NNA Performing Common Notarial Acts 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?

Accepted Answer

Administer an oath or affirmation to the signer.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize until all blank spaces are filled in or lined through by the signer.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

To establish the state and county where the notarial act took place.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Only the agency that issued the document is authorized to certify its copies.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

That the signer is signing willingly and of their own free will.

Answer

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.

NNA - National Notary Association Certification Practice Test

NNA - National Notary Association Certification Practice Test

NNA Performing Common Notarial Acts Questions and Answers