Wyoming Notary Public Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the primary difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?

Jurats are only used for real estate documents
In an acknowledgment, the signer swears the document content is true
Acknowledgments require two witnesses while jurats require none
In a jurat, the signer must sign in the notary's presence and swear to the content's truth (Correct answer)

Correct answer: In a jurat, the signer must sign in the notary's presence and swear to the content's truth

A jurat requires the signer to sign before the notary and take an oath or affirmation that the document's contents are true, unlike an acknowledgment.

Question 2: An individual lives in a town in Montana that borders Wyoming. They work full-time at a company located in Sheridan, Wyoming. Based on Wyoming's qualification rules, are they eligible to become a Wyoming Notary Public?

Yes, but only if they notarize documents exclusively for their employer.
No, because they must be a legal resident of Wyoming.
No, because notaries cannot work across state lines.
Yes, because they have a place of employment within Wyoming. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes, because they have a place of employment within Wyoming.

Wyoming law allows an individual to qualify for a notary commission if they are a resident of Wyoming OR have a place of employment or practice in the state. Since the individual works in Wyoming, they meet the eligibility criteria.

Question 3: Which of the following is NOT a mandatory element required to be within the border of a Wyoming notary's official rectangular stamp?

The notary's county of residence. (Correct answer)
The words "Notary Public" and "State of Wyoming".
The notary's commission ID number.
The notary's commission expiration date.

Correct answer: The notary's county of residence.

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 4: What information must appear in a Wyoming acknowledgment certificate?

The document title and number of pages
Venue, notary signature, printed name, commission expiration, and notary seal (Correct answer)
Only the notary's signature and date
The signer's date of birth and address

Correct answer: Venue, notary signature, printed name, commission expiration, and notary seal

A complete acknowledgment certificate must include the venue (state/county), notary's signature, printed name, commission expiration date, and official seal.

Question 5: A Wyoming notary is asked to certify a copy of a birth certificate. According to Wyoming law, what should the notary do?

Refuse the notarization and explain that only the agency that issued the original can certify it.
Notarize the copy only if the person also presents the original, unaltered birth certificate.
Have the person presenting the document sign a sworn statement that it is a true copy, and then notarize that person's signature. (Correct answer)
Make a photocopy, certify it as a true copy, and affix their seal.

Correct answer: Have the person presenting the document sign a sworn statement that it is a true copy, and then notarize that person's signature.

Wyoming notaries are generally prohibited from certifying copies of official records like birth certificates. However, the recommended procedure is for the person presenting the copy to sign a sworn statement affirming its truthfulness and correctness. The notary may then notarize the signature on that sworn statement (performing a jurat), not the copy itself.

Question 6: An applicant for a Wyoming Notary Public commission must meet several qualifications. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for commissioning?

Be a resident of Wyoming for at least one year prior to applying.
Be a registered voter in Wyoming.
Post a $5,000 surety bond with the Secretary of State.
Be at least 18 years of age. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Be at least 18 years of age.

Wyoming law requires a notary public applicant to be at least 18 years old. While residency or having a place of employment in the state is required, a one-year prior residency is not. Surety bonds are no longer required, and being a registered voter is not a qualification.

Question 7: When an applicant submits their Notary Public Commission Application to the Wyoming Secretary of State, what is one of the critical steps they must complete as part of the application form itself?

Submit fingerprints for a federal background check.
Provide three professional references.
File a copy of the application with their local county clerk.
Sign an Oath of Office in the presence of an existing notary. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sign an Oath of Office in the presence of an existing notary.

The Wyoming Notary Public Application form includes an Oath of Office. The applicant must sign this oath before a currently commissioned notary public, who then notarizes the applicant's signature on the form before it is submitted to the Secretary of State.

Question 8: What is the legal consequence of making a false statement after taking an oath administered by a notary?

The signer forfeits any fee paid to the notary
The notary's commission is automatically revoked
The person may be charged with perjury (Correct answer)
The document becomes void and unenforceable

Correct answer: The person may be charged with perjury

Knowingly making a false statement after taking an oath constitutes perjury, which is a criminal offense.

