Washington State Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is a 'venue' in the context of a Washington notary acknowledgment certificate?

The location where the document will be filed
The document signing party's address
The state and county where the notarization took place (Correct answer)
The notary's home county

Correct answer: The state and county where the notarization took place

The venue identifies the state and county where the notarial act was performed and must appear at the top of the certificate.

Question 2: A signer presents a Washington State ID card (non-driver) to a notary. Is this acceptable?

Yes, a state-issued ID card is satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)
Only if accompanied by a second ID
No, only driver's licenses are acceptable
Only for documents not requiring recording

Correct answer: Yes, a state-issued ID card is satisfactory evidence of identity

A state-issued ID card is a government-issued photo ID and constitutes satisfactory evidence of identity for Washington notarizations.

Question 3: If a signer's name on their ID does not exactly match the name on the document, what should a Washington notary do?

Use judgment to determine if the difference is minor and explainable, then proceed with a notation if appropriate (Correct answer)
Refuse to notarize under any circumstances
Always require a second ID to match the document name
Require the document to be retyped with the matching name

Correct answer: Use judgment to determine if the difference is minor and explainable, then proceed with a notation if appropriate

Minor name discrepancies (e.g., middle name versus middle initial) can be addressed with careful judgment and a notation; significant differences may require the document to be corrected.

Question 4: May the principal (signer) be located outside of Washington State during a remote online notarization performed by a Washington notary?

No, the signer must be in Washington
No, the signer must be in the United States
Yes, the signer may be anywhere in the United States
Yes, the signer may be located anywhere in the world (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, the signer may be located anywhere in the world

Washington law permits the principal to be located anywhere in the world during a remote online notarization, as long as the notary is physically in Washington.

Question 5: What is a potential penalty for a Washington notary public who is found to have notarized a document with a fraudulent signature?

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

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 6: What is the primary purpose of a notary acknowledgment in Washington State?

To witness the signer's signature in real time
To certify the document is legally binding
To confirm the signer appeared before the notary and acknowledged signing voluntarily (Correct answer)
To verify the document's contents are accurate

Correct answer: To confirm the signer appeared before the notary and acknowledged signing voluntarily

An acknowledgment confirms that the signer personally appeared before the notary and voluntarily acknowledged executing the document.

Question 7: Can a signer affirm instead of swear an oath during a Washington jurat?

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

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 8: What information should a Washington notary record about the signer's ID in the notary journal?

Only the type of document presented
The type of ID, the ID number, and the expiration date (Correct answer)
Only the signer's name as it appears on the ID
A photocopy of the ID

Correct answer: The type of ID, the ID number, and the expiration date

Best practice and some state requirements call for recording the type of ID, its number, and expiration date to create a complete audit trail.

Question 9: 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 (Correct answer)
To verify the identity of future readers of the document
To make notarized documents easier to store digitally
To prevent unauthorized access to the notary's electronic journal

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

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 11: What must a Washington notary do after relying on a credible witness to identify a signer?

File a report with the Secretary of State
Record the credible witness's name and ID information in the notary journal (Correct answer)
Have the credible witness sign the document
Obtain a letter from the credible witness

Correct answer: Record the credible witness's name and ID information in the notary journal

The notary should record the credible witness's name and identifying information in the notary journal when using this identification method.

Question 12: What must a Washington notary do when their commission expires and they wish to continue notarizing?

File a simple renewal form with no bond requirement
Submit a renewal application, new bond, and fee before expiration (Correct answer)
Request an extension from the county auditor
Wait 30 days after expiration and then reapply

Correct answer: Submit a renewal application, new bond, and fee before expiration

To renew a Washington notary commission, the notary must submit a renewal application with a new surety bond and the required fee.

Question 13: Can a Washington notary commission be revoked?

Yes, the Secretary of State may revoke a commission for misconduct or other violations (Correct answer)
No, a commission is permanent once granted
Only by a court order
Only if the notary is convicted of a felony

Correct answer: Yes, the Secretary of State may revoke a commission for misconduct or other violations

The Secretary of State has authority to revoke, suspend, or deny a Washington notary commission for violations of notary law or professional conduct.

Question 14: What should a Washington notary do if they suspect a signer's ID is fraudulent?

Call the police immediately and detain the signer
Ask a second notary to verify the ID
Refuse to notarize and do not retain the ID (Correct answer)
Complete the notarization with a note about the suspicion

Correct answer: Refuse to notarize and do not retain the ID

If a notary suspects an ID is fraudulent, they should refuse to perform the notarial act; they should not detain the person or confiscate the ID.

Question 15: Which of the following is a duty of a Washington Notary Public when notarizing a document?

Administer an oath or affirmation if required. (Correct answer)
Sign the document on behalf of the signer.
Provide legal advice regarding the document.
Verify the identity of the signer. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Administer an oath or affirmation if required.

A primary and essential duty of a Washington Notary Public is to verify the identity of the signer. This ensures that the person signing the document is indeed who they claim to be, preventing fraud and upholding the integrity of the notarial act. Without proper identification, the notarization cannot proceed, safeguarding the legal process.

