MO Notary - Missouri Notary Notary Fees and Bond Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Missouri notary is preparing a fee schedule to display in their office. According to state law, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for this schedule?
- It must be approved by the Secretary of State before display.
- It must be printed in a type size no smaller than twelve-point. (Correct answer)
- It must list both maximum fees and any potential travel fees.
- It must be displayed in English and any other language the notary speaks.
Correct answer: It must be printed in a type size no smaller than twelve-point.
Missouri Revised Statute 486.685(6) requires that any notary who charges for services must display an English-language schedule of fees. The statute explicitly states, 'No part of any notarial fee schedule shall be printed in smaller than twelve-point type.'
Question 2: A client requests a Missouri notary to travel to their home to notarize a document with two signatures requiring acknowledgments. The notary and client agree on a $15 travel fee. What is the maximum total amount the notary can legally charge for this service?
- $15.00, as the travel fee includes the notarization.
- $20.00, which includes $5 for the first signature and the $15 travel fee.
- $25.00, which includes $10 for the two acknowledgments plus the $15 travel fee. (Correct answer)
- $10.00, as travel fees are not permitted for standard notarial acts.
Correct answer: $25.00, which includes $10 for the two acknowledgments plus the $15 travel fee.
According to the Missouri Notary Handbook and RSMo 486.685, the maximum fee for an acknowledgment is $5 per signature. Therefore, two signatures would be $10. A notary may charge a separate travel fee if it is agreed upon in advance. The total legal charge is the sum of the notarial fees and the travel fee ($10 + $15 = $25).
Question 3: Which of the following statements accurately describes the primary purpose and liability associated with a Missouri notary's $10,000 surety bond?
- The bond protects the notary from lawsuits up to $10,000.
- The bond is an insurance policy paid by the state to protect the public.
- The bond protects the public from financial harm, and the notary must repay the surety for any claims paid. (Correct answer)
- The bond protects the notary's employer if the notary makes an error during work-related notarizations.
Correct answer: The bond protects the public from financial harm, and the notary must repay the surety for any claims paid.
A Missouri notary's $10,000 surety bond is for the protection of the public. If a notary's error or misconduct causes financial harm, the injured party can file a claim against the bond. The bond does not protect the notary; if the surety company pays a claim, the notary is legally obligated to reimburse the surety company.
Question 4: A Missouri notary is asked to notarize signatures on absentee voter registration forms for a local community drive. Regarding fees for this service, the notary must:
- Charge the standard fee for a signature witnessing.
- Offer a discounted fee of no more than one dollar.
- Perform the notarization at no charge. (Correct answer)
- Charge a fee only if there are more than five forms.
Correct answer: Perform the notarization at no charge.
Missouri Revised Statute 486.685(5) explicitly prohibits a notary from charging or collecting a fee for notarizing the signature on any absentee ballot or absentee voter registration. Performing such acts for a fee is considered official misconduct.
Question 5: If a surety company pays out a claim against a Missouri notary's bond due to the notary's official misconduct, what is a potential direct consequence for the notary's commission?
- The commission is automatically extended for another four years.
- The Secretary of State may suspend the commission until a new bond is secured. (Correct answer)
- The notary is required to pay a fine directly to the injured party.
- There is no consequence as long as the notary pays back the surety company within 30 days.
Correct answer: The Secretary of State may suspend the commission until a new bond is secured.
The surety for a notary bond reports all claims to the Secretary of State. A notary's commission is contingent upon maintaining the required bond. If a claim is paid, the bond's value is reduced or depleted. The Secretary of State can suspend the notary's commission because they no longer have the fully required bond in place, pending the acquisition of a new one.
Question 6: A Missouri notary performs an electronic notarization for a document requiring a jurat. What is the maximum fee the notary can charge for this specific electronic notarial act?
- $25.00, the standard fee for all remote online notarizations.
- $10.00, as electronic acts have a higher fee structure.
- $5.00 per signature. (Correct answer)
- There is no fee limit for electronic notarial acts.
Correct answer: $5.00 per signature.
According to Missouri Revised Statute 486.960, the maximum fees for electronic notarial acts mirror those for traditional paper notarizations. For an electronic jurat, the maximum fee is five dollars per signature.
MO Notary - Missouri Notary Notary Fees and Bond Questions and Answers
A Missouri notary is preparing a fee schedule to display in their office.
According to state law, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for this schedule?