Question 9: Who must be personally present for a standard acknowledgment in Wyoming?

The document's intended recipient
Both the signer and all witnesses
The notary's supervising attorney
The document signer (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The document signer

Only the document signer needs to personally appear before the notary for an acknowledgment.

Question 10: A commissioned Wyoming notary decides they want to start offering Remote Online Notarization services. They have completed their vendor's training and have a compliant e-seal and digital certificate. What additional step must the notary take BEFORE performing their first remote notarization?

File a notice with their county clerk indicating their intent to perform RONs.
Pass a specialized RON examination administered directly by the Secretary of State.
Notify the Secretary of State and identify their chosen RON technology provider. (Correct answer)
Purchase a separate Errors & Omissions insurance policy specifically for RON.

Correct answer: Notify the Secretary of State and identify their chosen RON technology provider.

Wyoming statute W.S. § 32-3-120(g) requires a notary public to notify the Secretary of State that they will be performing notarial acts for a remotely located person and must identify the specific RON technology provider they intend to use before performing their initial remote act.

Question 11: The Wyoming Secretary of State may deny a notary commission application for several reasons. Which of the following is a valid ground for denial?

Failing to be a member of a professional organization.
A previous bankruptcy filing.
A conviction for a misdemeanor traffic violation.
A felony conviction where civil rights have not been restored. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A felony conviction where civil rights have not been restored.

Wyoming statutes explicitly state that an applicant can be disqualified for a felony conviction unless their civil rights have been restored. The other options are not listed as statutory grounds for denial of a notary commission.

Question 12: What should a Wyoming notary do if a document lacks acknowledgment certificate wording?

Complete the notarization without any certificate
Refuse to notarize and send the signer away
Write the wording on the document themselves
Attach a separate loose acknowledgment certificate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Attach a separate loose acknowledgment certificate

If certificate wording is missing, the notary should attach a separate, properly worded loose certificate to the document.

Question 13: 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?

File a report with the local police department within 24 hours.
Promptly notify the Wyoming Secretary of State. (Correct answer)
Order a new stamp and begin using it immediately.
Publish a notice in a local newspaper for one week.

Correct answer: Promptly notify the Wyoming Secretary of State.

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 14: What is the venue in a notarial certificate?

The notary's business address
The state and county where the notarization took place (Correct answer)
The location where the document will be filed
The address of the signer

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

The venue identifies the state and county in which the notarial act was performed, establishing jurisdiction.

Question 15: Under Wyoming law, which entity should provide certified copies of vital records such as birth and death certificates?

Any licensed attorney practicing in Wyoming
The county clerk, regardless of which agency issued the document
Any licensed notary public in the state
The document custodian or issuing government agency (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The document custodian or issuing government agency

Certified copies of vital records must come from the issuing government agency — the official custodian — rather than from a notary public.

Question 16: Which of the following best describes the correct process for copy certification in Wyoming?

The notary sends both copy and original to the Secretary of State for authentication
The notary takes an oath from the document owner that the copy is accurate
The notary signs the copy without reviewing any original document
The notary compares the copy to the original, then completes a certificate attesting to its accuracy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The notary compares the copy to the original, then completes a certificate attesting to its accuracy

The proper process requires the notary to physically compare the copy to the original document and then complete and sign a certificate stating the copy is accurate.

Question 17: A newly commissioned Notary Public in Wyoming receives their Certificate of Commission from the Secretary of State. What is the standard term of a Wyoming Notary Public commission?

Two years
Six years (Correct answer)
Four years
Ten years

Correct answer: Six years

According to Wyoming statutes, a commission for a Notary Public is issued for a term of six years. This was an increase from the previous four-year term.

Question 18: What is an oath in the context of notarial acts?

A notary's certification that a document is genuine
A solemn, spoken pledge invoking a higher power to attest to the truth (Correct answer)
A written statement signed under penalty of perjury
A promise to pay a fee for notarial services

Correct answer: A solemn, spoken pledge invoking a higher power to attest to the truth

An oath is a verbal pledge invoking a religious or solemn higher power, administered by the notary, attesting that statements are true.

