Oregon Notary Public Commission Examination — Questions and Answers

Question 1: An Oregon notary who also works as a paralegal at a law firm is asked to notarize documents for the firm's clients during office hours. The firm's policy is that notarizations are provided free of charge. What should the notary do?

Follow the employer's no-fee policy, as employers may restrict fee collection (Correct answer)
Resign as a notary if the employer prohibits fees
Charge a reduced fee of $5 per act as a compromise
Charge the maximum statutory fee regardless of employer policy

Correct answer: Follow the employer's no-fee policy, as employers may restrict fee collection

Oregon law allows an employer to direct an employed notary not to charge fees for notarial acts performed in the scope of employment.

Question 2: In Oregon, may a notary change or alter the wording of a statutory notarial certificate form?

No — statutory forms must be used exactly as written
Only if the signer requests the change in writing
Yes — notaries may adapt the language as long as the certificate accurately reflects the act and meets legal requirements (Correct answer)
Only attorneys may modify notarial certificate language

Correct answer: Yes — notaries may adapt the language as long as the certificate accurately reflects the act and meets legal requirements

Oregon notaries may modify the statutory certificate language if the adapted version accurately describes the notarial act performed and meets the legal requirements.

Question 3: May an Oregon notary allow an employer to keep the notary's official journal?

No, the journal must remain under the direct control of the notary to whom it belongs (Correct answer)
Yes, if the notary provides written authorization
Only if the employer is also a licensed attorney or notary
Yes, employers routinely hold notary journals on behalf of their notary employees

Correct answer: No, the journal must remain under the direct control of the notary to whom it belongs

An Oregon notary's journal is a personal official record that must remain under the notary's control — it cannot be surrendered to an employer.

Question 4: In Oregon, the venue on a notarial certificate refers to:

The state and county where the notarial act was performed (Correct answer)
The notary's office address
The location where the document will be filed
The signer's home address

Correct answer: The state and county where the notarial act was performed

The venue on a notarial certificate identifies the state and county where the notarial act actually took place.

Question 5: Can a non-Oregon resident obtain an Oregon notary commission?

No, federal law prohibits out-of-state notaries
No, only Oregon residents qualify
Yes, any U.S. citizen may apply
Yes, if they have a regular place of business or employment in Oregon (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, if they have a regular place of business or employment in Oregon

Non-residents may qualify for an Oregon commission if they maintain a regular place of business or employment in Oregon.

Question 6: If an Oregon notary performs a notarial act and later discovers they forgot to make a journal entry, what should they do?

Make the entry with the current date even if it is days later
Discard the record entirely to avoid confusion
Make the entry as soon as possible with a note indicating the entry was made after the fact (Correct answer)
Leave the journal blank — backdating is prohibited

Correct answer: Make the entry as soon as possible with a note indicating the entry was made after the fact

A belated journal entry should be made as soon as possible with a notation indicating it is a late entry, using the actual date of the notarial act.

Question 7: What is the significance of the notary's commission expiration date on the certificate?

It shows when the notary must renew to continue charging fees
It confirms the notary had valid authority at the time of the notarial act (Correct answer)
It is optional information that notaries may include
It is required only for real estate documents

Correct answer: It confirms the notary had valid authority at the time of the notarial act

The expiration date on the certificate proves the notary's commission was active when the act was performed, which may be checked years later.

Question 8: What is the meaning of 'venue' as used in Oregon notarial certificates?

The location where the document originated
The court or government office where the document will be filed
The state and county where the notarization took place (Correct answer)
The notary's permanent office address

Correct answer: The state and county where the notarization took place

The venue on an Oregon notarial certificate states the state and county in which the notarial act was performed.

Question 9: Can a person who lives in another state but works in Oregon become a notary public in Oregon?

No
Yes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes

Oregon law permits individuals who reside in another state to become an Oregon notary public, provided they maintain a place of employment or practice within Oregon. This flexibility allows professionals who commute across state lines for work to serve as notaries in the state where they conduct their business. The key is having a legitimate work presence in Oregon, even if their primary residence is elsewhere.

Question 10: Under Oregon law, which of the following describes an act of 'notarial fraud'?

Charging a fee that is above the usual market rate
Notarizing a document in a subject area the notary is unfamiliar with
Using an older seal that has a slightly different design than required
Completing a notarial certificate without the signer having appeared (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Completing a notarial certificate without the signer having appeared

Completing a notarial certificate without the signer actually appearing constitutes notarial fraud because it falsely certifies that an appearance occurred.

Question 11: In Oregon, which of the following documents typically requires a notarized acknowledgment?

A personal letter
A grocery list
A deed transferring real property (Correct answer)
An internal business memo

Correct answer: A deed transferring real property

Real property deeds commonly require notarized acknowledgments before they can be recorded with the county.

