IA Notary Notarial Certificates 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a notarial certificate in Iowa?
- A license issued to a notary by the state
- The written statement signed and sealed by a notary that documents a notarial act (Correct answer)
- A receipt given to the signer after a notarization
- A form the signer fills out before appearing before a notary
Correct answer: The written statement signed and sealed by a notary that documents a notarial act
A notarial certificate is the written statement, signed and sealed by the notary, that documents the performance of a notarial act.
Question 2: Under Iowa law, who is responsible for ensuring the notarial certificate is completed correctly?
- The signer of the document
- The requesting attorney
- The notary public (Correct answer)
- The county recorder
Correct answer: The notary public
The notary public bears responsibility for completing the notarial certificate accurately and in compliance with Iowa law.
Question 3: Which of the following must appear on a notarial certificate in Iowa?
- The signer's Social Security number
- The venue stating the state and county where the notarization took place (Correct answer)
- The document's recording number
- The signer's date of birth
Correct answer: The venue stating the state and county where the notarization took place
Iowa requires the venue (state and county) to appear on every notarial certificate to identify where the act was performed.
Question 4: What does 'venue' mean on an Iowa notarial certificate?
- The location where the document will be filed
- The state and county where the notarial act was performed (Correct answer)
- The name of the notary's employer
- The date the notary's commission expires
Correct answer: The state and county where the notarial act was performed
The venue identifies the state and county where the notarial act actually took place, establishing jurisdictional context.
Question 5: In Iowa, when must a notarial certificate be completed?
- Within 30 days of the notarial act
- At the time of the notarial act (Correct answer)
- Before the signer arrives
- After the document is recorded
Correct answer: At the time of the notarial act
Iowa law requires the notarial certificate to be completed at the time the notarial act is performed, not before or after.
Question 6: If a pre-printed notarial certificate on a document is incorrect for the type of act being performed, what should an Iowa notary do?
- Complete the certificate as printed even if it is wrong
- Cross out the incorrect certificate and attach the correct one (Correct answer)
- Refuse to notarize and send the signer away
- Call the secretary of state for instructions
Correct answer: Cross out the incorrect certificate and attach the correct one
When a pre-printed certificate does not match the required notarial act, the notary should cross it out and attach an appropriate certificate for the act being performed.
Question 7: Which element is required in the signature block of an Iowa notarial certificate?
- The notary's home address
- The notary's official signature and commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The signer's initials
- The document's title
Correct answer: The notary's official signature and commission expiration date
Iowa notaries must sign their official signature and include their commission expiration date in the signature block of every notarial certificate.
IA Notary Notarial Certificates 1
What is a notarial certificate in Iowa?