North Carolina Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which scenario best describes 'notarizing outside the scope of authority' in North Carolina?

A notary who notarizes a document in a county different from where they were appointed
A notary who performs a jurat when an acknowledgment was requested (Correct answer)
A notary who performs a notarial act for a fee
A notary who notarizes a real estate deed

Correct 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.

Question 2: A person asks a North Carolina notary to certify a true copy of their birth certificate. How should the notary respond?

Direct the person to the Register of Deeds office where the notary can then certify the copy.
Refuse to certify the copy, as notaries are prohibited from doing so. (Correct answer)
Make a photocopy, stamp it, and sign as a true copy.
Advise the person to sign a statement attesting to the copy's truthfulness, then notarize that statement.

Correct answer: Refuse to certify the copy, as notaries are prohibited from doing so.

North Carolina notaries are explicitly prohibited from certifying copies of documents, especially vital records like birth certificates. The proper authority to issue certified copies of a birth certificate is the Register of Deeds or Vital Records office. A notary can, however, notarize a signer's signature on a statement where the signer attests that the copy is true, but they cannot certify the copy itself.

Question 3: A North Carolina notary applicant who fails the background check due to a qualifying criminal conviction may appeal the denial to which body?

The county superior court judge
The Governor's pardon board
The North Carolina Bar Association
The Office of Administrative Hearings (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Office of Administrative Hearings

An applicant whose commission is denied may appeal to the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case hearing.

Question 4: Which element is NOT required to appear in the notary's signature block on a North Carolina notarial certificate?

The notary's home county of residence (Correct answer)
The notary's official signature
The notary's printed or typed name
The notary's commission expiration date

Correct answer: The notary's home county of residence

NC requires the signature, printed name, and commission expiration date in the signature block, but the notary's residential county is not a required element.

Question 5: What does "department" refer to in the context of the North Carolina Notary Public Office?

The office where notary seals are issued
The division within the courthouse that handles legal documents
The local government office where notarial acts are registered
The agency responsible for regulating notaries in North Carolina (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The agency responsible for regulating notaries in North Carolina

In the context of the North Carolina Notary Public Office, "department" refers specifically to the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State. This department is the primary governmental body tasked with overseeing, regulating, and commissioning notaries public throughout the state. It ensures compliance with notary laws and standards, maintaining the integrity of notarial acts.

Question 6: What surety bond amount must a North Carolina notary obtain as a condition of commissioning under NCGS Chapter 10B?

$5,000
$10,000 (Correct answer)
$2,500
$25,000

Correct answer: $10,000

NCGS 10B-7 requires every notary applicant to obtain and file a $10,000 surety bond. The bond protects the public from financial harm caused by a notary's misconduct.

Question 7: A NC electronic notary must store their electronic signature and seal in a manner that is:

Hosted on the NC SOS server for centralized management
Under the notary's exclusive control and protected from unauthorized use (Correct answer)
Shared with their employer for business efficiency
Accessible to any client who requests verification

Correct answer: Under the notary's exclusive control and protected from unauthorized use

Under NCGS §10B-122, a NC electronic notary's electronic signature and seal must be kept under their exclusive control and protected by a password or other security measure to prevent unauthorized use.

Question 8: A NC notary commits notarial misconduct and their commission is revoked. The notary appeals the decision. Under NCGS Chapter 10B, appeals of the NC SOS's commission revocation decision are heard by:

The NC Supreme Court directly
The NC Superior Court through the Administrative Procedures Act (Correct answer)
The county register of deeds where the notary filed their bond
A special notary review board appointed by the Governor

Correct answer: The NC Superior Court through the Administrative Procedures Act

Under NCGS §10B-60, a notary whose commission is revoked may appeal the decision through the NC Office of Administrative Hearings and ultimately the NC Superior Court under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).

Question 9: A client presents a North Carolina notary with their original birth certificate and asks for a certified copy. What should the notary do?

Certify the copy only if the client signs an attestation that it will be used for personal purposes
Certify the copy, since the original birth certificate was presented in person
Certify the copy with a disclaimer that it is for unofficial use only
Decline, because NC notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of vital records (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Decline, because NC notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of vital records

NC notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of vital records, including birth certificates. The client must obtain a certified copy directly from the NC Vital Records office or the relevant state agency — only the official custodian can certify those records.

