North Carolina Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A first-time NC notary applicant must complete an approved education course. How many hours long is this required course?

3 hours
6 hours (Correct answer)
12 hours
8 hours

Correct answer: 6 hours

First-time NC notary applicants are required to complete an approved 6-hour notary education course before applying.

Question 2: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, a North Carolina notary commission is valid:

Only within 50 miles of the notary's registered address
Only in the county where the notary's oath was filed
Only for transactions involving North Carolina residents
Statewide, in all 100 counties of North Carolina (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Statewide, in all 100 counties of North Carolina

A North Carolina notary commission is valid statewide. The notary may perform notarial acts anywhere within the borders of North Carolina, regardless of which county their oath was filed in.

Question 3: Under North Carolina law, which category of documents may a notary public certify as a true copy?

Tangible private documents that are not vital records or public records (Correct answer)
Vital records such as birth certificates and death certificates
Any document, provided the original is presented at the time of notarization
Public records maintained by county or state government agencies

Correct answer: Tangible private documents that are not vital records or public records

NC notaries may certify copies of tangible (paper) private documents. They are expressly prohibited from certifying copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) and public records — those must be certified by the official record custodian.

Question 4: Which of the following actions constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor for a North Carolina notary?

Refusing to notarize a document for a person who appears to be coerced.
Taking an acknowledgment without the principal personally appearing before the notary. (Correct answer)
Failing to report a lost seal to the Secretary of State within 10 days.
Charging a travel fee in excess of the federal mileage rate.

Correct answer: Taking an acknowledgment without the principal personally appearing before the notary.

North Carolina General Statute 10B-60(c)(1) explicitly states that a notary is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if they take an acknowledgment without the principal personally appearing before them. Failing to report a lost seal is a separate violation, overcharging is an infraction, and refusing service due to suspected coercion is a required and proper action.

Question 5: What does "commission" refer to in the context of a notary public?

The empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of authority to perform those acts (Correct answer)
The process of renewing a notary's certification
The official record of notarial acts performed
The fee charged by a notary for their services

Correct answer: The empowerment to perform notarial acts and the written evidence of authority to perform those acts

A notary's "commission" is the official authorization granted by the state that empowers an individual to perform notarial acts. It includes both the legal right to act as a notary and the physical document (certificate of commission) that serves as proof of this authority. This commission is essential for a notary to legally execute their duties and is valid for a specific term.

Question 6: A NC notary purchases a new seal after renewing their commission. The new seal shows an expiration date 6 months later than the actual commission expiration. The notary should:

Use white-out to correct the date on every seal impression
Use the seal since close enough is acceptable
Notify the NC SOS and use the old expired seal until corrected
Return the seal for correction — the seal must match the actual commission expiration date (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Return the seal for correction — the seal must match the actual commission expiration date

The official seal must accurately reflect the notary's actual commission expiration date. Using a seal with an incorrect date — even if the error is the seal vendor's mistake — could compromise the notarization and should be corrected immediately.

Question 7: Which of the following actions by a North Carolina notary constitutes the unauthorized practice of law?

Advising a signer on the legal implications of the document they are signing. (Correct answer)
Refusing to notarize a document if the signer appears confused or under duress.
Charging the maximum statutory fee of $10 for an acknowledgment.
Keeping a detailed personal journal of all notarial acts performed.

Correct answer: Advising a signer on the legal implications of the document they are signing.

A notary who is not a licensed attorney is strictly prohibited from giving legal advice. Explaining the legal effects of a document, or advising the signer in any way about the transaction, is considered the unauthorized practice of law. The other options are either permitted or represent responsible notary practice.

Question 8: Which of the following would DISQUALIFY a person from becoming a North Carolina notary?

Having a felony conviction with civil rights NOT restored (Correct answer)
Moving to NC from another state 6 months ago
Being a lawful permanent resident of NC
Being 19 years old

Correct answer: Having a felony conviction with civil rights NOT restored

Under NCGS §10B-5, an applicant is disqualified from becoming a NC notary if they have been convicted of a felony and their civil rights have NOT been restored. If civil rights have been restored (e.g., by a governor's pardon), the person may apply.

Question 9: A signer presents a valid foreign passport from a non-English-speaking country. The notary cannot read the text. What is the correct course of action?

Refuse all foreign passports as a matter of policy
Accept it only if the consulate of that country is contacted first
Accept it if it contains a photo, signature, and physical description consistent with the signer (Correct answer)
Require a certified translation of the passport before proceeding

Correct answer: Accept it if it contains a photo, signature, and physical description consistent with the signer

A foreign passport with a photo and identifying information can serve as satisfactory evidence; the notary verifies the photo and description match the signer, not the text's language.

