RI Notary Performing Core Notarial Acts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A document presented to a Rhode Island notary has no notarial certificate wording at all. What is the correct course of action?
- Ask the signer which notarial act is required and attach the appropriate certificate (Correct answer)
- Choose the act the notary thinks fits best without consulting anyone
- Refuse the notarization entirely
- Notarize with only a signature and stamp, no certificate
Correct answer: Ask the signer which notarial act is required and attach the appropriate certificate
The signer (or the receiving agency) must choose the act; the notary may then attach the matching certificate but may not select it unilaterally.
Question 2: While administering an oath for an affidavit, the affiant refuses to raise a hand or make any verbal response. What should the notary do?
- Decline to complete the jurat because a verbal or affirmative ceremony response is required (Correct answer)
- Complete the jurat since the affiant signed the document
- Have a coworker answer on the affiant's behalf
- Skip the oath and convert it to an acknowledgment silently
Correct answer: Decline to complete the jurat because a verbal or affirmative ceremony response is required
A jurat requires the affiant to actually swear or affirm, so refusal to respond means the act cannot be completed.
Question 3: Under Rhode Island law, which form of identification is generally acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity?
- A current passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver ID card (Correct answer)
- An expired library card with a photo
- A business card with the signer's name
- A social media profile shown on a phone
Correct answer: A current passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver ID card
Satisfactory evidence includes current government-issued identification such as a passport or driver's license.
Question 4: A signer presents a document with blank spaces where key terms should appear. The best practice for the Rhode Island notary is to:
- Ask the signer to complete or line through the blanks before notarizing (Correct answer)
- Notarize and let the signer fill blanks in later
- Fill in the blanks personally with reasonable values
- Notarize only the pages without blanks
Correct answer: Ask the signer to complete or line through the blanks before notarizing
Notarizing an incomplete document invites fraud, so blanks should be filled or struck through before the act.
Question 5: In which scenario may a Rhode Island notary certify a copy of a record?
- A personal document like a diploma, where the copy is verified as a full, true, and accurate transcription (Correct answer)
- A recorded deed on file at the land records office
- A certificate of naturalization
- A Rhode Island marriage certificate
Correct answer: A personal document like a diploma, where the copy is verified as a full, true, and accurate transcription
Copy certification is limited to documents that are not vital records, public records, or federally restricted documents like naturalization certificates.
Question 6: A signer acknowledges a deed but the notary notices the signer appears confused and cannot explain what the document is. The notary should:
- Refuse to proceed because the signer does not appear competent or aware of the transaction (Correct answer)
- Proceed since competency is the attorney's problem
- Ask a relative present to confirm the signer's intent
- Complete the act but note the confusion in the certificate
Correct answer: Refuse to proceed because the signer does not appear competent or aware of the transaction
A notary should decline when the signer appears to lack awareness or capacity, since willingness and understanding are essential to the act.
Question 7: For a verification on oath or affirmation (jurat), what does the certificate attest?
- That the signer appeared, was identified, signed in the notary's presence, and swore or affirmed the contents are true (Correct answer)
- That the notary personally verified the facts stated in the document
- That the document complies with Rhode Island filing rules
- That the signer's attorney approved the statement
Correct answer: That the signer appeared, was identified, signed in the notary's presence, and swore or affirmed the contents are true
A jurat certifies appearance, identification, signing in the notary's presence, and the administration of an oath or affirmation about the truth of the record.
RI Notary Performing Core Notarial Acts 3
A document presented to a Rhode Island notary has no notarial certificate wording at all.
What is the correct course of action?