Free Notary Public Practice Test

A. To draft legal contracts

B. To act as an impartial witness to the signing of documents ✓

C. To give legal advice

D. To file documents with the court

💡 A notary acts as an impartial witness to deter fraud and verify the identity of signers.

A. A notary certifies that a signer personally appeared and acknowledged signing the document ✓

B. A notary drafts the document

C. A notary files the document

D. A notary verifies the document's legality

💡 In an acknowledgment, the signer appears before the notary and acknowledges they signed voluntarily.

A. A type of notary seal

B. A notary certifies the signer swore or affirmed to the truth of the document under oath ✓

C. A filing fee

D. A form of identification

💡 A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm the contents are true, in addition to signing.

A. Asking for a fingerprint

B. Personal knowledge or acceptable identification documents ✓

C. A witness's statement alone

D. Checking the signer's credit score

💡 Identity is verified through the notary's personal knowledge of the signer or acceptable ID (e.g. driver's license, passport).

A. No, it's optional everywhere

B. Yes — a journal is required in most states and recommended everywhere ✓

C. Only for real estate documents

D. Only if the signer asks

💡 Most states require a journal; even where optional, it protects the notary and is best practice.

A. 1 year

B. 2 to 10 years depending on the state ✓

C. Lifetime

D. 6 months

💡 Notary commissions vary by state — commonly 4 years, ranging from 2 to 10 years.

A. Notarize anyway if they seem honest

B. Refuse the notarization ✓

C. Ask for cash

D. Notarize with a neighbor as witness

💡 Without satisfactory proof of identity, the notary must refuse the act.

A. Yes

B. No — a notary cannot act for themselves ✓

C. Only with a witness

D. Only for court documents

💡 A notary is disqualified from performing a notarial act in which they are a party or beneficiary.

A. It protects the notary's employer

B. It protects the public against financial loss caused by the notary's misconduct ✓

C. It's a training requirement

D. It pays the notary's salary

💡 A surety bond compensates the public for financial harm caused by notarial misconduct.

A. Made in the notary's presence ✓

B. Made in advance anywhere

C. Made by email

D. Made only at a bank

💡 For most notarial acts (acknowledgments and jurats), the signer must appear in person before the notary.