Question 10: Which of the following documents is NOT an acceptable form of identification for a notarization in North Carolina?

A temporary paper driver's license issued by the NC DMV. (Correct answer)
A U.S. Military ID card.
A permanent resident card (Green Card) issued by USCIS.
A current driver's license from another U.S. state.

Correct answer: A temporary paper driver's license issued by the NC DMV.

North Carolina law is very specific that temporary or paper identification documents, even if issued by the DMV, are not acceptable because they often lack a photograph and are not tamper-resistant. All other options are valid, government-issued IDs acceptable for notarization.

Question 11: What is the required education for NC notaries seeking to RENEW their commission (as opposed to first-time applicants)?

A 3-hour refresher course approved by the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
Retaking the full 6-hour course
No education is required for renewal
A 1-hour online quiz administered by the Secretary of State

Correct answer: A 3-hour refresher course approved by the Secretary of State

NC notaries renewing their commission must complete a 3-hour refresher education course approved by the Secretary of State.

Question 12: A notary notarizes a document and later learns the signer was a minor who misrepresented their age with a convincing fake ID. What is the most likely outcome regarding the notarization?

The notary faces criminal charges regardless of the reasonableness of their reliance
The notarization may be valid if the notary reasonably relied on the identification presented (Correct answer)
The notary must re-notarize the document once the signer reaches adulthood
The notarization is automatically void because minors cannot sign legal documents

Correct answer: The notarization may be valid if the notary reasonably relied on the identification presented

A notary acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care in verifying identity is generally protected when a signer fraudulently misrepresents their identity.

Question 13: A notary in North Carolina is asked to certify a copy of a birth certificate issued by the state vital records office. What should the notary do?

Certify the copy because birth certificates are public records
Certify only a certified copy of the birth certificate
Certify the copy only if the original is also present
Refuse because NC notaries cannot certify copies of vital records (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse because NC notaries cannot certify copies of vital records

NC notaries may not certify copies of vital records such as birth certificates; only the issuing agency can issue certified copies.

Question 14: A signer is physically unable to sign their name. Under NC law, how may the notarization proceed?

A family member may sign in the signer's place with the notary's approval
The signer may make a mark, such as an X, which the notary then witnesses as the signature (Correct answer)
The notary may sign the document on behalf of the signer without restriction
The notary must refuse because a signature is always legally required

Correct answer: The signer may make a mark, such as an X, which the notary then witnesses as the signature

G.S. 10B-20(a)(4) and related provisions allow a principal to make a mark in lieu of a signature when physically unable to write, and the notary witnesses that mark.

Question 15: A NC employer directs a notary-employee to notarize documents without requiring signers to appear in person. If the notary complies, which of the following is true?

Employer instructions override statutory requirements under employment law
The notary remains personally liable for violating the personal appearance requirement (Correct answer)
The notary may comply if the employer accepts full responsibility in writing
The employer's instructions protect the notary from liability

Correct answer: The notary remains personally liable for violating the personal appearance requirement

A NC notary cannot escape liability for statutory violations by following employer instructions. The notary is personally responsible for ensuring compliance with Chapter 10B, including the requirement that signers appear in person (for traditional notarizations).

Question 16: A notary is asked to perform a proof of execution where the subscribing witness did not see the principal sign the document. Can the notary proceed?

Yes, if the subscribing witness personally knows the principal
No, because proof of execution requires the witness to have been present when the principal signed (Correct answer)
No, because proof of execution is not a recognized notarial act in North Carolina
Yes, if two subscribing witnesses are present to corroborate

Correct answer: No, because proof of execution requires the witness to have been present when the principal signed

Proof of execution requires the subscribing witness to have personally witnessed the principal's signature, so the notary cannot proceed if that element is absent.

Question 17: An NC notary is presented with a real ID-compliant state driver's license from another U.S. state. The signer now lives in NC but has not yet obtained an NC license. What should the notary do?

Accept it as satisfactory evidence since it is a valid government-issued photo ID from another state (Correct answer)
Require the signer to provide an NC address confirmation in addition
Contact the issuing state's DMV to verify the license before proceeding
Refuse it because only NC-issued IDs are valid in NC

Correct answer: Accept it as satisfactory evidence since it is a valid government-issued photo ID from another state

A valid, unexpired driver's license from any U.S. state qualifies as satisfactory evidence of identity; the notary's jurisdiction does not restrict IDs to NC-issued documents.

