Washington State Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: How must a Washington notary notify the Secretary of State if their name changes during the commission term?

They must resign and reapply
They must file a name change notification and update their commission (Correct answer)
They must submit a court order within 5 days
They do not need to notify the Secretary of State

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.

Question 2: Is a Washington acknowledgment valid if the notary's commission had expired at the time of notarization?

Yes, if done in good faith
Yes, for a 30-day grace period
No, acts performed after commission expiration are invalid (Correct answer)
Only if the Secretary of State approves it

Correct answer: No, acts performed after commission expiration are invalid

A notarial act performed after a notary's commission expiration is invalid, as the notary no longer holds legal authority.

Question 3: What happens to a Washington notary commission when the notary moves out of state permanently?

The commission continues until it expires
The notary may keep the commission if they retain a WA P.O. box
The commission is automatically terminated (Correct answer)
The notary has 90 days to return before termination

Correct answer: The commission is automatically terminated

If a Washington notary moves out of state and no longer has a principal place of employment in Washington, the commission is automatically terminated.

Question 4: What is a potential penalty for a Washington notary public who is found to have notarized a document with a fraudulent signature?

A fine up to $1,000.
Mandatory community service.
Suspension or revocation of their notary commission. (Correct answer)
A warning from the Secretary of State.

Correct answer: Suspension or revocation of their notary commission.

Notarizing a document with a fraudulent signature is a serious offense for a Washington notary public, as it undermines the integrity of the notarial act. Such misconduct can lead to severe penalties, including the suspension or permanent revocation of their notary commission by the Secretary of State. This consequence ensures accountability and protects the public from fraudulent activities.

Question 5: Where must a Washington notary be a resident or have their principal place of employment to obtain a commission?

In the Pacific Northwest region
Only in their county of residence
In the State of Washington (Correct answer)
In the United States generally

Correct answer: In the State of Washington

Notary applicants must reside in Washington or have their principal place of employment or practice in Washington.

Question 6: Can a signer affirm instead of swear an oath during a Washington jurat?

Only with written permission from the Secretary of State
No, an oath is always required
Only for religious documents
Yes, an affirmation is legally equivalent to an oath (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, an affirmation is legally equivalent to an oath

Washington law allows affirmations as a legally equivalent alternative to oaths for those who object to swearing on religious or personal grounds.

Question 7: Which of the following pieces of information must a Washington notary public record in their journal for every notarial act?

The type of document being notarized. (Correct answer)
The date and time of the notarization. (Correct answer)
The address of the signer.
The fee charged for the notarial act. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The type of document being notarized.

Washington notary law mandates specific information to be recorded in the notary journal for every act. The date and time of the notarization are critical entries, providing a chronological record of the event. This detail is essential for accountability, auditing, and verifying the legitimacy of the notarial act if questions arise later.

Question 8: What does it mean when a signer 'personally appeared' before a Washington notary?

The signer signed in front of two witnesses
The signer's representative appeared on their behalf
The signer mailed the document to the notary
The signer was physically (or remotely via approved RON) present during the notarial act (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The signer was physically (or remotely via approved RON) present during the notarial act

Personal appearance means the signer was physically present or appeared through approved remote online notarization technology.

Question 9: 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 (Correct answer)
Only for travel over 50 miles
Only for hospital or nursing home visits
No, travel fees are prohibited

Correct answer: Yes, Washington allows notaries to charge travel fees if the signer agrees in advance

Washington notaries may charge a separate travel fee for mobile notarization services, provided the signer agrees to the fee in advance.

Question 10: What is the primary purpose of requiring tamper-evident technology in Washington State electronic notarizations?

To prevent unauthorized access to the notary's electronic journal
To verify the identity of future readers of the document
To ensure any alteration made to a document after notarization is detectable (Correct answer)
To make notarized documents easier to store digitally

Correct answer: To ensure any alteration made to a document after notarization is detectable

Tamper-evident technology ensures that any modification to an electronically notarized document after the notarization is performed will be detectable, protecting the integrity of the act.

