New York State Exam New York State Notary Public Exam 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a notary public certify when taking an acknowledgment?
- The truth of the document's content
- The identity of the signer and that they signed voluntarily (Correct answer)
- The legal validity of the contract
- The date the document was typed
Correct answer: The identity of the signer and that they signed voluntarily
An acknowledgment certifies that the notary confirmed the signer's identity and that the signer acknowledged executing the document freely.
Question 2: In New York, a jurat requires the signer to:
- Sign in front of the notary only
- Sign and swear or affirm the truth of the document's contents before the notary (Correct answer)
- Have two witnesses present
- Provide a government-issued ID only
Correct answer: Sign and swear or affirm the truth of the document's contents before the notary
A jurat requires the signer to both sign the document and take an oath or affirmation swearing to the truth of its contents in front of the notary.
Question 3: Which document grants a New York notary authority to act in another county besides their county of qualification?
- A reciprocity certificate
- A certificate of official character filed in the new county (Correct answer)
- A notary extension permit
- A secondary commission
Correct answer: A certificate of official character filed in the new county
A New York notary public who wishes to act in a county other than their county of qualification must file a certificate of official character in that county's clerk's office.
Question 4: Can a New York notary public certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate?
- Yes, for any document requested by a client
- No, certified copies of vital records must come from the issuing government agency (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the original is presented
- Yes, but only for the notary's own records
Correct answer: No, certified copies of vital records must come from the issuing government agency
New York notaries cannot certify copies of vital records; official certified copies must be obtained from the issuing government agency such as the Department of Health.
Question 5: Under New York law, what must a notary do if they change their name?
- Nothing — the commission remains valid
- Notify the Department of State and update their commission (Correct answer)
- Retake the notary exam under the new name
- Surrender the existing commission immediately
Correct answer: Notify the Department of State and update their commission
A New York notary must notify the Department of State of a name change to update their official records and commission.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'official misconduct' for a New York notary?
- Charging the maximum statutory fee
- Notarizing a document without the signer being present (Correct answer)
- Notarizing multiple documents in one day
- Using a rubber stamp for the notary seal
Correct answer: Notarizing a document without the signer being present
Notarizing a document without the signer being personally present is considered official misconduct in New York and can result in removal from office.
New York State Exam New York State Notary Public Exam 2
What does a notary public certify when taking an acknowledgment?