NC Notary Notarial Certificates 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In North Carolina, what must a notarial certificate include to identify the state and county where the notarization occurred?
- The notary's commission number only
- A venue statement listing the state and county (Correct answer)
- The signer's home address
- The document's recording reference number
Correct answer: A venue statement listing the state and county
NC law requires every notarial certificate to begin with a venue statement — 'State of North Carolina, County of ___' — identifying where the act was performed.
Question 2: A signer asks a North Carolina notary to complete a certificate that uses wording from another state's law. What should the notary do?
- Refuse to notarize under any circumstances
- Complete it only if the certificate type is authorized under NC law and the wording substantially conforms (Correct answer)
- Sign and seal without reviewing the wording
- Contact the Secretary of State before proceeding
Correct answer: Complete it only if the certificate type is authorized under NC law and the wording substantially conforms
NC notaries may use certificate forms from other states provided the notarial act itself is authorized in NC and the out-of-state wording does not conflict with NC law.
Question 3: Which element is NOT required to appear in the notary's signature block on a North Carolina notarial certificate?
- The notary's printed or typed name
- The notary's commission expiration date
- The notary's home county of residence (Correct answer)
- The notary's official signature
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 4: When a North Carolina notary corrects a clerical error in a notarial certificate after signing it, what is the proper procedure?
- Obliterate the error with correction fluid and initial the change
- Issue an entirely new certificate, attach it, and re-sign
- Cross out the error, write the correction, initial and date the change (Correct answer)
- Submit the document to the Secretary of State for amendment
Correct answer: Cross out the error, write the correction, initial and date the change
Minor clerical corrections to a certificate should be made by crossing out the error, writing the correct information, and initialing and dating the change — no correction fluid.
Question 5: A North Carolina notary is asked to perform a jurat for a document dated two weeks ago. Which statement about the certificate date is correct?
- The certificate should be dated the same as the document
- The certificate must be dated the actual date the notarial act is performed (Correct answer)
- The certificate date is optional and may be left blank
- The notary may backdate the certificate to match the document at the signer's request
Correct answer: The certificate must be dated the actual date the notarial act is performed
The notarial certificate must reflect the true date the notarial act takes place, regardless of when the underlying document was prepared or signed.
Question 6: Under NC Notary Public Act, how must the notary's name appear in the certificate signature block if the notary uses initials rather than a full first name on the signature line?
- Initials alone are sufficient
- The full legal name as commissioned must appear printed beneath the signature (Correct answer)
- The name must match the printed name on the notary seal exactly
- Any recognizable variation of the name is acceptable
Correct answer: The full legal name as commissioned must appear printed beneath the signature
NC law requires the notary to print, type, or stamp their full name as it appears on their commission beneath or adjacent to their signature.
Question 7: A North Carolina acknowledgment certificate states the signer 'acknowledged that he signed the foregoing instrument.' Why is this wording significant?
- It certifies the document's content is truthful
- It confirms the signer voluntarily executed the document for the stated purpose without requiring an oath (Correct answer)
- It proves the signer was under oath at the time of signing
- It validates the notary's authority to witness the signature
Correct answer: It confirms the signer voluntarily executed the document for the stated purpose without requiring an oath
Acknowledgment language certifies the signer voluntarily appeared and acknowledged their signature — it does not verify the document's truth or require an oath.
NC Notary Notarial Certificates 4
In North Carolina, what must a notarial certificate include to identify the state and county where the notarization occurred?