Free DC NOTARY Official Seal and Equipment Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the District of Columbia Notary Public Handbook, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for a notary's official physical seal?
- The seal must be a rubber ink stamp of any dark color.
- The seal must be a raised embosser, and the impression must be made photographically reproducible. (Correct answer)
- The seal must include the notary's commission number.
- The seal may be either a circular or rectangular ink stamp, but not an embosser.
Correct answer: The seal must be a raised embosser, and the impression must be made photographically reproducible.
District of Columbia law requires notaries to use a seal that creates a raised impression, also known as an embosser. Furthermore, the law specifies that this impression must be made photographically reproducible, which is typically accomplished by using a seal impression inker.
Question 2: A DC notary's official seal embosser is stolen from their office. What is the FIRST action the notary must take upon discovering the theft?
- Order a new seal immediately from an approved vendor.
- Publish a notice in a local newspaper about the stolen seal.
- Notify the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) and file a police report. (Correct answer)
- Inform their surety bond company in writing.
Correct answer: Notify the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) and file a police report.
DC regulations require a notary to immediately notify the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) if their seal is lost or stolen. In the case of theft, filing a police report is also a required step. This ensures an official record is created and helps prevent fraudulent use of the seal.
Question 3: Which of the following pieces of information MUST be included on a DC notary public's official seal?
- The notary's business address.
- The Great Seal of the District of Columbia.
- The phrase 'My commission expires' followed by the date.
- The notary's name exactly as it appears on their commission. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The notary's name exactly as it appears on their commission.
The DC Notary Public Handbook and regulations specify that the official seal must contain the notary's name exactly as it is stated on their commission, the words 'District of Columbia', and the commission expiration date.
Question 4: A DC notary is approved to perform in-person electronic notarizations (IPEN). Which of the following is true regarding their electronic seal?
- The electronic seal must be a scanned image of their physical embosser impression.
- The electronic seal is optional if the notary's electronic signature is applied.
- The electronic seal must be unique, secure, and attached to the document in a tamper-evident manner. (Correct answer)
- The electronic seal's design must be pre-approved by the Mayor's office.
Correct answer: The electronic seal must be unique, secure, and attached to the document in a tamper-evident manner.
For electronic notarizations, the notary must use an electronic seal that is part of a secure, tamper-evident technology. This ensures the integrity of the document after notarization. It is a unique electronic image or information that is securely affixed to the electronic record.
Question 5: 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 be a different shape (e.g., rectangular instead of circular).
- The new seal must include a distinctive mark, such as an asterisk. (Correct answer)
- The new seal must be made by a different vendor than the original.
- The new seal must have the notary's middle initial added.
Correct answer: The new seal must include a distinctive mark, such as an asterisk.
To prevent fraudulent use of the lost or stolen seal, the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications requires that the replacement seal contain a distinctive mark (the example often given is an asterisk) to differentiate it from the previous one.
Question 6: A notary's employer paid for their official seal and journal. If the notary leaves that employment, who has the legal right to possess the seal and journal?
- The employer, because they purchased the equipment.
- The notary, as the commission and tools are their sole property and responsibility. (Correct answer)
- The Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications, which must be notified to reassign them.
- The employer and notary must share custody until the commission expires.
Correct answer: The notary, as the commission and tools are their sole property and responsibility.
A notary's commission, seal, and journal are the property and responsibility of the individual notary, regardless of who paid for them. The notary must maintain sole control over their equipment to prevent unauthorized use. If a notary with a 'Business' commission leaves their job, they must follow specific procedures to transfer the commission's basis to a new employer or a residential status, but the equipment remains with them.
Free DC NOTARY Official Seal and Equipment Questions and Answers
According to the District of Columbia Notary Public Handbook, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for a notary's official physical seal?