NNA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NNA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A notary charges $25 for an acknowledgment when the state's maximum fee is $10. This is: → An overcharge that can lead to discipline
2. Which document allows the lender to request the borrower's tax transcripts from the IRS? → Form 4506-C
3. Why should a notary never let a signer take the journal out of the notary's sight? → The signer could alter entries or view other signers' private information
4. After identifying a signer by driver's license, what ID details should the notary record in the journal? → ID type, issuing agency, serial number, and issue/expiration dates
5. What is the maximum fee that a Notary Public can charge for their services? → Up to $15 per signature.
6. Under the widely used RON standard, how does a signer typically pass knowledge-based authentication? → Answer at least 4 of 5 questions correctly within 2 minutes
7. Which of the following is NOT typically required on a notary's official seal? → The notary's residential street address
8. A caller says the signer is too busy to come in but will send their ID by email. What should the notary do? → Refuse, because the signer must appear and present the original ID
9. A document presented for acknowledgment has no notarial certificate attached. What may the Notary do? → Ask the signer which notarial act they want and attach the appropriate certificate
10. A loose-leaf certificate is attached to a multi-page document. What best helps prevent its fraudulent reuse? → Noting the document title, date, and page count on the certificate
11. A borrower wants to sign using an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. What must the signing agent confirm first? → That the lender/title company has approved the POA use and provided signing instructions
12. Which entry best describes a document in the journal? → "Grant Deed dated 03/14/2026"
13. A notary makes an error in a completed journal entry. What is the best practice? → Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial and date it
14. What is the main purpose of reviewing explanations for questions you answered correctly on practice tests? → To confirm your reasoning was sound and not a lucky guess
15. An NSA arrives and finds the borrower appears confused and unable to understand what they are signing. What is the correct action? → Stop the notarization and contact the hiring company
16. Which type of notarial act can typically be performed via RON? → Acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, and affirmations (as authorized by the notary's state)
17. Which of the following is generally a notarial act a notary may NOT perform? → Certifying a copy of a birth certificate
18. What is the primary purpose of a Compliance Agreement (Errors and Omissions/Compliance) in a loan package? → To have the borrower agree to cooperate in correcting clerical errors in loan documents
19. Which act would be appropriate when a document requires the signer to attest under penalty of perjury that its contents are true? → Jurat
20. Which of the following should a Notary do if a signer refuses to swear or affirm the document's contents? → Decline to notarize the document.
21. A notary's own sister asks for a notarization and the notary knows her well. Which concern is most important? → Potential conflict of interest or disqualifying interest, even though identity is known
22. Which is an example of the notary engaging in the unauthorized practice of law? → Advising a signer which type of notarial certificate the document needs
23. When comparing a signer to their ID, what should the notary check besides the photo? → Physical description, signature, and any signs of tampering
24. A notary is asked to notarize a deed in which she is named as a grantee. What is the correct response? → Decline because she has a financial or beneficial interest in the transaction
25. In most states, which reason is a valid ground for a notary to refuse a notarization? → The notary believes the signer lacks awareness of what they are signing
26. Where permitted, what does a Notary certify in a copy certification? → That the copy is a true, complete reproduction of the original presented
27. Which of the following is a primary purpose of the 'venue' element on a notarial certificate? → To establish the state and county where the notarial act took place.
28. While reviewing journal requirements, which entry detail is commonly tested as a best practice? → The date, type of notarial act, and how the signer was identified
29. When a notary is unsure whether a requested act is allowed under state law, the ethical choice is to: → Ask the commissioning authority or decline until the question is resolved
30. Which form number identifies the Uniform Residential Loan Application? → Form 1003