WA Notary Notary Commission and Appointment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must a Washington notary applicant submit along with their application?
- A character reference from a judge
- The required application fee and a surety bond (Correct answer)
- Proof of legal education
- A notarized letter from their employer
Correct answer: The required application fee and a surety bond
Washington notary applicants must submit the application, the required fee, and proof of a $10,000 surety bond.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a surety bond required of Washington notaries?
- To pay the Secretary of State's administrative costs
- To protect the public from financial harm caused by a notary's misconduct (Correct answer)
- To guarantee the notary will complete their full term
- To cover the notary's seal replacement costs
Correct answer: To protect the public from financial harm caused by a notary's misconduct
The surety bond protects members of the public who suffer financial losses due to the notary's errors or misconduct.
Question 3: What is the required surety bond amount for a Washington notary public?
- $5,000
- $10,000 (Correct answer)
- $25,000
- $50,000
Correct answer: $10,000
Washington requires notaries to maintain a $10,000 surety bond for the duration of their commission.
Question 4: Can a Washington notary perform notarial acts before receiving their official commission certificate?
- Yes, from the date of application
- No, the notary must wait until the commission is issued and the oath is filed (Correct answer)
- Yes, after paying the bond
- Yes, for a 30-day provisional period
Correct answer: No, the notary must wait until the commission is issued and the oath is filed
A notary may not perform notarial acts until the commission is officially issued and the oath of office is properly filed.
Question 5: When must a newly appointed Washington notary take their oath of office?
- Within 30 days of commission issuance
- Before performing any notarial act, within the required period (Correct answer)
- Within one year of appointment
- At the next available county courthouse date
Correct answer: Before performing any notarial act, within the required period
A newly appointed Washington notary must take and file the oath of office within the required timeframe before performing any notarial acts.
Question 6: How must a Washington notary notify the Secretary of State if their name changes during the commission term?
- They do not need to notify the Secretary of State
- They must file a name change notification and update their commission (Correct answer)
- They must resign and reapply
- They must submit a court order within 5 days
Correct answer: They must file a name change notification and update their commission
A notary whose name changes must notify the Secretary of State and update their commission information, including obtaining a new seal with the new name.
WA Notary Notary Commission and Appointment 2
What must a Washington notary applicant submit along with their application?