NNA Performing Common Notarial Acts Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A signer brings a document that includes a jurat certificate. Which of the following is a mandatory action the Notary must take when performing this notarial act?
- Verify the signer has read and understood the entire document.
- Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer. (Correct answer)
- Ensure the document was signed prior to the appointment.
- Make a certified copy of the document for the signer's records.
Correct answer: Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer.
A jurat is a notarial act where the signer must swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true. A core component of this act is the Notary administering an oath or affirmation to the signer. The document must also be signed in the Notary's presence.
Question 2: A document is presented for notarization, but it contains several blank spaces where information should be. According to NNA recommended best practices, what should the Notary do?
- Proceed with the notarization as long as the signature line is complete.
- Advise the signer on what information to fill into the blanks.
- Refuse to notarize until all blank spaces are filled in or lined through by the signer. (Correct answer)
- Fill in the blanks with "N/A" and then complete the notarization.
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize until all blank spaces are filled in or lined through by the signer.
Notarizing a document with blank spaces is a significant risk, as it could allow for fraudulent information to be added after the notarization. The NNA's recommended standard of practice is to refuse notarization until the signer completes the document or draws a line through the empty spaces.
Question 3: Which of the following is a primary purpose of the 'venue' element on a notarial certificate?
- To specify the address where the signer lives.
- To state the location where the document will be filed.
- To record the date and time the notarization occurred.
- To establish the state and county where the notarial act took place. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To establish the state and county where the notarial act took place.
The venue section of a notarial certificate, typically formatted as 'State of ____, County of ____,' establishes the geographic location where the Notary performed the notarial act. This is crucial as it confirms the Notary was acting within their jurisdictional authority.
Question 4: A person asks you to perform a copy certification of their U.S. Passport. Many states prohibit Notaries from performing this act. What is the primary reason for this prohibition?
- Making copies of federal documents is illegal.
- Only the agency that issued the document is authorized to certify its copies. (Correct answer)
- The fees for certifying government documents are set by federal law.
- Notaries are not equipped with the technology to verify the authenticity of a passport.
Correct answer: Only the agency that issued the document is authorized to certify its copies.
Many states prohibit Notaries from certifying copies of vital records like birth certificates or public records like U.S. Passports. The authority to certify copies of these documents rests with the original issuing agency (e.g., the U.S. Department of State for a passport).
Question 5: During an acknowledgment, what is the most critical determination a Notary must make regarding the signer, beyond verifying their identity?
- That the signer agrees with all the terms in the document.
- That the signer is signing willingly and of their own free will. (Correct answer)
- That the signer has obtained legal advice regarding the document.
- That the signer is a citizen of the United States.
Correct answer: That the signer is signing willingly and of their own free will.
For an acknowledgment, the Notary's key duties are to properly identify the signer and to ensure the signer is acknowledging that they signed the document voluntarily for the purposes stated within it. The Notary must be alert for any signs of coercion or unwillingness.
Question 6: A Notary is asked to notarize a signature on a document where the Notary is also named as a party and stands to receive a direct financial benefit upon the document's execution. This situation represents a:
- Common and acceptable practice in real estate transactions.
- Permissible act if the Notary's fee is waived.
- Disqualifying interest that compromises the Notary's impartiality. (Correct answer)
- Requirement to use a special 'Affidavit of Interest' certificate.
Correct answer: Disqualifying interest that compromises the Notary's impartiality.
A Notary cannot be an impartial witness if they are a party to the transaction or have a direct beneficial interest in it. This is considered a disqualifying interest because it compromises the Notary's required impartiality and could lead to the notarization being legally challenged and invalidated.
NNA Performing Common Notarial Acts Questions and Answers
A signer brings a document that includes a jurat certificate.
Which of the following is a mandatory action the Notary must take when performing this notarial act?