NC Notary Official Seal and Journal 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A notary performs a notarization for a family member. How should this be recorded in the journal?
- It should be omitted since family members are exempt from journal requirements
- It should be recorded exactly as any other notarization, with all required information (Correct answer)
- It should be marked 'personal' and stored separately from the regular journal
- Only the date and type of act need to be recorded for family members
Correct answer: It should be recorded exactly as any other notarization, with all required information
All notarizations, including those for family members, must be recorded in the journal with the same complete information as any other notarial act.
Question 2: What ink color is recommended for North Carolina notary seal stamps to ensure legibility on photocopies?
- Red ink only
- Black or dark blue ink (Correct answer)
- Green ink for security purposes
- Any color is acceptable as long as the seal is legible
Correct answer: Black or dark blue ink
Black or dark blue ink is recommended for notary stamps because these colors reproduce clearly on photocopies and in document scans.
Question 3: A notary's employer asks to keep the notary's journal at the office. Who legally controls the notary's journal?
- The employer, since notarizations were performed on company time
- The notary personally, regardless of where notarizations occurred (Correct answer)
- The county Register of Deeds
- Both the employer and notary share equal custody rights
Correct answer: The notary personally, regardless of where notarizations occurred
The journal belongs to the notary personally, not the employer, even if the notarizations were performed during work hours.
Question 4: If a line in a notary journal entry contains an error, how should the notary correct it?
- Use correction fluid (white-out) to cover the error neatly
- Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and write the correct information (Correct answer)
- Tear out the page and rewrite the entry on a new page
- Leave it blank and start a new entry for the corrected information
Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and write the correct information
Errors in journal entries should be corrected by drawing a single line through the mistake, initialing the correction, and writing the accurate information.
Question 5: How many notarizations can legally appear on a single page of a notary's journal?
- Only one notarization per page to prevent confusion
- As many as fit, as long as each entry includes all required information (Correct answer)
- A maximum of five per page as set by NC statute
- Only one per day regardless of page space
Correct answer: As many as fit, as long as each entry includes all required information
NC law does not limit the number of entries per page; a notary may record multiple notarizations on one page as long as each entry is complete.
Question 6: A notary seal impression on a document appears faint and some characters are illegible. What should the notary do?
- Send the document as-is since a partial impression is legally sufficient
- Re-stamp the document with a clear, legible impression (Correct answer)
- Write in the missing characters by hand next to the faint impression
- Apply a sticker with the missing information over the faint area
Correct answer: Re-stamp the document with a clear, legible impression
A notary seal must be clear and legible; if the impression is faint or illegible, the notary should re-apply the seal to produce a clear impression.
Question 7: Under NC law, can a notary use the same seal after moving from one county to another within North Carolina?
- Yes, the existing seal remains valid for the remainder of the commission term
- No, the notary must immediately obtain a new seal reflecting the new county (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only for 90 days after the move
- No, the notary must reapply for a new commission before notarizing
Correct answer: No, the notary must immediately obtain a new seal reflecting the new county
When a notary moves to a different county in NC, they must obtain a new seal that reflects the new county of residence or employment.
NC Notary Official Seal and Journal 5
A notary performs a notarization for a family member.
How should this be recorded in the journal?