Question 18: A North Carolina notary is a partner in a real estate agency. The notary is asked to notarize a client's signature on a purchase agreement for a property listed by their own agency, from which the notary will receive a commission. Which of the following is the appropriate action for the notary to take?

Refuse to notarize the signature due to a direct financial interest in the transaction. (Correct answer)
Notarize the signature but refuse to accept the commission from the sale.
Ask a different partner in the agency to notarize the signature instead.
Proceed with the notarization since the client is the one signing, not the notary.

Correct answer: Refuse to notarize the signature due to a direct financial interest in the transaction.

North Carolina law disqualifies a notary from performing a notarial act if the notary will receive a direct commission, fee, or other consideration from the transaction that exceeds the statutory notary fee. Because the notary stands to gain a real estate commission, they have a direct financial interest and must refuse to perform the notarization to avoid a conflict of interest.

Question 19: A notary seal impression on a document appears faint and some characters are illegible. What should the notary do?

Apply a sticker with the missing information over the faint area
Re-stamp the document with a clear, legible impression (Correct answer)
Send the document as-is since a partial impression is legally sufficient
Write in the missing characters by hand next to the faint impression

Correct answer: Re-stamp the document with a clear, legible impression

A notary seal must be clear and legible; if the impression is faint or illegible, the notary should re-apply the seal to produce a clear impression.

Question 20: Which of the following actions is expressly PROHIBITED for a NC notary?

Notarizing a document for a person the notary does not personally know
Notarizing a document that will be filed in another state
Charging the maximum statutory fee for every notarial act
Performing a notarial act in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Performing a notarial act in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction

G.S. 10B-20(b) prohibits a notary from performing a notarial act if the notary is a party to or has a financial interest in the transaction.

Question 21: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, which of the following is a required element on the notary's official seal that must also appear on the notarial certificate?

The notary's date of birth
The county where the bond was filed
The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
The notary's bond amount

Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date

Both the notary's official seal and the notarial certificate must include the commission expiration date. This allows anyone reviewing the document to verify that the notary was validly commissioned at the time of the notarization.

Question 22: Under NC law, a signer with a legal name change presents an old ID with their former name. The document to be notarized uses their new legal name. The notary should:

Proceed since the photo matches regardless of the name discrepancy
Ask for proof of the name change (e.g., marriage certificate, court order) to bridge the gap between the old ID and the new name (Correct answer)
Refuse to notarize until the signer has an ID in their new legal name
Ask the signer to sign using their old name to match the ID

Correct answer: Ask for proof of the name change (e.g., marriage certificate, court order) to bridge the gap between the old ID and the new name

When a signer's ID name differs from their document name due to a legal name change, the notary may ask for supporting documentation (marriage certificate, court order) to establish the connection between the names. Once satisfied, the notary may proceed.

Question 23: If a North Carolina notary moves to another state and no longer works or resides in North Carolina, what happens to their commission?

The commission becomes void because the residency/employment requirement is no longer met (Correct answer)
The commission remains valid for the rest of its term
The notary must apply for a 30-day extension
The commission automatically expires on the date of the move

Correct answer: The commission becomes void because the residency/employment requirement is no longer met

A notary commission becomes void if the notary no longer resides in or maintains a regular place of employment or practice in North Carolina.

Question 24: A notarial act that is legally equivalent to an oath and in which a notary certifies that at a single time and place, all of the following occurred is called:

Jurat
Verification
Affirmation (Correct answer)
Acknowledgment

Correct answer: Affirmation

An affirmation is a solemn declaration made by an individual in place of an oath, often due to religious or conscientious objections. It carries the same legal weight and penalty of perjury as an oath. The notary's role is to certify that this declaration was made truthfully and under the proper conditions, ensuring the individual's identity and willingness to attest to the document's contents.

Question 25: A signer appears confused, cannot state the nature of the document, and asks the notary what they are signing. How should the notary respond?

Explain the document and proceed with the notarization
Notarize with a note that the signer seemed confused
Ask the person who brought the signer to explain the document, then proceed
Refuse to notarize because the signer may lack the awareness to sign willingly and knowingly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse to notarize because the signer may lack the awareness to sign willingly and knowingly

A notary must be satisfied that the signer is aware of what they are signing; visible confusion about the document's nature is grounds to decline the notarization.

Question 26: For every remote electronic notarization they perform, a North Carolina notary must maintain a record of the act. What is this record called and what is a key requirement for it?

