: Refuse, because copies of vital records must be certified by the record custodian
Vital records such as birth certificates may only be certified by the official custodian of the record, not by a notary.
Question 5: During an acknowledgment, the notary realizes the signer appears confused and cannot explain what the document is. What is the proper procedure?
- Complete the act since identification was verified
- Ask a family member to confirm the signer's intent
- Refuse to perform the notarization because the signer lacks awareness (Correct answer)
- Notarize but add a note about the confusion in the certificate
Correct answer: Refuse to perform the notarization because the signer lacks awareness
A notary must refuse to act when the signer does not appear to understand the transaction or act willingly.
Question 6: A document presented for notarization has a blank space where the property address should be. What should the Connecticut notary do?
- Notarize it and let the parties fill in the blank later
- Fill in the blank based on the signer's verbal statement
- Ask the signer to complete or line through the blank before notarizing (Correct answer)
- Attach a separate page explaining the blank
Correct answer: Ask the signer to complete or line through the blank before notarizing
Notaries should not notarize documents with material blanks; the signer must complete or strike them first to prevent fraud.
Question 7: Which statement best describes 'personal appearance' for a traditional paper notarization in Connecticut?
- The signer speaks with the notary by telephone
- The signer is physically in the notary's presence at the time of the act (Correct answer)
- The signer emails a scanned copy of their ID
- The signer's attorney appears on their behalf
Correct answer: The signer is physically in the notary's presence at the time of the act
Personal appearance means the signer is physically face-to-face with the notary when the notarial act is performed.
CT Notary Notarial Acts and Procedures 2
A signer brings a document to a Connecticut notary that was already signed at home yesterday.
For an acknowledgment, what must the notary require?