WI Notary Notarial Acts and Certificates 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a notarial act authorized under Wisconsin law?
- Taking an acknowledgment (Correct answer)
- Issuing a marriage license
- Filing court documents
- Certifying tax records
Correct answer: Taking an acknowledgment
Taking an acknowledgment is one of the core notarial acts authorized for Wisconsin notaries under Wis. Stat. § 140.14.
Question 2: What must a notarial certificate include at a minimum in Wisconsin?
- Venue, signature, and notary seal (Correct answer)
- Only the notary's name
- The document title and date only
- The signer's Social Security number
Correct answer: Venue, signature, and notary seal
A Wisconsin notarial certificate must include the venue (state and county), the notary's signature, and the official seal.
Question 3: In Wisconsin, what is the term for a notarial act where a person swears or affirms the truthfulness of a written statement?
- Jurat (Correct answer)
- Acknowledgment
- Copy certification
- Protest
Correct answer: Jurat
A jurat is the notarial act in which the notary certifies that a signer appeared and took an oath or affirmation regarding a written statement.
Question 4: Which Wisconsin statute primarily governs notarial acts?
- Wis. Stat. Chapter 140 (Correct answer)
- Wis. Stat. Chapter 706
- Wis. Stat. Chapter 893
- Wis. Stat. Chapter 401
Correct answer: Wis. Stat. Chapter 140
Wisconsin Chapter 140 (the Uniform Notarial Acts law) is the primary statute governing notarial acts in the state.
Question 5: What is a 'venue' on a Wisconsin notarial certificate?
- The state and county where the notarial act was performed (Correct answer)
- The address of the signer
- The notary's office location
- The court where the document will be filed
Correct answer: The state and county where the notarial act was performed
The venue on a notarial certificate identifies the state and county where the notarial act took place.
Question 6: Can a Wisconsin notary certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate?
- No, vital records may only be certified by the issuing government agency (Correct answer)
- Yes, any document can be copy-certified
- Yes, but only if the original is presented in person
- No, only attorneys can certify vital records
Correct answer: No, vital records may only be certified by the issuing government agency
Wisconsin notaries cannot certify copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates) because those must be certified by the issuing government office.
WI Notary Notarial Acts and Certificates 1
Which of the following is a notarial act authorized under Wisconsin law?