A traditional paper journal; it must be stored in a locked safe.
An electronic journal; it must be the exclusive property of the notary and backed up. (Correct answer)
A remote act logbook; it must be mailed to the Secretary of State annually.
A digital transaction file; it must be deleted after the commission expires.

Correct answer: An electronic journal; it must be the exclusive property of the notary and backed up.

G.S. 10B-134.15 mandates that an electronic notary must record each remote electronic notarization in an electronic journal. The statute specifies that this journal is the exclusive property of the notary and rules require that it be securely stored and backed up to prevent data loss.

Question 27: Under G.S. Chapter 10B, which of the following is a valid ground for the Secretary of State to revoke a NC notary commission?

The notary consistently charged the maximum allowable statutory fee
The notary was convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude (Correct answer)
The notary routinely notarized documents outside their home county
The notary performed more than 200 notarial acts in a single calendar year

Correct answer: The notary was convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude

G.S. 10B-60 authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke a commission when a notary is convicted of a crime involving dishonesty, false statements, or moral turpitude.

Question 28: A NC notary's employer is a bank that has a policy prohibiting employees from charging notary fees to bank customers. The notary's brother comes in and asks for a notarization. What is the correct approach?

The employer's policy is unenforceable; the notary may always charge the statutory maximum
The notary must follow the employer's no-fee policy regardless of who the customer is (Correct answer)
The notary must refuse to notarize because the no-fee policy creates a conflict
The notary may charge the brother privately since he is not a bank customer

Correct answer: The notary must follow the employer's no-fee policy regardless of who the customer is

An employer may lawfully restrict or prohibit a notary employee from charging fees, and the notary must comply with that workplace policy.

Question 29: Which of the following best describes the 'satisfactory evidence of identity' standard a North Carolina notary must apply when a signer lacks government-issued photo ID?

A credible witness personally known to both the notary and the signer may vouch, or one credible witness known to the notary who presents ID (Correct answer)
Only a law enforcement officer may vouch for identity without photo ID
The signer must provide a sworn written statement of their identity instead
Any two adults who know the signer may vouch for their identity without restriction

Correct answer: A credible witness personally known to both the notary and the signer may vouch, or one credible witness known to the notary who presents ID

North Carolina follows the credible witness rule: one witness known to the notary who provides ID, or two witnesses known to both notary and signer, can substitute for personal identification documents.

Question 30: Under NCGS §10B-60, a NC notary who advertises notary services in Spanish but adds the title 'Notario Público' is potentially violating NC law because:

The title 'Notario Público' implies attorney-equivalent status in many Latin American cultures and can mislead clients (Correct answer)
The title must include the English equivalent in parentheses to be legal
Spanish-language advertising requires prior NC SOS approval
Foreign language advertising is prohibited for NC notaries

Correct answer: The title 'Notario Público' implies attorney-equivalent status in many Latin American cultures and can mislead clients

Under NCGS §10B-99.2, using the title 'Notario' or 'Notario Público' is prohibited in NC because in many Latin American countries, a 'Notario' is an attorney. Using this title can mislead Spanish-speaking clients into thinking they are receiving legal services.

Question 31: In NC, if a principal signer is physically unable to sign a document, who may sign on their behalf during the notarization process?

The notary may sign for the principal as a courtesy
Any adult witness present in the room may sign
Another person designated by the principal may sign in the principal's presence and at their direction (Correct answer)
Only an attorney licensed in NC may sign on the principal's behalf

Correct answer: Another person designated by the principal may sign in the principal's presence and at their direction

NC law permits another person to sign at the direction and in the presence of a principal who is physically unable to sign, and the notarial certificate should reflect this circumstance.

Question 32: A North Carolina notary who changes their county of residence must:

Notify the NC SOS within 30 days and re-file an oath and bond in the new county (Correct answer)
Cease performing notarial acts until a new commission is issued
Apply for a new commission immediately
Do nothing — the commission is statewide and no update is required

Correct answer: Notify the NC SOS within 30 days and re-file an oath and bond in the new county

When a NC notary moves to a different county, they must notify the NC SOS within 30 days of the move and file a new oath and bond in their new county of residence. The existing commission remains valid throughout NC.

North Carolina Notary Public Exam

The NC Notary Public exam tests knowledge of North Carolina notarial laws, proper notarial acts, signer identification, and ethical responsibilities required to become a commissioned notary.

Questions

45 min

Time Limit

70%

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