NC Notary Commission Application and Renewal Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the required education for NC notaries seeking to RENEW their commission (as opposed to first-time applicants)?
- No education is required for renewal
- A 3-hour refresher course approved by the Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- Retaking the full 6-hour course
- 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 2: What is the application fee required when applying for or renewing an NC notary commission?
- $25
- $100
- $75
- $50 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: $50
The fee for applying for or renewing a North Carolina notary commission is $50, payable to the Secretary of State.
Question 3: An NC notary legally changes their name after marriage. What is the correct procedure?
- Continue using the old commission name until it expires
- Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a new commission reflecting the new name (Correct answer)
- File an amendment with the county register of deeds only
- Stop performing notarial acts until the commission expires and then reapply
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a new commission reflecting the new name
Upon a legal name change, an NC notary must notify the Secretary of State and obtain a new commission issued in their new legal name.
Question 4: After receiving their commission certificate, where must an NC notary register and take their oath of office?
- The NC Secretary of State's main office in Raleigh
- Any county courthouse in the state
- The superior court of the county where they reside or work (Correct answer)
- The county tax assessor's office
Correct answer: The superior court of the county where they reside or work
An NC notary must appear before the clerk of superior court in their county of residence or principal place of work to take the oath of office.
Question 5: Can a person who is NOT a North Carolina resident obtain an NC notary commission?
- No, only NC residents may be commissioned as NC notaries
- Yes, if they have a regular place of work or business in North Carolina (Correct answer)
- Yes, if they are a resident of a bordering state
- Yes, any US citizen may apply regardless of residence or workplace
Correct answer: Yes, if they have a regular place of work or business in North Carolina
NC law permits non-residents to obtain an NC notary commission if they have a regular place of work or business in North Carolina.
Question 6: What is the consequence of performing a notarial act after an NC notary commission has expired?
- The act is valid but the notary receives a written warning
- The notarization is still legally effective if the seal is still legible
- The act is unauthorized and the notary may face civil or criminal liability (Correct answer)
- The notary must simply pay a $25 late renewal fee to validate past acts
Correct answer: The act is unauthorized and the notary may face civil or criminal liability
Performing notarial acts after a commission has expired is unauthorized and can expose the notary to civil liability and potential criminal charges.
Question 7: Within how many days must an NC notary notify the Secretary of State of a change of address?
- 10 days
- 60 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
NC notaries are required to notify the Secretary of State of any address change within 30 days of the change.
NC Notary Commission Application and Renewal Procedures 5
What is the required education for NC notaries seeking to RENEW their commission (as opposed to first-time applicants)?