Question 16: If a signer for a jurat refuses to take an oath or affirmation, what must the Washington notary do?

Allow two witnesses to substitute for the oath
Refuse to complete the jurat (Correct answer)
Complete the jurat anyway
Use an acknowledgment instead

Correct answer: Refuse to complete the jurat

The oath or affirmation is a mandatory element of a jurat; if the signer refuses, the notary must decline to complete the notarial act.

Question 17: When must a newly appointed Washington notary take their oath of office?

Before performing any notarial act, within the required period (Correct answer)
At the next available county courthouse date
Within one year of appointment
Within 30 days of commission issuance

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

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

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 19: Is a Washington notary required to post their fee schedule publicly?

Only for notaries who charge more than $5 per act
No, there is no mandatory posting requirement (Correct answer)
Yes, it must be posted at their place of business
Yes, fees must be filed with the county auditor

Correct answer: No, there is no mandatory posting requirement

Washington does not require notaries to publicly post their fee schedules, though doing so is a transparent and professional practice.

Question 20: What must a Washington notary do with their electronic credentials (seal and signature) when their notary commission expires?

Retain them only for documents previously notarized but not yet recorded
Immediately cease using them upon commission expiration (Correct answer)
Continue using them for up to 30 days during the renewal grace period
Transfer them automatically to the renewed commission

Correct answer: Immediately cease using them upon commission expiration

Upon expiration of a Washington notary commission, the notary must immediately stop using their electronic seal and signature, as authority to notarize ceases with the commission.

Question 21: If an acknowledgment certificate is missing from a document, what should a Washington notary do?

Attach a separate loose certificate with proper wording (Correct answer)
Sign and seal the document anyway
Refuse to notarize the document
Write the certificate wording on any blank space available

Correct answer: Attach a separate loose certificate with proper wording

A notary may attach a separate loose acknowledgment certificate when the document itself has no certificate wording.

Question 22: What is the required retention period for a Washington notary’s journal?

10 years (Correct answer)
2 years
4 years
15 years

Correct answer: 10 years

In Washington State, a notary public is required to retain their journal for a period of 10 years after the last entry. This lengthy retention period ensures that a comprehensive record of all notarial acts is available for legal, investigative, or administrative purposes for a significant duration. It provides a long-term audit trail for official acts.

Question 23: Which certificate language is typically used for a jurat in Washington?

Witnessed and attested by
Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me (Correct answer)
Acknowledged before me
Certified and delivered to

Correct answer: Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me

Jurat certificates use language such as 'subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) before me' to indicate the oath and signing occurred before the notary.

Question 24: Which of the following acts would NOT typically result in a penalty for a Washington notary public?

Notarizing a document for a close family member without disclosing the relationship.
Failing to keep a journal of notarial acts.
Using an expired notary seal.
Incorrectly dating a notarized document. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Incorrectly dating a notarized document.

Incorrectly dating a notarized document is a procedural error that a notary should strive to avoid. However, compared to serious violations like notarizing for a close family member without disclosure (conflict of interest), using an expired notary seal, or failing to maintain a journal, an incorrect date might not typically result in a formal penalty from the Secretary of State unless it's part of a pattern of negligence or intent to deceive. The other options represent more direct and significant breaches of notary law and ethics.

Question 25: What is the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge per notarial act under state law?

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

Correct answer: $10

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

Question 26: If a signer fails knowledge-based authentication (KBA) during a remote online notarization session, the Washington notary must:

Immediately retry KBA with the same set of questions
Complete the notarization based on the credential analysis result alone
Contact the Secretary of State's office for guidance before proceeding
Refuse to complete the notarization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Refuse to complete the notarization

Failing KBA means the required identity standard has not been met, so the notary must refuse to complete the notarization.

Question 27: What action should a Washington notary public take if they become aware of a mistake in a notarized document?

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.
Notify the signer and correct the mistake in the journal. (Correct answer)

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 28: Can a Washington notary refuse to notarize a document because a signer cannot afford to pay the fee?

No, refusing to notarize for financial reasons is always prohibited
Only government officials may refuse on financial grounds
Yes, a notary is not obligated to perform services for free unless required by law (Correct answer)
No, all notarizations must be free for low-income individuals

Correct answer: Yes, a notary is not obligated to perform services for free unless required by law

A Washington notary is generally not obligated to provide free services; however, they may not refuse for discriminatory reasons.

Question 29: What happens to a Washington notary commission when the notary moves out of state permanently?

The notary may keep the commission if they retain a WA P.O. box
The commission is automatically terminated (Correct answer)
The commission continues until it expires
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 30: What must a Washington notary do with their seal and journal when their commission ends?

Return both to the Secretary of State
Transfer them to another commissioned notary
Keep the journal for at least 10 years and destroy or deface the seal (Correct answer)
Destroy them immediately

Correct answer: Keep the journal for at least 10 years and destroy or deface the seal

Upon commission expiration or resignation, the notary should retain the journal for at least 10 years and destroy or deface the seal to prevent unauthorized use.

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%

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