Question 10: A document requires a jurat, but the pre-printed notarial certificate contains the standard wording for an acknowledgment. Which action is appropriate for the North Carolina notary?

Refuse to notarize the document entirely.
Cross out the acknowledgment wording, write in the correct jurat wording, initial the change, and then proceed with the notarization. (Correct answer)
Advise the signer on the legal differences between the two acts.
Use the acknowledgment form since it is already on the document.

Correct answer: Cross out the acknowledgment wording, write in the correct jurat wording, initial the change, and then proceed with the notarization.

A notary cannot use an incorrect notarial certificate. If the wrong type is pre-printed, the notary's proper course of action is to correct it. The notary may line through the incorrect wording, write in the correct statutory wording for the required act (in this case, a jurat), and initial the change. Alternatively, the notary could cross out the entire incorrect certificate and attach a completed loose certificate with the correct jurat wording.

Question 11: Under NCGS 10B-36, which of the following information is required to appear on a North Carolina notary's official seal?

The notary's home address and telephone number
The notary's name and the words 'Notary Public' only
The notary's signature, a unique serial number, and the state seal
The notary's name, county of commission, 'North Carolina,' and commission expiration date (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary's name, county of commission, 'North Carolina,' and commission expiration date

The official seal must include the notary's name exactly as commissioned, the county where commissioned, the words 'North Carolina,' and the commission expiration date — all required elements under NCGS 10B-36.

Question 12: When a notary personally knows the signer, what additional identification is required under NC law?

Two utility bills confirming the signer's address
No additional ID — personal knowledge alone is satisfactory evidence (Correct answer)
A credible witness vouching for the signer
At least one government-issued photo ID

Correct answer: No additional ID — personal knowledge alone is satisfactory evidence

If the notary has personal knowledge of the signer's identity, that alone constitutes satisfactory evidence under NC notary statutes.

Question 13: A notary's surety bond in North Carolina primarily protects whom?

The employer of the notary
The Secretary of State's office
Members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct (Correct answer)
The notary from personal lawsuits

Correct answer: Members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct

The surety bond is designed to compensate members of the public who suffer financial harm due to the notary's negligent or improper acts.

Question 14: What must a North Carolina notary do if they change their legal name during their commission term?

Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a new commission in the new name (Correct answer)
Continue using the old name until the commission expires
File an affidavit of name change with the local courthouse
Notify only the county register of deeds

Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a new commission in the new name

A legal name change requires notifying the Secretary of State and obtaining an updated commission reflecting the new name.

Question 15: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, a signer claims to have personal knowledge that the notary knows them as well. However, the notary cannot recall the person despite their claim. The notary should:

Proceed since the signer bears the risk if they provided false information
Require documentary identification — the notary's own personal knowledge must be certain, not merely asserted by the signer (Correct answer)
Accept the signer's claim since they are asserting personal familiarity
Ask a coworker to vouch for the signer's claim of acquaintance

Correct answer: Require documentary identification — the notary's own personal knowledge must be certain, not merely asserted by the signer

Personal knowledge as a basis for identity verification must come from the notary's own certain knowledge — not from the signer's assertion that the notary should know them. If the notary cannot personally verify the identity, they must use documentary evidence or decline.

Question 16: An applicant is defined as:

An individual who seeks appointment or reappointment to the office of notary public (Correct answer)
A notary who has committed a violation
A person authorized to witness signatures
An individual who performs notarial acts

Correct answer: An individual who seeks appointment or reappointment to the office of notary public

In the context of the North Carolina Notary Public Exam, an "applicant" specifically refers to a person who is formally requesting to be appointed or reappointed as a notary public. This definition is crucial for understanding the initial steps and requirements for becoming a commissioned notary in the state. It distinguishes them from already commissioned notaries or those who simply interact with notarial services.

