GA Notary Ethical Considerations and Responsibilities 5

Question 1

During a remote online notarization (RON) in Georgia, the notary loses audio/video connection mid-ceremony. What is the ethical requirement?

Accepted Answer

Restart the entire notarial ceremony from the beginning once connectivity is restored

Answer

Complete the ceremony based on what was observed before the connection dropped

Answer

Have the signer re-affirm via text message before continuing

Answer

Complete the remaining steps in person the following day

Question 2

A Georgia notary conducting a RON notices the signer appears to be reading from a script when answering identity verification questions. What should the notary do?

Accepted Answer

Terminate the session and refuse the notarization due to suspicion of fraud

Answer

Proceed since the signer answered correctly

Answer

Ask a supervisor to take over the session

Answer

Continue but flag the session for review afterward

Question 3

What ethical principle underlies the requirement that Georgia notaries not prepare the documents they notarize (unless they are licensed attorneys)?

Accepted Answer

It prevents conflicts of interest and unauthorized practice of law

Answer

It ensures document fees are kept separate from notarial fees

Answer

It ensures the signer has time to review the document

Answer

It reduces liability for the state of Georgia

Question 4

A notary is approached by a signer who offers to pay double the fee if the notary skips the oath for a jurat. What is the correct response?

Accepted Answer

Refuse; administering the oath is a mandatory element of a jurat that cannot be skipped or waived

Answer

Accept if the signer signs a waiver of the oath requirement

Answer

Accept if the document value justifies the additional fee

Answer

Accept if the signer is a known and trusted client

Question 5

What does it mean for a Georgia notary to act with 'reasonable care'?

Accepted Answer

Taking all steps a prudent notary would take to ensure each act is lawful, accurate, and fraud-free

Answer

Completing as many notarizations as possible per day to serve the public

Answer

Relying on an employer's policies to guide every notarial decision

Answer

Performing notarizations quickly to minimize inconvenience to signers

Question 6

A Georgia notary is aware that a document they are asked to notarize contains a forged signature from an earlier page. What must the notary do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the entire document and consider reporting the suspected fraud

Answer

Notarize only the page presented to them and ignore the other pages

Answer

Notarize with a notation that only certain pages were verified

Answer

Notify the requesting party privately and allow them to correct it

Question 7

Which of the following best describes why a Georgia notary should never guarantee the validity or legal effect of a notarized document?

Accepted Answer

Because the notary's role is limited to certifying the signing act, not the document's content or enforceability

Answer

Because only courts can guarantee document validity

Answer

Because the notary's bond does not cover legal validity claims

Answer

Because guarantees would require a separate fee schedule