Kentucky Notary Public Knowledge Assessment — Questions and Answers

Question 1: How should a notary physically store their journal to ensure proper security?

Keep it in an unlocked desk drawer for quick and convenient access
Store it in a locked, secure location accessible only to the notary (Correct answer)
Share storage space with office co-workers for mutual accountability
Keep it filed together with copies of the notarized documents

Correct answer: Store it in a locked, secure location accessible only to the notary

A notary's journal must be stored in a locked, secure location accessible only to the notary to protect the sensitive personal information of signers it contains.

Question 2: Can a Kentucky notary be personally liable for damages caused by their negligent notarial acts?

No, the surety bond covers all liability
Yes, a notary can be personally sued for damages beyond the bond amount (Correct answer)
No, employers are solely liable for their notary employees' acts
Only if the notary acted with intent to defraud

Correct answer: Yes, a notary can be personally sued for damages beyond the bond amount

A Kentucky notary can be held personally liable for damages that exceed or fall outside the coverage of their surety bond.

Question 3: What should a notary do if their notarial journal is lost or stolen?

Immediately purchase a new journal and continue working without further action
Cease all notarial work permanently following the loss
Report the loss promptly to appropriate authorities and the commissioning authority (Correct answer)
Continue notarizing without reporting the loss, as journals are voluntary

Correct answer: Report the loss promptly to appropriate authorities and the commissioning authority

A notary must promptly report the loss or theft of their journal because it contains sensitive personal information about signers and could be misused.

Question 4: Can a Kentucky notary use their seal on a document with blank spaces that could be filled in later?

Yes, if the signer promises not to alter it
Only if the notary's employer authorizes it
Yes, if the document is a government form
No, all blanks must be completed or crossed out before notarization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No, all blanks must be completed or crossed out before notarization

A Kentucky notary must ensure all material blanks are completed or struck through before affixing their signature and seal.

Question 5: Which of the following must appear on a Kentucky notary's official seal?

The notary's phone number
The notary's commission expiration date
The notary's name and 'Notary Public, State of Kentucky' (Correct answer)
The notary's Social Security number

Correct answer: The notary's name and 'Notary Public, State of Kentucky'

A Kentucky notary seal must include the notary's name and the words 'Notary Public, State of Kentucky.'

Question 6: When should a notary make a journal entry for a notarial act?

When the notary's commission is submitted for renewal
At the time the notarial act is performed (Correct answer)
Within 30 days of performing the notarial act
Only after the notary has received full payment for services

Correct answer: At the time the notarial act is performed

Journal entries should be made at the time the notarial act is performed to ensure the greatest accuracy and completeness of the record.

Question 7: Which electronic journal format would be most appropriate for a Kentucky notary performing remote online notarizations?

Email threads exchanged between the notary and signer as documentation
A paper journal converted to PDF after completing each day's notarizations
An electronic journal maintained through a state-approved RON platform (Correct answer)
Social media posts documenting details of each notarization session

Correct answer: An electronic journal maintained through a state-approved RON platform

Electronic journals maintained through approved Remote Online Notarization platforms are designed to meet the technical and legal requirements for documenting RON acts.

Question 8: What is the maximum fee a Kentucky notary may charge for each signature notarized during a loan signing?

$5.00 per signature (Correct answer)
$10.00 per signature
$50.00 flat for the entire signing
No statutory limit for loan signings

Correct answer: $5.00 per signature

The statutory maximum of $5.00 per notarial act applies to each signature notarized, including those in loan signings.

Question 9: Where must a Kentucky notary public file their commission and bond?

With the Secretary of State
With the County Clerk in their county of residence (Correct answer)
With the Circuit Court
With the Governor's office

Correct answer: With the County Clerk in their county of residence

A Kentucky notary must file their commission, oath, and bond with the County Clerk in the county where they reside.

Question 10: What is required for a Kentucky notary public to renew their commission?

A new surety bond and oath of office (Correct answer)
Only a renewal fee
Endorsement from two Kentucky residents
A background check and training certificate

Correct answer: A new surety bond and oath of office

Renewing Kentucky notaries must submit a new surety bond and take a new oath of office for each commission term.

Question 11: How long is a Kentucky notary public commission term?

10 years
4 years (Correct answer)
6 years
2 years

Correct answer: 4 years

A Kentucky notary public commission lasts for four years from the date of appointment.

Question 12: What should a Kentucky notary do if a customer refuses to pay the agreed-upon fee?

Seek payment through civil means but cannot alter the completed document (Correct answer)
Refuse to return the customer's identification
Confiscate the document until payment is made
Void the notarial act and remove their seal

Correct answer: Seek payment through civil means but cannot alter the completed document

A notary who is not paid may pursue civil remedies for the unpaid fee but may not alter, void, or withhold a completed notarial act.

Question 13: If a Kentucky notary notarizes three signatures on the same document for the same person at the same sitting, how many fees may be charged?

