NNA Notary Public Requirements 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main purpose of keeping a notary journal, even where it is not required?
- To create a record of notarial acts that can serve as evidence and deter fraud (Correct answer)
- To track the notary's income for taxes only
- To record signers' personal opinions
- To advertise services
Correct answer: To create a record of notarial acts that can serve as evidence and deter fraud
A journal documents each notarization and protects both the public and the notary if questions come up later.
Question 2: When a signer must personally appear before a notary, what does this mean for a traditional (non-remote) notarization?
- A phone call is enough
- The signer must be physically present with the notary at the time of notarization (Correct answer)
- A relative may appear on the signer's behalf
- The signer may send the document by mail
Correct answer: The signer must be physically present with the notary at the time of notarization
Traditional notarization requires the signer to be physically present before the notary.
Question 3: What must a notary generally complete before performing remote online notarizations (RON) in states that allow them?
- Get a federal RON license
- Nothing beyond the traditional commission
- Move to a state without RON laws
- Register or get authorization for RON with the state and use an approved technology platform (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Register or get authorization for RON with the state and use an approved technology platform
States that authorize RON usually require separate registration or authorization, training in some states, and compliant technology.
Question 4: In most states, which notarial act requires the signer to swear or affirm that the document's contents are true?
- Copy certification
- Acknowledgment
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Signature witnessing
Correct answer: Jurat
A jurat requires the signer to sign in front of the notary and take an oath or affirmation about the truth of the contents.
Question 5: What does a signer declare in an acknowledgment?
- That the document was recorded
- That they signed the document voluntarily and are who they claim to be (Correct answer)
- That the notary drafted the document
- That the document's contents are true
Correct answer: That they signed the document voluntarily and are who they claim to be
An acknowledgment confirms the signer's identity and that they signed willingly, not that the contents are true.
Question 6: Which is generally the best form of satisfactory evidence of identity?
- A signer's business card
- A current government-issued photo ID with a signature and physical description (Correct answer)
- A credit card without a photo
- A utility bill
Correct answer: A current government-issued photo ID with a signature and physical description
States generally accept current government-issued photo IDs, such as a driver's license or passport, as satisfactory evidence.
Question 7: When a signer has no acceptable ID, many states allow identification through which method?
- The notary's gut feeling
- One or more credible identifying witnesses under oath (Correct answer)
- A signed statement from the signer
- A photo on the signer's phone
Correct answer: One or more credible identifying witnesses under oath
Credible witnesses who know the signer, and who are known to or identified by the notary, can vouch for identity under oath.
NNA Notary Public Requirements 5
What is the main purpose of keeping a notary journal, even where it is not required?