IN Notary - Indiana Notary Exam Notary Commission Qualifications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Indiana state office has the authority to issue a notary public commission?
- The Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- The Governor's Office
- The Attorney General's Office
- The County Clerk's Office
Correct answer: The Secretary of State
Indiana notary commissions are issued by the Secretary of State. Applicants submit their application and fee to that office, which maintains the official record of all commissioned notaries in the state.
Question 2: A person lives in Ohio but is regularly employed full-time at a company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Are they eligible to apply for an Indiana notary commission?
- Yes, because regular employment in Indiana satisfies the residency-or-employment requirement (Correct answer)
- No, only individuals who reside in Indiana may obtain a commission
- Only if they have previously held a notary commission in another state
- Only if they own real property located in Indiana
Correct answer: Yes, because regular employment in Indiana satisfies the residency-or-employment requirement
Indiana law allows a commission to anyone who is either a resident of Indiana OR regularly employed in Indiana. Living in a neighboring state while working in Indiana meets the employment-based eligibility requirement.
Question 3: What surety bond amount must an Indiana notary public obtain as part of the commissioning process?
- $25,000 (Correct answer)
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $50,000
Correct answer: $25,000
Indiana requires notaries to secure a $25,000 surety bond. This bond protects the public against financial harm caused by a notary's misconduct or errors during their commission term.
Question 4: With which local official must an Indiana notary public file their commission and bond before performing any notarial acts?
- The county recorder of the notary's county (Correct answer)
- The county clerk of the notary's county
- The county sheriff of the notary's county
- The township trustee of the notary's township
Correct answer: The county recorder of the notary's county
After receiving their commission from the Secretary of State, an Indiana notary must register the commission and bond with the county recorder in the county where they reside or are employed. Notarial acts performed before registration are not valid.
Question 5: Which of the following individuals would be disqualified from obtaining an Indiana notary commission?
- A person whose previous Indiana notary commission was revoked (Correct answer)
- A lawful permanent resident of the United States who lives in Indiana
- An employee of a private business rather than a government agency
- A person who has never previously notarized any document
Correct answer: A person whose previous Indiana notary commission was revoked
Indiana law disqualifies anyone whose notary commission has previously been revoked. A prior revocation signals a violation of notarial duties and bars future commissioning. Lawful permanent residents, private-sector workers, and first-time applicants face no such bar.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a requirement to obtain an Indiana notary commission?
- Passing a written notary examination administered by the state (Correct answer)
- Being at least 18 years of age
- Residing in or being regularly employed in Indiana
- Obtaining a $25,000 surety bond
Correct answer: Passing a written notary examination administered by the state
Indiana does not require applicants to pass a state-administered notary examination. Eligibility is based on age, Indiana residency or employment, a clean record, and the bond — not a written test.
IN Notary - Indiana Notary Exam Notary Commission Qualifications 1
Which Indiana state office has the authority to issue a notary public commission?