Performing Notarial Acts Flashcards

Which of the following is a type of notarial act authorized under Utah Code § 46-1-6?

Answer: Witnessing or attesting a signature

Utah Code § 46-1-6 authorizes notaries to witness or attest signatures as one of the recognized notarial acts.

When performing an acknowledgment in Utah, the notary must confirm that the signer:

Answer: Personally appeared, was identified, and acknowledged signing voluntarily

For a valid Utah acknowledgment, the signer must personally appear before the notary, be identified, and acknowledge that they signed the document.

A Utah notary may administer an oath to a person who states they have a religious or ethical objection to swearing. What is the alternative?

Answer: Administer an affirmation instead

Utah Code § 46-1-6 permits the use of an affirmation as an alternative to an oath for individuals with religious or ethical objections to swearing.

What does it mean for a notary to 'take a verification upon oath' in Utah?

Answer: Administer an oath and have the signer swear the document's contents are true

Taking a verification upon oath (jurat) means administering an oath and certifying that the signer swore the contents of the document are true.

Under Utah law, can a notary certify a copy of a birth certificate issued by the state vital records office?

Answer: No, vital records are recordable government documents and cannot be copy-certified by a notary

Utah notaries may not certify copies of vital records or other government-issued documents; those copies must be obtained from the issuing agency.

A Utah notary is asked to perform a notarial act for a document in a language the notary cannot read. What should the notary do?

Answer: Perform the act, since the notary only certifies the signature — not the content

A notary certifies the signer's identity and the act (e.g., acknowledgment or oath) — not the content of the document. Therefore, the notary may perform the act even if the document is in a foreign language.