GA Notary - Georgia Notary Notary Seal and Certificate Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Georgia notary public has recently purchased a new seal. Which of the following elements is required to be on the seal for it to comply with Georgia law?
- The notary's commission expiration date
- The notary's commission number
- The Great Seal of the State of Georgia
- The name of the county of appointment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The name of the county of appointment
According to O.C.G.A. § 45-17-6, a Georgia notary seal must contain the notary's name as commissioned, the words 'Notary Public,' the name of the state, and the county of appointment. There is no requirement for the commission expiration date or number to be on the seal.
Question 2: When completing a notarial certificate, a Georgia notary must sign their name. According to Georgia law, how must the signature appear?
- A legible, printed version of the notary's full legal name.
- Exactly as the name appears on the notary's commission. (Correct answer)
- The notary's customary signature, even if it differs from their commission.
- With the notary's initials, provided the full name is printed below.
Correct answer: Exactly as the name appears on the notary's commission.
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1) specifies that in documenting a notarial act, a notary must sign the notarial certificate by hand in ink exactly as the name is indicated on the notary's commission.
Question 3: A Georgia notary performs a notarial act on a deed for a real estate transaction. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the notarial certificate for this specific type of document?
- The notarial certificate must include the street address of the property.
- The date of the notarial act is not required on the certificate. (Correct answer)
- The notarial seal must be an embossed, raised seal.
- The certificate must be completed in blue ink only.
Correct answer: The date of the notarial act is not required on the certificate.
O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1(b) creates an exception for deeds and other instruments pertaining to real property, stating that the requirement to record the exact date of the notarial act does not apply. While a rubber stamp is sufficient and there's no specific ink color mandate (though blue or black is best practice), the date exception is a specific statutory rule.
Question 4: Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the use of a notary seal in Georgia?
- A handwritten scrawl or signature is a sufficient substitute for a seal.
- An inked rubber stamp is sufficient for imprinting the notary's seal. (Correct answer)
- The seal is only required on documents related to real estate transactions.
- The notary's seal must be circular in shape and exactly one inch in diameter.
Correct answer: An inked rubber stamp is sufficient for imprinting the notary's seal.
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-6) explicitly states that while an embossment is authorized, the use of a rubber or other type stamp is sufficient for imprinting the notary's seal. It also clarifies that a scrawl is not sufficient and the seal is required for authenticating all notarial acts. There are no specific shape or size requirements mandated by the law.
Question 5: A notary is notarizing a document for a client and has affixed their seal and signed the notarial certificate. What final piece of information, aside from their signature and seal, is generally required on the notarial certificate before the act is considered complete?
- The signer's thumbprint.
- The exact date of the notarial act. (Correct answer)
- The fee charged for the service.
- The notary's home address.
Correct answer: The exact date of the notarial act.
According to O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8.1, in addition to signing exactly as commissioned, a notary shall also record the exact date of the notarial act on the notarial certificate (unless it's a real property instrument).
Question 6: A Georgia notary's official seal is lost or stolen. What is the notary's legal obligation according to O.C.G.A. § 45-17-14?
- Immediately cease all notarial acts until a new seal is obtained.
- Publish a notice in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks.
- Send written notice to the appointing Clerk of Superior Court within ten days. (Correct answer)
- File a report with the local police department within 24 hours.
Correct answer: Send written notice to the appointing Clerk of Superior Court within ten days.
O.C.G.A. § 45-17-14 mandates that within ten days of the loss or theft of an official notarial seal, the notary must send written notice to the appointing clerk of superior court, with a copy to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.
GA Notary - Georgia Notary Notary Seal and Certificate Questions and Answers 1
A Georgia notary public has recently purchased a new seal.
Which of the following elements is required to be on the seal for it to comply with Georgia law?