Question 17: A NC notary who is also a licensed attorney has their attorney's license suspended by the NC State Bar. Under NCGS Chapter 10B, the notary commission:

Must be voluntarily surrendered once the bar suspension takes effect
Is a separate credential and is not automatically affected by the bar suspension (Correct answer)
Is automatically suspended along with the attorney's license
Is reviewed by the NC SOS and will be revoked within 30 days

Correct answer: Is a separate credential and is not automatically affected by the bar suspension

A notary commission and an attorney's license are separate credentials issued by different authorities. A State Bar suspension does not automatically suspend or revoke a notary commission. The NC SOS may separately investigate and take action, but there is no automatic linkage.

Question 18: A signer presents a valid tribal ID card issued by a federally recognized Native American tribe with a photo and physical description. How should the NC notary treat this ID?

Request a state-issued ID instead, as tribal IDs are insufficient alone
Accept it only if combined with another document
Accept it as satisfactory evidence since it is a government-issued photo ID (Correct answer)
Reject it because tribal IDs are not recognized by NC

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

Federally recognized tribal IDs with a photo satisfy the government-issued photo ID requirement under NC notary law.

Question 19: A NC notary is asked to notarize a document and suspects it may be fraudulent but cannot be certain. The best course of action is to:

Decline to notarize and suggest the signer consult an attorney to address any concerns about the document (Correct answer)
Call the NC SOS before every notarization where fraud is suspected
Ask the signer if they are engaging in fraud and proceed if they deny it
Proceed with the notarization since suspicion alone is not enough to refuse

Correct answer: Decline to notarize and suggest the signer consult an attorney to address any concerns about the document

A notary who suspects fraud or illegality should decline the notarization and suggest the signer consult an attorney. The notary is not required to prove fraud — reasonable suspicion is sufficient grounds for refusal.

Question 20: A NC notary whose commission is about to expire wants to perform notarizations between submitting the renewal application and receiving the new commission. Under NC law, the notary may:

Only perform notarizations under the old commission until it actually expires (Correct answer)
Continue indefinitely under the old commission until told otherwise by the NC SOS
Continue performing notarizations during the processing period since the renewal is pending
Not perform any notarizations once the renewal application is submitted

Correct answer: Only perform notarizations under the old commission until it actually expires

A notary may continue performing notarizations under their existing commission until its stated expiration date, even while a renewal application is pending. Once the old commission expires, they must stop until the new commission is officially issued.

Question 21: Which of the following documents is an electronic notary expressly prohibited from notarizing remotely in North Carolina?

A real estate deed.
A power of attorney.
A self-proved will. (Correct answer)
A business contract.

Correct answer: A self-proved will.

North Carolina law specifically prohibits certain documents from being remotely notarized. Among the exceptions listed in the statutes are self-proved wills, codicils, and certain trusts. These documents have stricter execution requirements.

Question 22: When performing a jurat in North Carolina, what must the notary do in addition to identifying the signer?

Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer regarding the truthfulness of the document's contents. (Correct answer)
Make a certified copy of the signed document for the notary's records.
Ensure the signer has read and understood every clause in the document.
Advise the signer on the legal implications of the document.

Correct answer: Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer regarding the truthfulness of the document's contents.

A jurat is a notarial act where the signer swears or affirms that the contents of a document are true. Therefore, the notary must administer an oath or affirmation and witness the document being signed in their presence. The notary is certifying that the signer was sworn in before signing.

Question 23: What must a North Carolina notary do before executing a copy certification certificate?

Stamp the copy with the notary seal before comparing it to the original
Physically compare the copy to the original to confirm it is accurate and complete (Correct answer)
Obtain a county clerk's signature authenticating the original document first
Require the document owner to swear an oath that the original is genuine

Correct answer: Physically compare the copy to the original to confirm it is accurate and complete

The notary must personally compare the copy to the original document to verify the copy is accurate, complete, and faithful to the original. Only after that comparison can the notary execute the copy certification certificate.

Question 24: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, a North Carolina notary is expressly prohibited from:

Performing notarial acts outside their county of commissioning
Notarizing documents written in a foreign language
Charging a fee for routine acknowledgment acts
Notarizing their own signature on a document (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Notarizing their own signature on a document

NCGS 10B-34 prohibits a notary from notarizing a document in which the notary is a named party or signer. Notarizing one's own signature is a fundamental conflict of interest barred by statute.

Question 25: Which statement about a North Carolina notary's liability is CORRECT?

