WY NOTARY Notary Stamp and Journal Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Wyoming notary's official stamp was stolen. According to Wyoming law and administrative rules, what is the notary's IMMEDIATE required action upon discovering the theft?

Accepted Answer

Promptly notify the Wyoming Secretary of State.

Answer

Wyoming law (W.S. § 32-3-117) and administrative rules require a notary public to promptly notify the Secretary of State upon discovering that their stamping device is lost or stolen. While filing a police report is a good practice, the legally mandated first step is to inform the commissioning authority, the Secretary of State.

Question 2

A Wyoming notary is recording an acknowledgment in their required journal. Which of the following pieces of information is a recommended best practice to include for each journal entry, as outlined by the Secretary of State?

Accepted Answer

A detailed description of how the signer was identified.

Answer

While Wyoming law mandates keeping a journal, the Secretary of State provides examples of what should be chronicled. This includes the date, type of notarization, document type, signer's name and signature, address, the fee, and a detailed description of how the signer was identified (e.g., personal knowledge, credible witness, or ID card details).

Question 3

When a Wyoming notary resigns their commission before its expiration date, what is the proper procedure for handling their official stamping device?

Accepted Answer

Disable the stamping device by destroying or defacing it.

Answer

According to Wyoming Statute 32-3-117, upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of a commission, the notary public must disable the stamping device by destroying, defacing, damaging, erasing, or securing it in a manner that renders it unusable.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a mandatory element required to be within the border of a Wyoming notary's official rectangular stamp?

Accepted Answer

The notary's county of residence.

Answer

Wyoming law explicitly states that the notary's county of residence CANNOT be included on the official stamp. The required elements are the notary's name, "Notary Public," "State of Wyoming," the commission ID number, and "My commission expires (date)".

Question 5

A Wyoming notary works for a law firm that paid for their commission and supplies. The notary resigns from the firm. The employer insists on keeping the notary's journal because the notarizations were for company business. What is the correct course of action for the notary?

Accepted Answer

Surrender the journal to the employer only with approval from the Secretary of State.

Answer

Wyoming Statute 32-3-118(g) states that a notary public shall not surrender the journal to an employer upon termination of employment without the approval of the Secretary of State. The journal is the property and responsibility of the notary, not the employer, regardless of who paid for it. An employer may, however, retain a copy.

WY Notary - Wyoming Notary Exam Practice Test

WY Notary - Wyoming Notary Exam Practice Test

WY NOTARY Notary Stamp and Journal Questions and Answers