NC Notary Responsibilities and Eligibility 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A notary public moves to a new address within North Carolina. What must they do?
- Nothing; the commission remains valid at the old address
- Notify the NC Secretary of State within 45 days of the address change (Correct answer)
- Apply for a brand new commission immediately
- Notify only their county register of deeds
Correct answer: Notify the NC Secretary of State within 45 days of the address change
NC notaries must notify the Secretary of State of any address change within 45 days to keep their commission current.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly describes a 'disqualifying' condition for a notary commission in North Carolina?
- Working as a real estate agent
- Having a misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude (Correct answer)
- Being employed by a bank
- Holding dual citizenship
Correct answer: Having a misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude
A conviction involving moral turpitude, even if a misdemeanor, can disqualify an applicant from receiving a NC notary commission.
Question 3: When a North Carolina notary ceases to be a resident of the state, what happens to their commission?
- The commission remains valid for the rest of its term
- The commission is automatically revoked (Correct answer)
- The notary may transfer the commission to their new state
- The notary must reapply within 90 days
Correct answer: The commission is automatically revoked
NC residency is a continuing requirement; losing residency automatically terminates the notary commission.
Question 4: A notary is asked by their employer to back-date a notarial certificate to yesterday's date. What should the notary do?
- Comply if the employer provides written authorization
- Refuse, as back-dating is an improper notarial act (Correct answer)
- Comply only if the signer consents
- Comply if no financial transaction is involved
Correct answer: Refuse, as back-dating is an improper notarial act
Back-dating a notarial certificate is fraudulent and prohibited regardless of who requests it.
Question 5: What notarial act involves a signer declaring under oath that the contents of a document are true?
- Acknowledgment
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Copy certification
- Verification on oath
Correct answer: Jurat
A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm under oath that the document's contents are true, witnessed by the notary.
Question 6: Which entity has the authority to revoke a North Carolina notary's commission?
- The county register of deeds where the notary is registered
- The NC Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- The local sheriff's department
- The NC Bar Association
Correct answer: The NC Secretary of State
The NC Secretary of State has the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a notary commission for cause.
Question 7: A notary's seal is lost or stolen. What is the notary's FIRST required action?
- Order a new seal immediately and continue working
- Notify the Secretary of State and cease using any seal until a new one is obtained (Correct answer)
- File a police report and notify their employer
- Wait 30 days before taking any action
Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and cease using any seal until a new one is obtained
A notary whose seal is lost or stolen must notify the Secretary of State promptly and stop performing notarial acts until a replacement seal is secured.
NC Notary Responsibilities and Eligibility 3
A notary public moves to a new address within North Carolina.
What must they do?