Prohibited Acts and Misconduct Flashcards
7 cards from real NC NOTARY practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Prohibited Acts and Misconduct flashcards as text
A notary in North Carolina is asked to notarize a document written entirely in a language the notary cannot read. What is the correct action?
Answer: Refuse to notarize because the notary cannot verify the document's content
A notary should not notarize a document they cannot read because they cannot ensure the signer understands what they are signing or that the notarial act is appropriate.
Which of the following actions constitutes misconduct for a North Carolina notary?
Answer: Notarizing a document for a person who is not physically present
Notarizing a document for someone not physically present is a serious violation because the notary cannot verify the signer's identity or willingness.
A North Carolina notary is offered a large tip to expedite a notarization. What must the notary do?
Answer: Decline any payment beyond the statutory maximum fee
North Carolina notaries may not charge or accept fees beyond the statutory maximum, which includes tips or gratuities intended as compensation for notarial acts.
A notary realizes after completing a notarization that the signer's ID had expired by two months. What is the primary concern?
Answer: The notary may have failed to properly verify the signer's identity
Acceptable identification for North Carolina notarizations must be current; using an expired ID may mean the notary failed to meet the identity verification requirement.
Under North Carolina law, a notary who willfully makes a false entry in a notarial record may be subject to:
Answer: Criminal charges in addition to commission revocation
Willfully making a false entry in notarial records is a criminal act in North Carolina and can also result in revocation of the notary's commission.
A notary is asked to notarize a document that will clearly be used to commit fraud. The notary knows this. What must the notary do?
Answer: Refuse to notarize the document
A notary must refuse to notarize any document they know or reasonably believe will be used to commit fraud or cause harm.
Which scenario best describes 'notarizing outside the scope of authority' in North Carolina?
Answer: A notary who performs a jurat when an acknowledgment was requested
Performing the wrong type of notarial act — such as a jurat instead of an acknowledgment — can constitute acting outside proper authority because the legal effect differs.