Authorized Notarial Acts Flashcards
6 cards from real MO NOTARY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Authorized Notarial Acts flashcards as text
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?
Answer: A personal affidavit not filed with a court
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.
Which of the following is NOT an authorized notarial act under Missouri law?
Answer: Certifying a photograph
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.
A signer brings a document to a Missouri notary and requests a jurat. What is a key requirement for this specific notarial act?
Answer: The signer must sign the document in the notary's presence after being administered an oath or affirmation.
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.
Under Missouri law, a notary is authorized to take an acknowledgment. What is the primary purpose of this notarial act?
Answer: To confirm the signer appeared before the notary, was identified, and declared they signed the document willingly.
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.
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?
Answer: Instruct the signer to sign the document again in the notary's presence.
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.
Which of the following acts is a Missouri notary empowered to perform?
Answer: Taking the acknowledgment of a person signing on behalf of a corporation.
Missouri notaries are explicitly authorized to take acknowledgments from individuals acting in a representative capacity, such as a corporate officer. Notaries cannot certify copies of school records, as those must be obtained from the issuing institution. They are also prohibited from providing legal advice or preparing legal documents.