Question 12: What is the maximum fee an Oregon notary may charge for a single in-person notarial act under ORS 194.505?

$15
$10 (Correct answer)
$25
$5

Correct answer: $10

ORS 194.505 sets the maximum fee for each in-person notarial act at $10.

Question 13: How long is an Oregon notary public commission valid?

4 years (Correct answer)
6 years
2 years
10 years

Correct answer: 4 years

In Oregon, a notary public commission is valid for a specific term to ensure regular review of qualifications and adherence to current regulations. An Oregon notary public commission is valid for a period of four years. After this period, notaries must reapply and meet all current requirements to renew their commission.

Question 14: Which of the following scenarios represents a lawful fee practice for an Oregon notary?

Charging $10 per jurat plus a $20 travel fee disclosed in advance (Correct answer)
Charging $15 per acknowledgment because the document was lengthy
Charging $10 per act plus a $5 seal affixing fee
Charging $30 per RON act because the technology cost was high

Correct answer: Charging $10 per jurat plus a $20 travel fee disclosed in advance

Charging $10 per act plus a disclosed travel fee is the only option that complies with ORS 194.505, as all others exceed statutory caps or add unauthorized fees.

Question 15: What is the correct action for an Oregon notary when they make an error in a journal entry?

Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial the correction (Correct answer)
Leave the error in place because journal entries cannot be changed
Tear out the page and rewrite the entry
Use correction fluid (white-out) to cover the error

Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial the correction

Errors in a journal entry should be corrected by drawing a single line through the error, writing the correction, and initialing it — never using correction fluid or removing pages.

Question 16: What are reasons to disclose journal information?

Plaintiff
Petit
Defendant
Court (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Court

Notary journal information is confidential, but there are specific legal circumstances under which it must be disclosed. The primary reason for disclosing journal information is in response to a court order or subpoena. This ensures that the notary's records can be used as evidence in legal proceedings when required by law.

Question 17: An Oregon notary performs a notarial act knowing that the signer is signing under duress. This notary has:

Acted properly because the notary cannot control the signer's circumstances
Done nothing wrong as long as the ID was valid
Committed a prohibited act and may face disciplinary action or criminal liability (Correct answer)
Fulfilled their duty by simply witnessing the signature

Correct answer: Committed a prohibited act and may face disciplinary action or criminal liability

Notarizing for a signer who is acting under duress is a prohibited act; the notary must ensure the signing is voluntary.

Question 18: Which statement best describes 'satisfactory evidence of identity' under Oregon notary law?

A business card with the signer's name
The signer's Social Security card
Identification from a government-issued photo ID or credible witness (Correct answer)
A utility bill with the signer's name and address

Correct answer: Identification from a government-issued photo ID or credible witness

Oregon requires satisfactory evidence of identity such as a government-issued photo ID or testimony from a credible identifying witness.

Question 19: What is the journal entry requirement for an Oregon notary who performs a RON?

No journal entry is required because the audio-visual recording serves as the sole record
The notary must make a journal entry for each RON act with required details (Correct answer)
Only a summary entry at the end of each day of RON sessions is required
The RON platform automatically satisfies all journal requirements

Correct answer: The notary must make a journal entry for each RON act with required details

Oregon notaries must maintain journal entries for RON acts just as they do for in-person notarial acts.

Question 20: Which element is NOT required for an Oregon notary to complete an acknowledgment certificate?

The date and location of the notarial act
The notary's signature and official seal
The signer's residential address (Correct answer)
The name of the person who appeared before the notary

Correct answer: The signer's residential address

An acknowledgment certificate requires the date, location, signer's name, notary's signature, and seal — but NOT the signer's residential address.

Question 21: 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?

Destroy the journal to protect the signers' privacy
Allow viewing of the journal but not removal of it
Immediately surrender the journal to maintain good relations with law enforcement
Politely decline to surrender the journal without proper legal process and explain the law (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Politely decline to surrender the journal without proper legal process and explain the law

Without valid legal process such as a warrant or subpoena, a notary is not required to surrender their journal to law enforcement.

Question 22: What is the consequence for an Oregon notary who refuses to perform a notarial act based on the signer's race, religion, or national origin?

There is no specific penalty under Oregon notary law
It is permissible if the notary has a religious objection
It is only actionable if the signer files a formal complaint
It is a civil rights violation and grounds for commission revocation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It is a civil rights violation and grounds for commission revocation

Refusing notarial services based on protected characteristics violates civil rights laws and is grounds for revocation of the notary commission.

Question 23: If an Oregon document contains notarial certificate language from another state, what should the Oregon notary do?

Always replace it with an Oregon certificate form regardless of the document's destination
Refuse to notarize any document with out-of-state certificate language
Complete the out-of-state certificate language only if it is substantially compliant with Oregon requirements (Correct answer)
Use the out-of-state certificate language as-is without modification

Correct answer: Complete the out-of-state certificate language only if it is substantially compliant with Oregon requirements

Oregon notaries may complete notarial certificates using language from another state's form as long as the certificate substantially complies with Oregon's requirements.

