OR NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What shape is required for an Oregon notary's official seal? → Rectangular or circular
2. Which of the following is a prohibited act for an Oregon notary? → Notarizing a document in which the notary has a financial interest
3. Is an Oregon notary required to keep a journal of notarial acts? → Yes, notaries are encouraged or required to maintain a journal depending on act type
4. What is the Oregon Secretary of State’s fee for processing a notary public application? → $40
5. What must an Oregon notary do if they discover they made an error in a notarial certificate after the document has been recorded? → Prepare a corrected certificate and attach it to the original document as permitted
6. If an Oregon notary waives their fee for a nonprofit organization, which of the following is true? → The waiver is lawful because Oregon notaries are not required to charge fees
7. If an Oregon notary changes their name due to marriage, what must they do? → Notify the Secretary of State in writing within 30 days
8. A notary in Oregon is approached by a family member to notarize a will naming the notary as a beneficiary. What should the notary do? → Decline and suggest using a different notary
9. Which of the following is required to become a notary public in Oregon? → A completed notary public application
10. What is the Oregon notary's responsibility when a signer presents an expired government-issued ID? → Decline the ID and request a current, valid form of identification
11. What must an Oregon notary include on their notarial certificate related to their commission? → Their commission expiration date
12. Can a notary be held personally liable for errors made during notarization in Oregon? → Yes, notaries can face civil liability for damages caused by negligent notarization
13. Which statement best describes 'satisfactory evidence of identity' under Oregon notary law? → Identification from a government-issued photo ID or credible witness
14. How long is an Oregon notary public commission valid? → 4 years
15. Which documents may generally NOT be notarized through Oregon's Remote Online Notarization process? → Wills (in most circumstances) and certain estate planning documents
16. Under Oregon law, what is the term for the prohibited practice of a notary claiming to have legal expertise they do not possess? → Unauthorized practice of law
17. What should an Oregon notary do with their journal when their commission expires and they do not renew? → Retain the journal for 10 years from the date of the last entry
18. An Oregon acknowledgment certificate for an individual signer typically begins with which phrase? → 'State of Oregon, County of ___'
19. If a document is in a language the Oregon notary cannot read, may the notary still notarize it? → Yes, if the notary can communicate with the signer and complete the certificate in English
20. For an Oregon acknowledgment, does the signer need to sign the document in the notary's presence? → No, the signer may have already signed and simply acknowledges the signature to the notary
21. An Oregon notary is asked to notarize their own signature on a document. What should the notary do? → Refuse because a notary cannot notarize their own signature
22. An Oregon notary performs a copy certification. What does the certificate language certify? → That the copy is a true, accurate, and complete reproduction of the original document
23. What should an Oregon notary do if their official seal is lost or stolen? → Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a replacement seal
24. A credible witness used to identify a signer in Oregon must be: → Someone personally known to the notary who vouches for the signer's identity
25. Which of the following is NOT required information in an Oregon notary's journal entry? → The notary's personal home address
26. When should an Oregon notary make the journal entry for a notarial act? → At or near the time the notarial act is performed
27. An Oregon notary performs a remote online notarization for a client using approved communication technology and charges $30. What is the consequence? → The notary violated the law by exceeding the $25 RON maximum
28. A person claims to be a law enforcement officer and demands an Oregon notary's journal without presenting a warrant or subpoena. What is the correct response? → Politely decline to surrender the journal without proper legal process and explain the law
29. In an Oregon acknowledgment, the signer must appear before the notary: → In person or via two-way audio-visual communication for RON
30. May an Oregon notary notarize the signature of a family member? → Yes, if the notary has no direct financial interest in the document being notarized