MO Notary - Missouri Notary Prohibited Acts and Misconduct Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Missouri notary is presented with a document for notarization in which they are named as a party.
The document is a bill of sale for a vehicle the notary is selling to a friend.
Which of the following actions is appropriate for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the document due to a disqualifying interest.

Answer

Notarize the document, but note the relationship in the journal.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization since the fee will not exceed the statutory limit.

Answer

Ask a family member who is also a notary to perform the notarization.

Question 2

A person who is not a commissioned notary public knowingly uses the title 'Notario Publico' to offer assistance with immigration paperwork for a fee. Under Missouri law, this action constitutes:

Accepted Answer

The unauthorized practice of law and a prohibited act.

Answer

A permissible act if they are fluent in Spanish.

Answer

A minor infraction subject only to a written warning.

Answer

An acceptable business practice for serving non-English speaking communities.

Question 3

Which of the following acts, if knowingly and willfully committed by a Missouri notary, would be considered official misconduct punishable as a misdemeanor?

Accepted Answer

Attaching a loose notarial certificate to a document outside the signer's presence.

Answer

Charging a travel fee that was agreed upon with the signer in advance.

Answer

Refusing to notarize a document for a person who appears to be intoxicated.

Answer

Notarizing a document for a non-resident of Missouri who works in the state.

Question 4

A client asks a Missouri notary to draft a simple power of attorney document, offering to pay a generous fee for the service. The notary is not a licensed attorney. What is the notary's legal obligation in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to draft the document and explain that doing so is the unauthorized practice of law.

Answer

Draft the document as requested, as it is a common notarial service.

Answer

Refer the client to a legal document website to find a suitable template.

Answer

Agree to draft the document but decline the fee to avoid any conflict.

Question 5

A Missouri notary is asked to notarize a signer's signature on a document that is completely blank except for the signature line. Which statute regarding prohibited acts does this request violate?

Accepted Answer

The prohibition against notarizing a signature on a blank or incomplete document.

Answer

The prohibition against charging excessive fees.

Answer

The prohibition against notarizing for a family member.

Answer

The prohibition against refusing to perform a lawful notarial act.

Question 6

Under what circumstances is a Missouri notary disqualified from performing a notarial act due to a familial relationship with the principal?

Accepted Answer

The principal is the notary's spouse, sibling, parent, or child.

Answer

The principal is a second cousin of the notary.

Answer

The principal is a coworker who the notary considers to be 'like family'.

Answer

The notary has no financial interest in the transaction.

A Missouri notary is presented with a document for notarization in which they are named as a party.The document is a bill of sale for a vehicle the notary is selling to a friend.Which of the following actions is appropriate for the notary to take?

A Missouri notary is presented with a document for notarization in which they are named as a party.
The document is a bill of sale for a vehicle the notary is selling to a friend.
Which of the following actions is appropriate for the notary to take?