Three fees, one per notarial act (Correct answer)
One fee for the entire transaction
Two fees maximum per document
No fee may be charged for the same document

Correct answer: Three fees, one per notarial act

Each notarial act is a separate act, so three notarizations on the same document may each be charged the statutory fee.

Question 14: Does Kentucky law authorize remote online notarization (RON)?

Only for government documents
No, only in-person notarization is permitted
Yes, Kentucky has enacted remote online notarization legislation (Correct answer)
Only during declared emergencies

Correct answer: Yes, Kentucky has enacted remote online notarization legislation

Kentucky has enacted legislation authorizing remote online notarization, allowing notaries to perform acts via audio-visual technology.

Question 15: Can a Kentucky notary use a personal electronic device to perform remote online notarizations?

Only tablets and computers are allowed, not smartphones
Only if the device is registered with the Secretary of State
Yes, provided the platform and technology meet Kentucky's RON requirements (Correct answer)
No, only state-approved hardware is permitted

Correct answer: Yes, provided the platform and technology meet Kentucky's RON requirements

A Kentucky notary may use any personal electronic device for RON as long as the platform and technology satisfy the state's requirements.

Question 16: What technology requirement must be met for a Kentucky remote online notarization?

Real-time audio-visual communication technology allowing the notary to see and hear the signer (Correct answer)
Video recording without live interaction
Email exchange of signed documents
A telephone call with a recorded voice

Correct answer: Real-time audio-visual communication technology allowing the notary to see and hear the signer

Kentucky requires real-time, two-way audio-visual communication that allows the notary and signer to see and hear each other simultaneously.

Question 17: If a notary chooses to keep a journal in Kentucky, where should the journal be stored?

In the signer's possession after the notarial act
In the notary's secure custody under lock and key (Correct answer)
At the county clerk's office for public access
Filed annually with the Secretary of State's office

Correct answer: In the notary's secure custody under lock and key

The notary's journal should remain in the notary's secure custody to protect the private information it contains about signers.

Question 18: Which of the following would disqualify someone from becoming a Kentucky notary?

Working as a real estate agent
Residing in a rural county
Having a felony conviction (Correct answer)
Being employed by a bank

Correct answer: Having a felony conviction

A felony conviction can disqualify an applicant from receiving a Kentucky notary commission.

Question 19: What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Kentucky?

16 years old
25 years old
21 years old
18 years old (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 18 years old

Applicants must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for a Kentucky notary commission.

Question 20: What does a notarial certificate for an acknowledgment in Kentucky typically include?

A list of all witnesses present
The document's filing number
A statement that the signer is a U.S. citizen
A statement that the signer personally appeared and acknowledged the document as their free act (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A statement that the signer personally appeared and acknowledged the document as their free act

An acknowledgment certificate confirms the signer personally appeared before the notary and acknowledged the document as their voluntary act.

Question 21: If a Kentucky notary is convicted of a felony, what is the likely effect on their commission?

The commission is subject to revocation by the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
The notary must notify clients but may continue notarizing
No automatic effect; the notary may continue until the commission expires
The commission converts to probationary status automatically

Correct answer: The commission is subject to revocation by the Secretary of State

A felony conviction is grounds for the Secretary of State to revoke a Kentucky notary's commission.

Question 22: Where should a Kentucky notary's commission expiration date appear on a document?

Only on the notary's personal records
At the top of every page of the document
In the notarial certificate, near the notary's signature (Correct answer)
It is not required to appear on documents

Correct answer: In the notarial certificate, near the notary's signature

The notary's commission expiration date must appear in the notarial certificate, typically near or below the notary's signature.

Question 23: What is the best practice for a Kentucky notary public when verifying a signer's identity before notarizing a document?

Accepting any form of identification provided by the signer
Asking the signer to verbally confirm their identity
Relying on personal recognition without requiring identification
Requesting a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Requesting a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport

The best practice for a Kentucky notary public when verifying a signer's identity is to request a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. These documents provide reliable proof of identity with a photograph and are issued by official government agencies. This method significantly reduces the risk of fraud compared to other less secure options.

Question 24: What identifies a Kentucky electronic notary's seal on an electronic document?

A barcode containing the notary's commission number
A handwritten signature scanned into the document
A wet ink stamp applied to a printed copy
A graphic image with required seal information protected by technology that shows tampering (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A graphic image with required seal information protected by technology that shows tampering

A Kentucky electronic notary seal is a graphic image containing the required seal information, associated with technology that renders it tamper-evident.

Question 25: Can a Kentucky notary use a rubber stamp seal?

Only if accompanied by an embossed seal
No, only embossed seals are allowed
Yes, a rubber stamp ink seal is permissible (Correct answer)
Only for electronic notarizations

Correct answer: Yes, a rubber stamp ink seal is permissible

Kentucky notaries may use a rubber stamp ink seal as their official notarial seal.

Kentucky Notary Public Knowledge Assessment

A comprehensive knowledge assessment covering Kentucky notary law under KRS Chapter 423, testing competency in notarial acts, record keeping, appointment requirements, fees, and notary liability for those seeking or renewing a Kentucky notary commission.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds