IN Notary - Indiana Notary Exam Public Duties and Responsibilities 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Indiana law, what surety bond amount is an Indiana notary public required to obtain before performing any notarial acts?
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $25,000 (Correct answer)
- $50,000
Correct answer: $25,000
Indiana Code requires notary applicants to obtain a $25,000 surety bond as part of the commissioning process. This bond protects the public against errors or misconduct by the notary.
Question 2: If an Indiana notary public changes their residential or business address, within how many days must they notify the Secretary of State?
- 10 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
Indiana law requires a notary to notify the Secretary of State within 30 days of any address change. Keeping the commission address current ensures the notary remains reachable and in good standing.
Question 3: Which of the following actions is an Indiana notary public expressly prohibited from performing?
- Certifying a copy of a privately held document
- Administering an oath to a credible witness
- Notarizing a document in which the notary has a direct financial interest (Correct answer)
- Performing a notarial act outside the county of commission issuance
Correct answer: Notarizing a document in which the notary has a direct financial interest
A notary may not perform a notarial act for a transaction in which they have a direct financial or beneficial interest, because this creates a conflict of interest that undermines the impartiality required of a notary public.
Question 4: Which of the following must appear on an Indiana notary public's official seal or stamp?
- The notary's home county and bar association number
- The notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of Indiana,' and commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's photograph and signature
- The name of the bonding company and bond number
Correct answer: The notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of Indiana,' and commission expiration date
Indiana law specifies that the official seal must display the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' 'State of Indiana,' and the commission expiration date so that anyone relying on the seal can verify the notary's authority.
Question 5: Indiana notaries are required to maintain a sequential journal of all notarial acts. Which items must be recorded in each journal entry?
- Only the type of notarial act and the notary's initials
- The date of the act, type of act, name of the signer, identification used, and fee charged (Correct answer)
- Only the signer's name and the document title
- The document's full text and a copy of the signer's ID
Correct answer: The date of the act, type of act, name of the signer, identification used, and fee charged
Indiana's notary journal requirements mandate recording the date, the type of notarial act, the signer's name, the form of identification presented, and any fee charged — creating a complete audit trail for each transaction.
Question 6: Under Indiana law, which of the following is a valid reason for a notary public to REFUSE to perform a notarial act?
- The document will be used in another state
- The signer is unable to communicate directly with the notary in a language they share (Correct answer)
- The document was not prepared by a licensed attorney
- The signer is related to but not the same person as the notary
Correct answer: The signer is unable to communicate directly with the notary in a language they share
A notary must refuse if they cannot communicate with the signer well enough to confirm the signer's willingness and understanding. Effective communication is essential to ensure the signer is acting voluntarily and knowingly.
IN Notary - Indiana Notary Exam Public Duties and Responsibilities 1
Under Indiana law, what surety bond amount is an Indiana notary public required to obtain before performing any notarial acts?