RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Notary Fees and Liability Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

A Rhode Island notary is asked to notarize a single signature on an affidavit. According to state law, what is the maximum fee the notary may charge for this single notarial act?

Accepted Answer

$25.00

Answer

Rhode Island General Law § 42-30.1-20.1(a) explicitly states that a notary public may charge a fee not to exceed $25.00 per document or notarization.

Question 2

A notary's error on a property deed causes a significant financial loss for the buyer. If the notary has an Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance policy, its primary purpose is to:

Accepted Answer

Protect the notary's personal assets from claims of unintentional errors and cover legal defense costs.

Answer

Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance is designed to protect the notary's personal and professional assets in the event of a lawsuit stemming from an unintentional mistake or omission during a notarial act. It covers legal fees, court costs, and claims up to the policy limit. Rhode Island does not require a bond.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true regarding a surety bond for notaries public in Rhode Island?

Accepted Answer

Rhode Island does not require notaries to purchase a surety bond.

Answer

The state of Rhode Island does not require notaries public to purchase or maintain a surety bond. While not required, Errors & Omissions insurance is strongly recommended to protect the notary.

Question 4

A notary public is sued for negligence after failing to properly identify a signer, resulting in a fraudulent transaction. If the court awards damages to the victim and the notary does not have E&O insurance, who is responsible for paying those damages?

Accepted Answer

The notary personally, from their own assets.

Answer

A notary public is personally liable for any damages caused by their negligence or official misconduct. Without an E&O insurance policy to cover the loss, the notary is personally responsible for paying any court-ordered damages from their own funds.

Question 5

A client asks a notary to travel to their office 10 miles away to perform a notarization. In addition to the maximum statutory fee for the notarial act, the notary wishes to charge for travel. This is permissible only if:

Accepted Answer

The signer agrees to the separate travel fee in advance of the travel.

Answer

Rhode Island law allows a notary to charge a travel fee, but it is not automatic. The fee must be disclosed to and agreed upon by the signer before the notary performs the travel. The maximum fee for the notarial act itself is separate from any agreed-upon travel charge.

(RI Notary) Rhode Island Notary Exam Practice Test

(RI Notary) Rhode Island Notary Exam Practice Test

RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Notary Fees and Liability Questions and Answers 1