Notary Public Laws and Regulations Flashcards

Under NC law, what is the maximum term length for a notary public commission?

Answer: 5 years

A North Carolina notary public commission lasts 5 years from the date of commissioning.

Which of the following notarial acts is a notary public in North Carolina NOT authorized to perform?

Answer: Certifying a copy of a vital record

Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records such as birth, death, or marriage certificates — only the issuing government agency may do so.

A notary discovers mid-notarization that the signer is not personally known and did not bring acceptable identification. What should the notary do?

Answer: Refuse to complete the notarization

If a notary cannot satisfactorily identify the signer through personal knowledge or acceptable ID, the notary must refuse to perform the notarial act.

When a North Carolina notary changes their county of residence, which action is required?

Answer: Notify the NC Secretary of State within 45 days

A notary must notify the NC Secretary of State of a change in county of residence within 45 days.

Under the NC Notary Public Act, a notary who willfully makes a false notarial certificate may face:

Answer: A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction

Willfully making a false notarial certificate is a Class 1 misdemeanor under North Carolina law.

Which element is NOT required to appear in a North Carolina notary's official seal?

Answer: The notary's commission expiration date

The official seal must include the notary's name, county, and 'North Carolina' but does not need to show the commission expiration date.

A notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in a foreign language. Under NC law, the notary should:

Answer: Notarize if the notarial certificate is in English

A notary may notarize a foreign-language document as long as the notarial certificate itself is completed in English.