Question 24: If an Oregon RON session is interrupted by a technical failure mid-notarization, what should the notary do?

Proceed via telephone to finish the session
Stop the notarization, restart a new compliant session, and complete the act properly (Correct answer)
Mark the incomplete session as complete in the journal and issue the certificate
Complete the notarization based on the partial session

Correct answer: Stop the notarization, restart a new compliant session, and complete the act properly

If a technical failure prevents completion of a compliant RON session, the notary must stop, re-establish the required technology connection, and begin a new compliant session.

Question 25: What does it mean to 'certify a copy' as an Oregon notary?

Attest that a copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original (Correct answer)
Record the document in the state registry
Verify the identity of the document's author
Translate a foreign-language document

Correct answer: Attest that a copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original

Copy certification means the notary compares the copy to the original and confirms it is a true and accurate reproduction.

Question 26: What is a 'notarial certificate' in Oregon?

A receipt provided to the signer after notarization
A court-approved form required for all notarized documents
A license issued to the notary by the Secretary of State
The written statement completed and signed by the notary describing the notarial act performed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The written statement completed and signed by the notary describing the notarial act performed

A notarial certificate is the written statement attached to or included in a document that describes the notarial act and is signed and sealed by the notary.

Question 27: Which of the following information is typically NOT required in an Oregon notary journal entry?

The type of notarial act performed
The date of the notarial act
The signer's full Social Security number (Correct answer)
The type of identification used to identify the signer

Correct answer: The signer's full Social Security number

Social Security numbers are sensitive personal identifiers that are not required (and should not be recorded) in an Oregon notary journal.

Question 28: Which of the following is NOT required information in an Oregon notary's journal entry?

The notary's personal home address (Correct answer)
The date of the notarial act
A description of the document notarized
The type of notarial act performed

Correct answer: The notary's personal home address

The notary's personal home address is not a required element in a journal entry; date, act type, and document description are required.

Question 29: What is a 'copy certification by document custodian' certificate in Oregon?

A court-ordered certification of document authenticity
A notary's attestation that a document has been recorded
A certification made by the notary after comparing a copy to the original
A certification made by the document's owner that a copy is accurate, with the notary witnessing the signature (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A certification made by the document's owner that a copy is accurate, with the notary witnessing the signature

In this type of certification, the document's owner signs a statement that the copy is accurate and the notary witnesses that signature, rather than the notary comparing documents.

Question 30: Must an Oregon notary include their commission expiration date in their official seal?

No, the commission expiration date is not required on the seal itself (Correct answer)
Only for electronic notarizations
Only if required by the document recipient
Yes, it must appear prominently on the seal

Correct answer: No, the commission expiration date is not required on the seal itself

Oregon law does not require the commission expiration date to appear on the notary seal itself.

Question 31: Which of the following certificate elements is specific to a jurat and does NOT appear in an Oregon acknowledgment certificate?

The notary's signature and seal
Language indicating the signer was sworn or affirmed to the truth of the document (Correct answer)
The date of the notarial act
The county and state where the act took place

Correct answer: Language indicating the signer was sworn or affirmed to the truth of the document

Language about swearing or affirming the truth of the document is specific to a jurat; acknowledgment certificates do not include oath language.

Question 32: An Oregon acknowledgment certificate for an individual signer typically begins with which phrase?

'I hereby certify that'
'Subscribed and sworn to before me'
'State of Oregon, County of ___' (Correct answer)
'In witness whereof'

Correct answer: 'State of Oregon, County of ___'

Oregon acknowledgment certificates begin with the venue — 'State of Oregon, County of ___' — establishing the jurisdiction where the act took place.

Question 33: What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Oregon?

No age requirement
21 years old
16 years old
18 years old (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 18 years old

To become a notary public in Oregon, an individual must meet specific eligibility criteria set by state law. One fundamental requirement is that the applicant must be at least 18 years of age. This ensures that notaries are adults legally capable of understanding and fulfilling the responsibilities of the office.

Question 34: May an Oregon notary keep their journal in an electronic format?

Yes — but only for RON acts; in-person acts require paper journals
Only if approved by the Secretary of State on a case-by-case basis
Yes — Oregon allows electronic journal formats if they meet security and accessibility requirements (Correct answer)
No — Oregon requires a paper-bound journal only

Correct answer: Yes — Oregon allows electronic journal formats if they meet security and accessibility requirements

Oregon allows notaries to maintain electronic journals as long as they meet the required security and accessibility standards.

Question 35: Which of the following would disqualify someone from becoming a notary public in Oregon?

