WA NOTARY Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield WA NOTARY facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. If a Washington notary public's journal is lost or stolen, what is the correct course of action? → Notify the Secretary of State.
2. Which of the following acts would NOT typically result in a penalty for a Washington notary public? → Incorrectly dating a notarized document.
3. Which of the following notarial acts can a Washington notary perform via remote online notarization? → Taking an acknowledgment on a real estate document
4. Can a Washington notary charge a fee to administer an oath? → Yes, Washington allows notaries to charge fees for administering oaths
5. Can a Washington notary complete an acknowledgment in a foreign language if they do not understand that language? → Yes, as long as the signer understands it
6. What must a Washington State notary hold before they are eligible to perform electronic notarizations? → A valid Washington notary commission
7. Which of the following IDs would a Washington notary NOT accept as satisfactory evidence of identity? → A recent utility bill with the signer's name and address
8. What is a 'subscribing witness' in Washington notary law? → A person who signs a document as a witness on behalf of an absent signer
9. Which of the following pieces of information must a Washington notary public record in their journal for every notarial act? → The date and time of the notarization.
10. May the principal (signer) be located outside of Washington State during a remote online notarization performed by a Washington notary? → Yes, the signer may be located anywhere in the world
11. What is the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge for a remote online notarization (RON)? → $25
12. What must a Washington notary include in their journal for each notarization? → The date and time of the notarization.
13. A Washington notary advertises notary services in Spanish. Must they disclose they are not an attorney? → Yes, they must clearly state they are not an attorney and cannot give legal advice
14. Under which of the following circumstances must a Washington notary public provide access to their journal? → When a court subpoenas the journal.
15. What must a Washington notary do with their seal and journal when their commission ends? → Keep the journal for at least 10 years and destroy or deface the seal
16. Can a Washington notary accept an expired driver's license as satisfactory identification? → No, the identification document must be current (not expired)
17. Can a Washington notary use two credible witnesses instead of one to identify a signer? → Yes, two credible witnesses may be used if neither knows both the signer and the notary
18. What must a Washington notary applicant submit along with their application? → The required application fee and a surety bond
19. How long must a Washington notary retain the audio-visual recording of a remote online notarization session? → 10 years
20. If an acknowledgment certificate is missing from a document, what should a Washington notary do? → Attach a separate loose certificate with proper wording
21. Can a Washington notary charge a travel fee in addition to the notarial act fee? → Yes, Washington allows notaries to charge travel fees if the signer agrees in advance
22. What is the primary purpose of requiring tamper-evident technology in Washington State electronic notarizations? → To ensure any alteration made to a document after notarization is detectable
23. If a Washington notary performs an electronic notarization, what additional information must be recorded in the journal? → The method of identity verification used for the signer.
24. If a Washington notary public's journal is lost or stolen, what is the correct course of action? → Notify the Secretary of State.
25. What type of communication technology is required to conduct a remote online notarization in Washington State? → Real-time audio-visual communication technology
26. Is a Washington notary required to provide a receipt for fees charged? → No, but it is a recommended best practice
27. What is a key requirement for the audio-visual recording of a remote online notarization session in Washington? → It must capture the entire notarization process and be retained for at least 10 years
28. Must a Washington notary verify the signer's identity when performing a jurat? → Yes, the notary must verify identity for all notarial acts including jurats
29. Can a Washington notary acknowledge their own signature on a document? → No, a notary cannot notarize their own signature
30. What is the effect of a defective acknowledgment on a real property deed in Washington? → The deed is valid between the parties but may not be recorded