NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Fees and Commission Changes Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to North Carolina General Statute § 10B-31, what is the maximum fee a notary public may charge for taking a traditional, paper-based acknowledgment with one principal signature?
- $5.00
- $10.00 (Correct answer)
- $15.00
- $25.00
Correct answer: $10.00
North Carolina law (G.S. § 10B-31) explicitly sets the maximum fee for traditional notarial acts such as acknowledgments, jurats, and verifications at ten dollars ($10.00) per notarized principal signature.
Question 2: A North Carolina notary agrees to travel to a client's office to notarize a document. Which of the following conditions MUST be met for the notary to charge a travel fee?
- The notary must charge a flat fee of $25 for all travel.
- The travel distance must exceed 10 miles from the notary's primary office.
- The travel fee must be agreed upon in writing by the principal before the travel occurs. (Correct answer)
- The travel fee cannot exceed the fee charged for the notarial act itself.
Correct answer: The travel fee must be agreed upon in writing by the principal before the travel occurs.
G.S. § 10B-31(5) allows a notary to charge for actual mileage at the federal business mileage rate, but only if the travel reimbursement is agreed to by the principal in writing prior to the travel.
Question 3: A notary public in North Carolina legally changes their name after getting married. According to G.S. § 10B-51, the notary must send a signed notice of the change to the Secretary of State within what timeframe?
- 10 days
- 30 days
- 45 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 45 days
North Carolina General Statute § 10B-51(a) requires a notary to send a signed notice of a legal name change to the Secretary of State within 45 days after the change occurs.
Question 4: A notary is called to a local business to notarize a contract signed by two partners (two principal signatures). The notary performs two separate acknowledgments on the document. The notary also travels to the location after securing a written agreement to charge a $20 travel fee. What is the total maximum amount the notary can charge for this service?
- $30.00
- $20.00
- $50.00
- $40.00 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: $40.00
The maximum fee for a traditional acknowledgment is $10 per principal signature. Since there are two signatures, the notarial fees total $20 ($10 x 2). This is added to the pre-agreed $20 travel fee, making the total charge $40.00.
Question 5: A notary moves their primary residence from Mecklenburg County to Union County but continues to work in Mecklenburg County. Which of the following actions is the notary required to take regarding their commission?
- Obtain a new seal with Union County on it immediately.
- Resign their commission and reapply as a resident of Union County.
- Notify the Secretary of State of the address change within 45 days. (Correct answer)
- Do nothing, as their place of employment has not changed.
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State of the address change within 45 days.
G.S. § 10B-50 requires a notary to notify the Secretary of State of any change in residence or business address within 45 days. The notary may continue to use their existing seal until the commission expires, even if they move to a new county within NC.
Question 6: Which of the following represents the maximum fee a North Carolina notary can charge for administering an oath or affirmation to a single individual, where no signature is notarized?
- $25.00
- $5.00
- $10.00 (Correct answer)
- No fee is permitted for this act.
Correct answer: $10.00
Per G.S. § 10B-31, the maximum fee for administering an oath or affirmation without a signature is ten dollars ($10.00) per person.
NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Fees and Commission Changes Questions and Answers 1
According to North Carolina General Statute § 10B-31, what is the maximum fee a notary public may charge for taking a traditional, paper-based acknowledgment with one principal signature?