MO Notary - Missouri Notary Authorized Notarial Acts Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Missouri notary is asked to perform a copy certification. Which of the following documents is the notary authorized to certify as a true copy?

Accepted Answer

A personal affidavit not filed with a court

Answer

Missouri notaries are authorized to perform copy certifications of original documents, but they cannot certify copies of vital records (like birth or marriage certificates) or publicly recorded documents (like deeds). A personal affidavit that has not been publicly filed is a private document, and a notary may certify a copy of it.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an authorized notarial act under Missouri law?

Accepted Answer

Certifying a photograph

Answer

According to the Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo 486.640), authorized notarial acts include taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, executing jurats, signature witnessings, and copy certifications. Missouri law explicitly prohibits a notary from certifying or authenticating a photograph.

Question 3

A signer brings a document to a Missouri notary and requests a jurat. What is a key requirement for this specific notarial act?

Accepted Answer

The signer must sign the document in the notary's presence after being administered an oath or affirmation.

Answer

A jurat requires the signer to take an oath or make an affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the document's contents and to sign the document in the notary's physical presence. This differs from an acknowledgment, where the signer can sign beforehand and simply acknowledge the signature to the notary.

Question 4

Under Missouri law, a notary is authorized to take an acknowledgment. What is the primary purpose of this notarial act?

Accepted Answer

To confirm the signer appeared before the notary, was identified, and declared they signed the document willingly.

Answer

The purpose of an acknowledgment is for a notary to certify that the signer personally appeared, was properly identified by the notary, and acknowledged that they signed the document for the purposes stated within it. The notary does not attest to the accuracy of the document's content or provide legal advice.

Question 5

A client presents a document to a Missouri notary that has already been signed. The notarial certificate required is a 'signature witnessing'. What must the notary do to properly perform this act?

Accepted Answer

Instruct the signer to sign the document again in the notary's presence.

Answer

For a signature witnessing, the primary function is for the notary to witness the act of signing. If the document is already signed, the signer must sign it again in the notary's presence for the act to be valid. This is a distinct act from an acknowledgment, where a pre-signed document is acceptable.

MO Notary - Missouri Notary Exam Practice Test

MO Notary - Missouri Notary Exam Practice Test

MO Notary - Missouri Notary Authorized Notarial Acts Questions and Answers