NC Notary Official Seal and Journal 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A North Carolina notary's official seal is damaged mid-year. What must the notary do?
- Continue using the damaged seal until renewal
- Stop notarizing immediately and obtain a replacement seal (Correct answer)
- Use a rubber stamp substitute until the seal is replaced
- Notify the Register of Deeds and continue notarizing without a seal
Correct answer: Stop notarizing immediately and obtain a replacement seal
A notary must cease performing notarial acts when their official seal is damaged or unusable until a replacement is obtained.
Question 2: Under North Carolina law, which statement about electronic notary seals is correct?
- Electronic seals are identical in design to physical embossing seals
- An electronic seal must be attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate (Correct answer)
- Electronic seals do not need to display the notary's name
- Any digital image of the physical seal qualifies as an electronic seal
Correct answer: An electronic seal must be attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate
An electronic notary seal must be attached to or logically associated with the electronic notarial certificate as required by NC law.
Question 3: A notary's journal entry for a copy certification should include which of the following?
- The full text of the document being copied
- A description of the document certified and the date of notarization (Correct answer)
- The names of all witnesses present during copying
- The notary's commission number only
Correct answer: A description of the document certified and the date of notarization
Journal entries for copy certifications must include a description of the document and the date the notarial act was performed.
Question 4: When a notary retires or their commission expires and is not renewed, what should happen to their notary journal?
- It should be destroyed to protect signer privacy
- It should be kept by the notary for at least 10 years or transferred to a safe depository (Correct answer)
- It must be surrendered to the county Register of Deeds immediately
- It becomes the property of the notary's employer
Correct answer: It should be kept by the notary for at least 10 years or transferred to a safe depository
Upon expiration or retirement, a North Carolina notary should retain their journal for at least 10 years or transfer it to a secure depository.
Question 5: Which of the following elements is NOT typically required on a North Carolina notary seal?
- The words 'North Carolina'
- The notary's commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's name as it appears on their commission
- The county of the notary's residence or place of employment
Correct answer: The notary's commission expiration date
NC notary seals must include the notary's name, the state, and the county, but do not require the commission expiration date on the seal itself.
Question 6: A signer requests a copy of their journal entry after a notarization. What is the notary's obligation?
- The notary must provide a copy free of charge
- The notary may provide a copy but may charge a reasonable fee (Correct answer)
- The notary must refuse to protect other signers' privacy
- The notary must obtain approval from the Secretary of State before providing copies
Correct answer: The notary may provide a copy but may charge a reasonable fee
A notary may provide a copy of a journal entry to a requesting signer and may charge a reasonable fee for doing so.
Question 7: What action must a North Carolina notary take when their seal is lost or stolen?
- File a police report only
- Notify the NC Secretary of State and stop performing notarial acts until a replacement is obtained (Correct answer)
- Continue notarizing using a hand-printed seal impression
- Wait 30 days before reporting in case the seal is found
Correct answer: Notify the NC Secretary of State and stop performing notarial acts until a replacement is obtained
A notary whose seal is lost or stolen must notify the NC Secretary of State and must not perform notarial acts until a replacement seal is obtained.
NC Notary Official Seal and Journal 4
A North Carolina notary's official seal is damaged mid-year.
What must the notary do?