WY Notary Copy Certification 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of copy certification by a Wyoming notary?
- To authenticate that a document is legally binding
- To attest that a copy of a document is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original (Correct answer)
- To verify the identity of the person who signed the original document
- To certify that a document has been filed with a government agency
Correct answer: To attest that a copy of a document is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original
Copy certification is a notarial act in which the notary attests that a copy is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original document.
Question 2: Which of the following documents CAN a Wyoming notary certify a copy of?
- A birth certificate issued by the state
- A death certificate from the county
- A personal contract or private agreement (Correct answer)
- A court-issued marriage license
Correct answer: A personal contract or private agreement
Wyoming notaries may certify copies of private documents such as personal contracts; vital records and public records must be obtained from the issuing government agency.
Question 3: Which document type is a Wyoming notary PROHIBITED from certifying copies of?
- Private contracts between two parties
- Personal letters or correspondence
- Vital records such as birth certificates (Correct answer)
- Business agreements signed by both parties
Correct answer: Vital records such as birth certificates
Wyoming notaries cannot certify copies of vital records — birth, death, or marriage certificates — because certified copies of these must be obtained from the official custodian agency.
Question 4: What must a Wyoming notary have present in order to perform a copy certification?
- Only a photocopy submitted by the requestor
- The original document to compare against the copy being certified (Correct answer)
- A sworn statement from the document owner attesting to accuracy
- A court order authorizing the copy certification
Correct answer: The original document to compare against the copy being certified
To certify a copy, the notary must have the original document present so it can be compared to the copy to confirm it is an accurate reproduction.
Question 5: When certifying a copy, what does the notary's certificate attest to?
- That the signer of the original had legal authority to sign it
- That the document is legally enforceable in Wyoming courts
- That the copy is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original (Correct answer)
- That the original document was created on the date it states
Correct answer: That the copy is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original
The copy certification certificate specifically attests that the copy is a complete and accurate reproduction of the original document the notary examined.
Question 6: Can a Wyoming notary certify a copy of a public record?
- Yes, for any public record upon the requestor's written request
- Yes, but only for records that are more than ten years old
- No, copies of public records must be obtained from the official custodian of those records (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the notary charges the maximum statutory fee
Correct answer: No, copies of public records must be obtained from the official custodian of those records
Wyoming notaries are not authorized to certify copies of public records; those must be obtained directly from the government agency or court that is the official custodian of the record.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the correct process for copy certification in Wyoming?
- 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)
- 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
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.
WY Notary Copy Certification 1
What is the primary purpose of copy certification by a Wyoming notary?