NM Notary Notary Commission Requirements 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under New Mexico's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), what is the minimum age to apply for a notary public commission?
- 19 years old
- 21 years old
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 18 years old
New Mexico requires notary applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
Question 2: Which state official is responsible for commissioning notaries public in New Mexico?
- The county clerk
- The Governor
- The Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- The Attorney General
Correct answer: The Secretary of State
The New Mexico Secretary of State receives applications and issues notary commissions.
Question 3: A person who lives in Texas but is regularly employed at a business in Las Cruces, New Mexico wants a NM notary commission. Is this allowed?
- No, only New Mexico residents may be commissioned
- No, unless the applicant owns property in New Mexico
- Yes, but only with a waiver from the Governor
- Yes, having a place of employment or practice in New Mexico qualifies (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Yes, having a place of employment or practice in New Mexico qualifies
RULONA allows commissioning of applicants who are residents of New Mexico or have a place of employment or practice in the state.
Question 4: What is the term length of a New Mexico notary public commission?
- Two years
- Six years
- Four years (Correct answer)
- Ten years
Correct answer: Four years
A New Mexico notary commission is valid for four years from its effective date.
Question 5: What language ability must an applicant for a New Mexico notary commission demonstrate?
- Fluency in both English and Spanish
- The ability to speak English only
- No language requirement exists
- The ability to read and write English (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The ability to read and write English
New Mexico law requires notary applicants to be able to read and write English.
Question 6: What surety bond amount must a New Mexico notary public applicant obtain?
- $5,000
- $1,000
- $25,000
- $10,000 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: $10,000
New Mexico requires notaries to file an assurance in the form of a $10,000 surety bond or its equivalent.
Question 7: Who does a New Mexico notary's surety bond primarily protect?
- The Secretary of State's operating budget
- The notary against personal lawsuits
- Members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct (Correct answer)
- The notary's employer against theft
Correct answer: Members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct
The bond compensates persons who suffer damages from the notary's official misconduct, not the notary personally.
NM Notary Notary Commission Requirements 2
Under New Mexico's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), what is the minimum age to apply for a notary public commission?