Performing Notarial Acts Flashcards
6 cards from real HI NOTARY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Performing Notarial Acts flashcards as text
A Hawaii notary is asked to perform a copy certification. Which of the following documents can the notary lawfully certify as a true copy?
Answer: A private contract signed by two parties
Notaries may certify true copies of privately-held documents. They cannot certify copies of documents that only a government agency may copy, such as passports or vital records.
When administering an oath in Hawaii, what must the notary ensure from the person taking the oath?
Answer: They verbally swear or affirm the truthfulness of their statement
An oath or affirmation requires a verbal commitment from the person to the truthfulness of their statement.
Under Hawaii law, what is the correct order of events when a notary performs a jurat?
Answer: Identify signer → sign document → administer oath
For a jurat, the notary first identifies the signer, then the signer signs in the notary's presence, and then swears or affirms to the truthfulness.
A Hawaii notary notices a blank space in a document that is about to be notarized. What should the notary do?
Answer: Refuse to notarize until the signer completes or crosses out the blank
A notary should decline to notarize a document with significant blanks that could be filled in after the fact, as this creates fraud risk.
Which of the following situations would require a Hawaii notary to STOP a notarization in progress?
Answer: The notary suspects the signer does not understand the document's contents
A notary must ensure the signer is aware and understands what they are signing; lack of comprehension (e.g., language barrier, apparent incapacity) is grounds to refuse.
What is the legal effect of a Hawaii notary's signature and seal on a document?
Answer: It certifies the authenticity of the notarial act, not the truthfulness of the document's content
A notary's signature and seal certify that the notarial act (e.g., identity verification, oath) was properly performed — not that the document's contents are true or legally enforceable.