DC NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Under DC law, what is required for an oath administered by a notary to be legally valid? → The signer must verbally respond to the administered oath or affirmation before the notary
2. Which form of identification is acceptable for a signer appearing before a DC notary? → A current state-issued driver's license with photo
3. What is the primary duty of a notary public in the District of Columbia? → Certifying the authenticity of signatures and documents.
4. Which ID document would generally NOT be acceptable for a signer appearing before a DC notary? → Expired foreign passport
5. Which of the following charges by a DC notary would constitute unauthorized practice of law? → Charging a fee for drafting or preparing legal documents for the signer
6. Which of the following relationships creates an absolute prohibition for a DC notary to perform a notarial act for a signer? → The signer is the notary's spouse and a party to the document.
7. If a DC notary notarizes a document in which they have a direct financial interest, this is: → A prohibited conflict of interest
8. What is the liability exposure for a DC notary who notarizes a document without proper identification? → Civil liability for damages caused by the improper notarization
9. What is the primary purpose of the District of Columbia Notary Exam? → To evaluate knowledge of notarial laws and procedures.
10. What action should a DC notary take if they discover they notarized a forged document? → Notify the appropriate authorities immediately
11. What information about identification must a DC notary record in the notary journal for each notarial act? → The type of identification used to verify the signer's identity
12. When a DC notary replaces a lost or stolen physical seal, what specific action must be taken with the new seal to distinguish it from the old one? → The new seal must include a distinctive mark, such as an asterisk.
13. May a DC notary charge different fee amounts to different clients for the same type of notarial act? → Yes, as long as no fee exceeds the statutory maximum
14. Under what circumstances is a DC notary explicitly forbidden from notarizing their own signature? → Under all circumstances.
15. Who establishes the maximum fee a DC notary may charge per notarial act? → The DC Council through the DC Code
16. What is the legal requirement for a notary's journal in D.C.? → It must record all notarial acts performed.
17. What is the passing score required for the D.C. Notary Exam? → 70%.
18. What type of format is used for the D.C. Notary Exam? → Multiple-choice questions.
19. Is a DC notary required to charge a fee for performing a notarial act? → No, a notary may perform notarial acts at no charge if they choose
20. May a DC employer instruct an employee notary to charge fees beyond the DC statutory maximum for commercial clients? → No, the statutory maximum applies to all notarizations regardless of employer instructions
21. If a signer refuses to pay the notary fee after a completed DC notarization, what is the correct course of action for the notary? → Pursue the unpaid fee through civil means; the notarization remains valid
22. What is a 'credible witness' in the context of DC notarization? → A person personally known to the notary who vouches under oath for the signer's identity
23. If a DC notary has personal knowledge of the signer's identity, what additional identification is required? → No additional identification is required
24. A signer presents a document to a DC notary and asks the notary to 'witness or attest' their signature. What does this notarial act entail? → The notary must verify the signer's identity and watch the signer sign the document.
25. How should a DC notary handle a situation where a signer appears unable to understand the oath being administered due to a language barrier? → Refuse to proceed and recommend the signer obtain an interpreter before returning
26. What may result if a DC notary charges a fee that exceeds the statutory maximum? → Disciplinary action including possible suspension or revocation of the notary commission
27. If a signer is known personally to a DC notary, can the notary rely on that knowledge to establish identity? → It depends on DC law, but personal knowledge can satisfy identity requirements
28. A DC notary who charges more than the statutory maximum fee may face: → Disciplinary action including revocation of commission
29. How must a remotely notarized document be stored by the DC notary? → Audio-video recording for at least 10 years
30. When should a DC notary inform a signer of the fee for a notarial act? → Before the notarial act is performed