NC Notary Notary Public Laws and Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NC law, what is the maximum term length for a notary public commission?
- 2 years
- 4 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
A North Carolina notary public commission lasts 5 years from the date of commissioning.
Question 2: Which of the following notarial acts is a notary public in North Carolina NOT authorized to perform?
- Taking an acknowledgment
- Administering an oath
- Certifying a copy of a vital record (Correct answer)
- Witnessing a signature
Correct answer: Certifying a copy of a vital record
Notaries cannot certify copies of vital records such as birth, death, or marriage certificates — only the issuing government agency may do so.
Question 3: A notary discovers mid-notarization that the signer is not personally known and did not bring acceptable identification. What should the notary do?
- Complete the notarization using a credible witness
- Refuse to complete the notarization (Correct answer)
- Accept the signer's verbal assurance of identity
- Proceed if the document appears legitimate
Correct answer: Refuse to complete the notarization
If a notary cannot satisfactorily identify the signer through personal knowledge or acceptable ID, the notary must refuse to perform the notarial act.
Question 4: When a North Carolina notary changes their county of residence, which action is required?
- Apply for a new commission immediately
- Notify the NC Secretary of State within 45 days (Correct answer)
- Surrender the current commission seal
- No action is required mid-commission
Correct answer: Notify the NC Secretary of State within 45 days
A notary must notify the NC Secretary of State of a change in county of residence within 45 days.
Question 5: Under the NC Notary Public Act, a notary who willfully makes a false notarial certificate may face:
- A civil fine only
- Revocation of commission only
- Criminal felony charges
- A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction
Willfully making a false notarial certificate is a Class 1 misdemeanor under North Carolina law.
Question 6: Which element is NOT required to appear in a North Carolina notary's official seal?
- The notary's name
- The county of commissioning
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The words 'North Carolina'
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
The official seal must include the notary's name, county, and 'North Carolina' but does not need to show the commission expiration date.
Question 7: A notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in a foreign language. Under NC law, the notary should:
- Refuse because the document must be in English
- Translate the document before notarizing
- Notarize if the notarial certificate is in English (Correct answer)
- Only notarize if the notary understands the language
Correct answer: Notarize if the notarial certificate is in English
A notary may notarize a foreign-language document as long as the notarial certificate itself is completed in English.
NC Notary Notary Public Laws and Regulations 3
Under NC law, what is the maximum term length for a notary public commission?