Being convicted of a felony
Being unable to read and write in English
All of the above (Correct answer)
Having had a notary commission revoked in the last 10 years

Correct answer: All of the above

Oregon law outlines several conditions that would disqualify an applicant from becoming a notary public, or lead to the revocation of an existing commission. These include being convicted of a felony, which indicates a lack of the moral character required for a public official. Additionally, the inability to read and write in English prevents a notary from properly understanding and executing their duties, and having a prior commission revoked for misconduct within the last 10 years demonstrates a history of unsuitability.

Question 36: How often do you need to renew your notary commission in Oregon?

Every 4 years (Correct answer)
Every 2 years
Every 10 years
Every 6 years

Correct answer: Every 4 years

Notary public commissions in Oregon are not permanent and require periodic renewal to ensure notaries remain current with laws and regulations. In Oregon, a notary commission is valid for a term of four years. Notaries must apply for renewal before their current commission expires to maintain their authority.

Question 37: What should an Oregon notary do if their official seal is lost or stolen?

Have the county recorder issue a temporary seal
Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a replacement seal (Correct answer)
Continue using a personal stamp until a replacement arrives
File a police report but no notification to the state is required

Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and obtain a replacement seal

Oregon notaries must notify the Secretary of State promptly if their seal is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Question 38: What information must an Oregon notary include below their signature on a notarial certificate?

Their employer's name and address
Their commission expiration date and the words 'Notary Public' or equivalent (Correct answer)
Their home address and phone number
The date they obtained their commission

Correct answer: Their commission expiration date and the words 'Notary Public' or equivalent

Below their signature, an Oregon notary must include their commission expiration date and identify themselves as a Notary Public.

Question 39: Which document type CANNOT be copy-certified by an Oregon notary?

A private contract
A vital record such as a birth or death certificate (Correct answer)
A personal letter
A photograph

Correct answer: A vital record such as a birth or death certificate

Oregon notaries cannot certify copies of vital records like birth or death certificates — certified copies must come from the issuing government agency.

Question 40: What is the purpose of the notary's seal on an Oregon notarial certificate?

To authenticate the notary's official identity and commission status (Correct answer)
To indicate the document has been reviewed for legal accuracy
To show the document was executed in a government building
To certify that the document is an original rather than a copy

Correct answer: To authenticate the notary's official identity and commission status

The notary's official seal authenticates the notary's identity and confirms the commission's validity by displaying the notary's name, state, and commission expiration date.

Question 41: Is an Oregon notary allowed to provide legal advice to a signer?

No, unless the notary is also a licensed attorney (Correct answer)
Yes, notaries may explain legal documents as part of their role
No, but notaries may explain general legal definitions
Yes, if the signer requests it

Correct answer: No, unless the notary is also a licensed attorney

Oregon notaries may not provide legal advice unless they are separately licensed as attorneys, as doing so constitutes unauthorized practice of law.

Question 42: Which of the following is a requirement to become a notary public in Oregon?

Must have a valid driver's license
Must submit fingerprints
Must not have been convicted of a crime involving fraud (Correct answer)
Must have a college degree

Correct answer: Must not have been convicted of a crime involving fraud

Integrity and trustworthiness are paramount for a notary public, who serves as an impartial witness to document signings. Therefore, Oregon law requires that applicants must not have been convicted of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty. This ensures that individuals holding a public office of trust have a clean record regarding financial and ethical conduct, which is essential for maintaining public confidence in notarized documents.

Question 43: Must an Oregon notary record the fee charged in their journal entry?

Yes — the fee charged (or notation that no fee was charged) must be included in the journal entry (Correct answer)
No — fee information is not a required journal element
Only if the fee exceeds $25
Only for real estate-related notarial acts

Correct answer: Yes — the fee charged (or notation that no fee was charged) must be included in the journal entry

Oregon requires notaries to record the fee charged for each notarial act in their journal, or note that no fee was charged.

Question 44: What must an Oregon notary do when changing their address?

No notification is required for address changes
Notify the Secretary of State of the address change (Correct answer)
File a new notary application immediately
File an address change with all counties in Oregon

Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State of the address change

Oregon notaries are required to notify the Secretary of State when their address changes to keep commission records current.

Question 45: Can an Oregon notary complete a notarial certificate that was prepared in another state?

Yes, if Oregon's certificate requirements are substantially met (Correct answer)
Only if the document will be used in Oregon
No, only certificates prepared in Oregon may be used
Only with prior approval from the Secretary of State

Correct answer: Yes, if Oregon's certificate requirements are substantially met

Oregon notaries may use or complete certificates from other states as long as they substantially comply with Oregon's notarial certificate requirements.

Oregon Notary Public Commission Examination

The Oregon Notary Public exam tests knowledge of Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 194, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, notarial procedures, certificate wording, journal recordkeeping, and eligibility requirements for commissioning as a notary in Oregon.

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60 min

Time Limit

80%

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