MT Notary Ethics and Professional Conduct 4

Question 1

A Montana notary is asked to certify that a photocopy of a birth certificate is a true copy. What should she do?

Accepted Answer

Decline, because vital records copies must come from the issuing agency

Answer

Publicly recorded documents like birth certificates cannot be copy-certified by a notary; certified copies must be obtained from the record custodian.

Question 2

A signer completes an affidavit but refuses to raise a hand or verbally respond to the oath. For a jurat, the Montana notary should:

Accepted Answer

Not complete the jurat until the signer makes an oath or affirmation in some form

Answer

A jurat certifies that an oath or affirmation was actually administered, so the notary cannot sign it without one.

Question 3

A Montana notary notices her adult son will receive a commission payment from a contract she is asked to notarize for a third party. She should:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate whether she has a direct beneficial interest and decline if so, or refer to another notary to avoid impropriety

Answer

Even where not strictly prohibited, notarizing where a close family member benefits creates an appearance of partiality best avoided by referral.

Question 4

A lender asks a Montana notary to notarize signatures on a mortgage dated next week, 'to save a second trip.' The notary should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse, because the notarial certificate must state the actual date of notarization

Answer

Postdating or leaving the certificate date blank falsifies the official record of when the notarization occurred.

Question 5

Which situation best demonstrates a Montana notary maintaining impartiality?

Accepted Answer

Notarizing for both parties to a contract while having no stake in the transaction

Answer

Impartiality means serving all parties equally without personal interest or favoritism, not screening customers by personal views.

(MT Notary) Montana Notary Exam Practice Test

(MT Notary) Montana Notary Exam Practice Test

MT Notary Ethics and Professional Conduct 4