Question 11: Must a Washington notary verify the signer's identity when performing a jurat?

Only for government documents
No, jurats only require the oath
Only if the document requires it
Yes, the notary must verify identity for all notarial acts including jurats (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, the notary must verify identity for all notarial acts including jurats

Identity verification is required for all notarial acts in Washington, including jurats, to ensure the person taking the oath is who they claim to be.

Question 12: What type of communication technology is required to conduct a remote online notarization in Washington State?

Encrypted email with electronic signature attachment
Asynchronous video recording submitted by the signer
Real-time audio-visual communication technology (Correct answer)
Telephone conference calls

Correct answer: Real-time audio-visual communication technology

Washington requires remote online notarizations to use real-time audio-visual communication technology so the notary and signer can interact simultaneously.

Question 13: Which certificate wording is typically associated with a Washington notary acknowledgment?

Acknowledged before me (Correct answer)
Affirmed and witnessed by
Subscribed and sworn before me
Certified and sealed by

Correct answer: Acknowledged before me

Washington acknowledgment certificates use language such as 'acknowledged before me' to indicate the signer confirmed the signature.

Question 14: What is a key requirement for the audio-visual recording of a remote online notarization session in Washington?

It only needs to capture the moment of signing and the notary's acknowledgment statement
It must capture the entire notarization process and be retained for at least 10 years (Correct answer)
It must be stored exclusively on a Secretary of State-approved cloud storage platform
It must be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days of the notarization

Correct answer: It must capture the entire notarization process and be retained for at least 10 years

Washington requires the audio-visual recording to capture the entire RON session and be retained by the notary for a minimum of 10 years.

Question 15: If a Washington notary charges more than the statutory maximum fee, what may result?

A small civil fine paid to the client
Nothing — fees are self-regulated
The client may negotiate a refund only
The notary may face disciplinary action including commission suspension or revocation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary may face disciplinary action including commission suspension or revocation

Charging in excess of the statutory maximum is a violation of Washington notary law and can result in disciplinary action against the notary's commission.

Question 16: What must a Washington notary include in their journal for each notarization?

The type of notarial act performed. (Correct answer)
The date and time of the notarization. (Correct answer)
The notary’s own signature.
The signer’s phone number.

Correct answer: The type of notarial act performed.

Washington notaries are required to maintain a journal of all notarial acts, and recording the date and time of each notarization is a fundamental entry. This detail provides a precise chronological record of when the act occurred, which is essential for accountability and potential future reference or legal proceedings. It helps ensure the integrity of the notarial process.

Question 17: Can a Washington notary perform notarial acts before receiving their official commission certificate?

Yes, for a 30-day provisional period
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

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 18: A signer presents a foreign passport to a Washington notary. Is this acceptable identification?

Only with a visa stamp
Only if translated into English
No, only U.S.-issued documents are acceptable
Yes, a current foreign passport is acceptable satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, a current foreign passport is acceptable satisfactory evidence of identity

A current foreign passport is generally considered satisfactory evidence of identity in Washington, as it is a government-issued photo ID.

Question 19: Which of the following documents most commonly requires a notary acknowledgment in Washington?

Real estate deeds and mortgages (Correct answer)
Medical records
Employment contracts
Tax returns

Correct answer: Real estate deeds and mortgages

Real estate deeds and mortgages are among the most common documents requiring a notarized acknowledgment in Washington.

Question 20: What is the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge per notarial act under state law?

$25
$5
$15
$10 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $10

Washington law sets the maximum fee at $10 per notarial act for in-person notarizations.

Question 21: What wording does a Washington notary use to administer an oath for a jurat?

Do you swear (or affirm) that the statements in this document are true to the best of your knowledge? (Correct answer)
Do you certify this document for recording?
Do you acknowledge this document is yours?
Do you promise this document is correct?

Correct answer: Do you swear (or affirm) that the statements in this document are true to the best of your knowledge?

