WY Notary Notary Public Ethics and Professional Conduct 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How should a Wyoming notary handle confidential information encountered during a notarization?
- Keep it confidential and not disclose it to unauthorized parties (Correct answer)
- Report it to the Secretary of State within 24 hours
- Include it in their public notarial journal
- Share it with the document's intended recipient
Correct answer: Keep it confidential and not disclose it to unauthorized parties
A notary who encounters confidential information in the course of a notarization must maintain that confidentiality and not disclose it improperly.
Question 2: May a Wyoming notary advertise their notarial services?
- Yes, but they must not misrepresent their authority or use the title 'notario publico' in Spanish-language ads (Correct answer)
- Yes, without any restrictions
- No, advertising notarial services is prohibited
- Yes, as long as they advertise only in English
Correct answer: Yes, but they must not misrepresent their authority or use the title 'notario publico' in Spanish-language ads
Wyoming notaries may advertise but are prohibited from using 'notario publico' in Spanish-language advertising because it implies legal services in many cultures.
Question 3: If a Wyoming notary is also a real estate agent involved in a transaction, may they notarize documents for that same transaction?
- No, because they have a financial interest in the transaction (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the buyer and seller both consent in writing
- Yes, as long as they disclose their dual role
- No, but their broker may notarize the documents instead
Correct answer: No, because they have a financial interest in the transaction
A notary with a financial stake in a real estate transaction may not notarize documents for that transaction due to the conflict of interest.
Question 4: What is the 'duty of care' expected of a Wyoming notary?
- To exercise reasonable diligence in verifying signer identity and performing notarial acts correctly (Correct answer)
- To guarantee the legal validity of all documents they notarize
- To review documents for errors before notarizing
- To retain copies of all documents notarized
Correct answer: To exercise reasonable diligence in verifying signer identity and performing notarial acts correctly
The duty of care requires a notary to act with reasonable diligence—particularly in verifying signer identity and following proper procedures.
Question 5: May a Wyoming notary notarize a document that contains blank spaces intended to be filled in later?
- No, all blanks must be completed before notarization (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the signer initials each blank
- Yes, as long as the notary notes the blanks in their journal
- No, but the notary may line through the blanks before notarizing
Correct answer: No, all blanks must be completed before notarization
Notarizing a document with incomplete blanks exposes the notary to liability because blanks could be fraudulently filled in afterward.
Question 6: What should a Wyoming notary do when uncertain about the correct notarial procedure?
- Consult the Wyoming Notary Public Handbook or the Secretary of State's office before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Proceed with their best judgment and document the uncertainty
- Ask the signer what procedure they prefer
- Refuse all future notarizations until they complete a refresher course
Correct answer: Consult the Wyoming Notary Public Handbook or the Secretary of State's office before proceeding
When uncertain, a notary should consult official resources such as Wyoming's Notary Handbook or contact the Secretary of State rather than guessing.
WY Notary Notary Public Ethics and Professional Conduct 2
How should a Wyoming notary handle confidential information encountered during a notarization?