Notary Public Best Practices & Methodologies 4

Question 1

A signer presents a military ID as identification. What should the notary consider?

Accepted Answer

Check state law — many states accept current military IDs as satisfactory identification

Answer

Many states list current U.S. military IDs among acceptable forms of identification for notarization purposes.

Question 2

What is the best practice when a document has blank spaces that could be filled in after notarization?

Accepted Answer

Draw lines through blanks or note their presence in the journal before notarizing

Answer

Blanks left in a document after notarization could be filled with unauthorized content; best practice is to address them before completing the act.

Question 3

A notary is asked to perform a notarization via two-way video for a signer in another state. What must be verified first?

Accepted Answer

Whether both states authorize remote online notarization (RON) and that the notary is commissioned accordingly

Answer

RON authority is state-specific; the notary must confirm both their own state's authorization and any applicable rules of the signer's state.

Question 4

How should a notary handle a situation where the same person appears at multiple signings with slightly different signatures?

Accepted Answer

Verify identity carefully each time; note any significant discrepancies in the journal

Answer

While some variation is normal, significant discrepancies warrant careful identity re-verification and journal documentation to protect the notary.

Question 5

When is it appropriate for a notary to charge a travel fee in addition to the standard notarization fee?

Accepted Answer

When state law permits and the fee is disclosed to the signer before the appointment

Answer

Travel fees are permissible in many states as a separate charge distinct from the notarization fee, provided they are disclosed upfront.

Notary Public Practice Test