Question 19: What constitutes 'notarial misconduct' in Wyoming?

Using a personal stamp design instead of the state standard
Performing notarizations outside normal business hours
Performing a notarial act in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest, or violates Wyoming law (Correct answer)
Charging a fee above the posted schedule

Correct answer: Performing a notarial act in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest, or violates Wyoming law

Notarial misconduct includes any fraudulent, dishonest, or unlawful act performed in connection with official notarial duties.

Question 20: 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?

Make photocopies of the journal for the employer and take the original.
Report the employer to the state bar association for attempting to retain legal records.
Leave the journal with the employer as it is company property.
Surrender the journal to the employer only with approval from the Secretary of State. (Correct answer)

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

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.

Question 21: Under what circumstances is a Wyoming notary public authorized to perform a notarial act outside the physical borders of Wyoming?

Nowhere; a Wyoming notary's authority is strictly limited to the state's borders.
In any U.S. state, as long as the document pertains to Wyoming property.
In a contiguous state, provided that state recognizes the Wyoming notary's authority to perform the act. (Correct answer)
Only for remote online notarizations where the notary is physically in Wyoming but the signer is in another state.

Correct answer: In a contiguous state, provided that state recognizes the Wyoming notary's authority to perform the act.

Wyoming statutes permit a notary to perform certain notarial acts, like administering oaths or taking acknowledgments, in a contiguous state if that state grants Wyoming notaries similar authority. Currently, Montana is a contiguous state that recognizes this authority. When doing so, the Wyoming notary must follow all Wyoming laws.

Question 22: 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?

The brand of pen used by the signer.
The signer's social security number.
A detailed description of how the signer was identified. (Correct answer)
The signer's occupation.

Correct answer: A detailed description of how the signer was identified.

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 23: Unless they are also a licensed attorney, may a Wyoming notary practice law?

No, but they may explain the purpose of a notarial act
No, a notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice or prepare legal documents (Correct answer)
Yes, but only for documents they will also notarize
Yes, notaries are authorized to draft simple contracts

Correct answer: No, a notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice or prepare legal documents

Non-attorney notaries are strictly prohibited from practicing law, which includes drafting legal documents or advising signers on legal matters.

Question 24: Which of the following actions is prohibited for a Wyoming notary?

Notarizing a document in which the notary has a financial interest. (Correct answer)
Notarizing a document for a personal friend.
Notarizing a document written in a foreign language.
Charging a fee for notarial services.

Correct answer: Notarizing a document in which the notary has a financial interest.

Wyoming law prohibits a notary from performing a notarial act if they have a direct beneficial interest in the transaction or document. This ensures the notary remains impartial and avoids conflicts of interest, upholding the integrity of the notarial act. Notarizing for friends, charging fees, or notarizing foreign language documents are generally permissible, provided other requirements are met.

Question 25: May a Wyoming notary backdate an acknowledgment certificate?

No, unless authorized by the Secretary of State
Yes, to match the document's execution date
No, the date must reflect when the notarization actually occurred (Correct answer)
Yes, if the signer requests it

Correct answer: No, the date must reflect when the notarization actually occurred

Backdating a notarial certificate is prohibited and constitutes notarial misconduct in Wyoming.

Question 26: Regarding the physical security of a notary journal, Wyoming law requires the notary to:

Store it in a bank's safe deposit box.
Allow their employer to inspect it upon demand.
File it with the county clerk at the end of each calendar year.
Keep it in a secure area under the notary's sole control. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Keep it in a secure area under the notary's sole control.

Wyoming Statute 32-3-118(f) explicitly states that a notary public is responsible for the security of their journal and must keep it in a secure area under their sole control. This prevents unauthorized access and protects the private information of the signers recorded within it.

Wyoming Notary Public Exam

The Wyoming state-required notary exam tests knowledge of Wyoming notary law, notarial procedures, ethical responsibilities, stamp and journal requirements, and proper conduct for notaries public commissioned in Wyoming.

Questions

30 min

Time Limit

70%

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