RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Completing Notarial Certificates Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Rhode Island notary in Providence is presented with a document for an acknowledgment. The pre-printed notarial certificate begins with the venue 'State of Connecticut, County of Windham.' What is the correct action for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Cross out 'Connecticut' and 'Windham,' write 'Rhode Island' and 'Providence,' and initial the changes.

Answer

Rhode Island notaries are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the notarial certificate, including the venue, which indicates where the notarization took place. The standard and accepted practice for correcting an incorrect venue is to neatly line through the incorrect information, write in the correct information, and initial the change.

Question 2

Which of the following elements is NOT required to be included on every completed notarial certificate in Rhode Island?

Accepted Answer

The signature and printed name of the signer

Answer

A completed notarial certificate contains information about the notarial act itself, completed by the notary. While the signer's name is mentioned in the certificate (e.g., 'personally appeared John Doe'), their signature appears on the document itself, not within the notarial certificate block. The notary's certificate must include the date of the act, the notary's signature, stamp, and commission expiration date.

Question 3

A signer brings a document to a notary on March 15th. The signer signed and dated the document on March 14th. The notarial certificate is for an acknowledgment. What date should the notary enter on the notarial certificate?

Accepted Answer

March 15th, the date the signer personally appeared before the notary.

Answer

The date on the notarial certificate must always be the actual date the signer personally appeared before the notary to have the notarization performed. It does not need to match the date the document was signed, especially for an acknowledgment.

Question 4

When completing a notarial certificate, a Rhode Island notary must perform all of the following actions EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Ensure the fee charged for the service is written on the certificate.

Answer

While a Rhode Island notary may charge a fee (up to $25), there is no requirement to list the fee on the notarial certificate itself. The certificate must contain the notary's official signature, stamp, and commission expiration date.

Question 5

A document is presented for notarization, but the notarial certificate is entirely blank, with no indication of what type of notarial act is required. What is the proper first step for the Rhode Island notary?

Accepted Answer

Ask the signer to choose which type of notarial act they require.

Answer

A notary public is prohibited from choosing the type of notarial act on behalf of the signer, as this could be considered the unauthorized practice of law. The signer must state which act (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat, signature witnessing) is needed. If the signer is unsure, they should contact the document's creator or recipient for clarification.

(RI Notary) Rhode Island Notary Exam Practice Test

(RI Notary) Rhode Island Notary Exam Practice Test

RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Completing Notarial Certificates Questions and Answers