RI Notary Prohibited Acts and Misconduct 3

Question 1

A signer offers a Rhode Island notary a $100 tip to skip checking identification. Accepting and skipping the ID check would be:

Accepted Answer

Official misconduct that can lead to commission revocation and liability

Answer

Failing to verify identity in exchange for payment is misconduct exposing the notary to discipline and civil or criminal liability.

Question 2

Which of the following may a Rhode Island notary NOT do?

Accepted Answer

Certify or attest that a photograph is a true likeness of a person

Answer

Certifying that a photo is a true likeness of someone is outside a notary's authorized acts.

Question 3

A notary discovers that a document she is asked to notarize contains blank spaces the signer plans to fill in later. The notary should:

Accepted Answer

Decline until the blanks are completed or lined through

Answer

Notarizing an incomplete document facilitates potential fraud, so blanks should be filled or struck before notarization.

Question 4

A Rhode Island notary personally benefits from a real estate closing as the seller. Can she notarize the buyer's signature on the closing documents?

Accepted Answer

No, because she is a party to and benefits from the transaction

Answer

A notary who is a party to or financially benefits from a transaction is disqualified from notarizing any signature in it.

Question 5

A notary is asked to notarize a signature on a document he knows will be used to commit fraud. He should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to perform the notarization

Answer

A notary must refuse to participate in a transaction he knows or believes is fraudulent or unlawful.

(RI Notary) Rhode Island Notary Exam Practice Test