The notary should ask the signer to swear or affirm that the contents of the document are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Question 22: How long must a Washington notary retain the audio-visual recording of a remote online notarization session?

5 years
10 years (Correct answer)
7 years
1 year

Correct answer: 10 years

Washington State law requires audio-visual recordings of remote online notarization sessions to be retained for a minimum of 10 years.

Question 23: What action should a Washington notary public take if they become aware of a mistake in a notarized document?

Notify the signer and correct the mistake in the journal. (Correct answer)
Attempt to correct the mistake by altering the document.
Contact the Secretary of State immediately and inform them of the mistake.
Ignore the mistake if the document is already filed.

Correct answer: Notify the signer and correct the mistake in the journal.

If a Washington notary public discovers a mistake in a notarized document, the correct procedure is to notify the signer and make an accurate correction in their notary journal. The notary should never alter the document themselves after the notarial act is complete. This process ensures transparency and maintains the integrity of the notarial record.

Question 24: Which identity verification methods are required for remote online notarization (RON) in Washington State?

Credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication (KBA) (Correct answer)
A sworn statement from a credible witness
Government-issued photo ID presented physically in person
Personal knowledge of the signer only

Correct answer: Credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication (KBA)

Washington RON requires both credential analysis (technology-based ID authentication) and knowledge-based authentication (KBA) to verify a signer's identity.

Question 25: Can a Washington notary acknowledge their own signature on a document?

No, a notary cannot notarize their own signature (Correct answer)
Yes, if witnessed by two people
Yes, for personal documents only
Yes, if no other notary is available

Correct answer: No, a notary cannot notarize their own signature

Washington law prohibits a notary from performing a notarial act when they are a party to or have a financial interest in the document.

Question 26: Can a Washington notary accept an expired driver's license as satisfactory identification?

Yes, any government ID is acceptable
Yes, if accompanied by a second expired ID
No, the identification document must be current (not expired) (Correct answer)
Yes, if it expired within the past year

Correct answer: No, the identification document must be current (not expired)

Expired identification is not considered satisfactory evidence in Washington; the ID must be current and valid.

Question 27: What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Washington?

25 years old
21 years old
16 years old
18 years old (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 18 years old

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a Washington notary commission.

Question 28: What is the difference between an oath and an affirmation in Washington notary practice?

There is no legal difference between them in Washington
An affirmation is stronger than an oath
An oath is for legal documents; an affirmation is for personal documents
An oath invokes a divine being; an affirmation is a solemn declaration without religious reference (Correct answer)

Correct answer: An oath invokes a divine being; an affirmation is a solemn declaration without religious reference

An oath typically invokes a religious or divine element, while an affirmation is a solemn non-religious declaration, but both are legally equivalent in Washington.

Question 29: Does Washington State set maximum fees that a notary may charge for notarial acts?

Yes, Washington law establishes maximum fees for notarial acts (Correct answer)
No, fees are entirely unregulated in Washington
Only for notaries employed by financial institutions
Only for government-related documents

Correct answer: Yes, Washington law establishes maximum fees for notarial acts

Washington law sets maximum fees that notaries may charge for individual notarial acts to protect the public from excessive charges.

Question 30: What is a jurat in Washington notary practice?

A record kept in the notary journal
A notarial act where the notary administers an oath and the signer signs in the notary's presence (Correct answer)
A certificate confirming the signer's identity only
A document used to transfer property

Correct answer: A notarial act where the notary administers an oath and the signer signs in the notary's presence

A jurat is a notarial act where the signer must sign the document in the notary's presence and swear or affirm to the truthfulness of the document's contents.

Washington State Notary Public Exam

The Washington State Notary Public exam tests knowledge of WA notary laws, procedures, and best practices governed by Chapter 42.45 RCW and Chapter 308-30 WAC, covering notarial acts, signer identification, seal regulations, record-keeping, and proper notarization procedures.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

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dol.wa.gov — Renewal, score validity, fees, test delivery, eligibility · verified Oct 2026