A notary may be held personally liable for damages caused by improper notarizations (Correct answer)
Notaries have absolute immunity from lawsuits
The state indemnifies notaries for all good-faith errors
Only the notary's employer can be sued for notarial errors

Correct answer: A notary may be held personally liable for damages caused by improper notarizations

A NC notary can be held personally liable for financial damages that result from negligent or improper notarial acts.

Question 26: Before accepting a subscribing witness's testimony in a North Carolina verification or proof, what must the notary do?

Confirm the subscribing witness holds a valid notary commission
File a preliminary notice with the register of deeds in the county where the document will be recorded
Obtain written authorization from the principal or the principal's estate
Identify the subscribing witness using the same approved identification methods used for any principal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Identify the subscribing witness using the same approved identification methods used for any principal

The notary must properly identify the subscribing witness who appears before them, applying the same identification standards required for any other person appearing before a notary. The notary cannot accept testimony without confirming who the witness is.

Question 27: A signer presents a North Carolina driver's license that expired 14 months ago. What should the NC notary do?

Refuse to notarize because expired IDs are not acceptable satisfactory evidence (Correct answer)
Accept it if the signer also provides a credit card
Accept it since the photo still matches the signer
Accept it only if the document is a real estate deed

Correct answer: Refuse to notarize because expired IDs are not acceptable satisfactory evidence

North Carolina law requires satisfactory evidence of identity through current, unexpired ID; an expired license does not meet this standard.

Question 28: A notary in North Carolina charges $15 for a single notarial act. What is the consequence?

The notarization is void due to the improper fee
The notary may be charged with overcharging, a disciplinary violation (Correct answer)
No consequence; fees are unregulated in NC
The notary must refund only the excess amount

Correct answer: The notary may be charged with overcharging, a disciplinary violation

North Carolina law caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act, and charging above this limit is a disciplinary violation subject to sanctions.

Question 29: Under NC law, what happens to a NC notary's official seal and journal when the commission expires?

They may be transferred to a successor notary at the same employer
They automatically become property of the NC Secretary of State
The notary should disable or destroy the seal to prevent unauthorized use (Correct answer)
They may be kept as professional mementos without restriction

Correct answer: The notary should disable or destroy the seal to prevent unauthorized use

When a NC notary's commission expires, the notary should disable or destroy the official seal to prevent its unauthorized use. Using a seal after commission expiration — or allowing others to use it — is improper.

Question 30: A notary's embossing seal produces a faint impression on a document. The notary stamps the same spot twice to darken it. What is the proper approach to this situation?

Double-stamping is acceptable as long as the seal information remains legible
The notary must void the document and have the signer execute a new one with a proper seal impression
The notary should note in the journal that the seal impression was faint
The notary should place a single ink stamp seal alongside the embossed seal to ensure legibility (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary should place a single ink stamp seal alongside the embossed seal to ensure legibility

When an embossed seal impression is faint, using an ink seal stamp on the same document alongside it is an acceptable practice to ensure the seal information is clearly legible.

Question 31: Under NC law, may a notary rely solely on a signer's business card as identification?

No — business cards are not government-issued and do not satisfy the ID requirement (Correct answer)
Yes — for low-value document notarizations under $1,000
Yes — if the business card includes a photo of the cardholder
Yes — if two other employees of the same company verify the signer's identity

Correct answer: No — business cards are not government-issued and do not satisfy the ID requirement

A business card is not a government-issued identification document and does not meet the requirements of NCGS §10B-3(22). Business cards can be printed by anyone and provide no verified identifying information.

Question 32: Who is the "director" in the context of the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section?

The division director for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section (Correct answer)
The attorney representing the Secretary of State
The head administrator of the local notary public office
The chief judge of the Notary Public Court

Correct answer: The division director for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section

The "director" in this specific context refers to the division director for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Notary Public Section. This individual holds the administrative responsibility for managing the operations, policies, and personnel related to notary public appointments and regulation in the state. They oversee the implementation of notary laws and procedures.

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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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

sosnc.gov — Exam format, time limit, test delivery, retake policy · verified Oct 2026
ncleg.gov — Eligibility, passing score, fees, renewal · verified Oct 2026