IA Notary - Iowa Notary Prohibited Acts and Misconduct Questions and Answers

Question 1

An Iowa notary, who is also a licensed real estate agent, is handling the sale of a property for which they will earn a commission.
The seller asks the notary to notarize their signature on the deed of trust.
Which of the following is the correct action for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the signature due to a disqualifying interest in the transaction.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization as long as the seller provides valid identification.

Answer

Notarize the document but refuse to accept a fee for the notarial service.

Answer

Obtain verbal consent from both the buyer and the seller before notarizing.

Question 2

A signer presents a document to an Iowa notary and says, 'I'm not sure if this needs an acknowledgment or a jurat. Which one should I choose?' Which of the following responses by the notary constitutes a prohibited act?

Accepted Answer

"For this type of document, an acknowledgment is typically sufficient."

Answer

"I cannot choose for you, but I can describe the difference between the two acts."

Answer

"You should consult with an attorney or the document's receiving agency to determine the correct notarial act."

Answer

"I can show you the standard Iowa wording for both an acknowledgment and a jurat certificate."

Question 3

Which of the following acts by an Iowa notary is considered official misconduct and grounds for the Secretary of State to revoke their commission?

Accepted Answer

Performing a traditional notarization for an individual without that person being in the notary's physical presence.

Answer

Notarizing a document for an immediate family member where the notary has no beneficial interest.

Answer

Using an embosser in addition to their official ink stamp on a paper document.

Answer

Charging the maximum fee allowed by Iowa law for performing a notarial act.

Question 4

A client presents a pre-written affidavit to an Iowa notary. The document is complete except for a blank line in the middle of a sentence where a dollar amount is supposed to be written. The signer states they will fill it in later. What is the notary's proper course of action?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the document until the blank space is filled in or marked as 'not applicable'.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization, as the notary is not responsible for the document's content.

Answer

Have the signer make a note in the margin authorizing the blank space and then notarize.

Answer

Fill in the blank space with the amount the signer verbally provides.

Question 5

Under Iowa law, a notary public is strictly prohibited from performing a notarial act on a document to which the notary is a party. The primary reason for this prohibition is to:

Accepted Answer

Ensure the impartiality of the notarial officer.

Answer

Prevent the unauthorized practice of law.

Answer

Avoid charging excessive fees for services.

Answer

Protect the security of the notary's official stamp.

Question 6

Which of the following actions by an Iowa notary does NOT constitute a prohibited act or official misconduct?

Accepted Answer

Refusing to perform a notarization because the notary believes the signer is being coerced.

Answer

Using the Spanish term "Notario Publico" in an advertisement.

Answer

Withholding a signer's original document until the notary fee is paid.

Answer

Choosing the type of notarial certificate on behalf of the signer.

An Iowa notary, who is also a licensed real estate agent, is handling the sale of a property for which they will earn a commission.The seller asks the notary to notarize their signature on the deed of trust.Which of the following is the correct action for the notary to take?

An Iowa notary, who is also a licensed real estate agent, is handling the sale of a property for which they will earn a commission.
The seller asks the notary to notarize their signature on the deed of trust.
Which of the following is the correct action for the notary to take?