CO Notary Notarial Acts & Certificates 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must a Colorado notary include in every notarial certificate?
- Their home address
- Their commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The document's filing date
- The signer's Social Security number
Correct answer: Their commission expiration date
Colorado notarial certificates must include the notary's commission expiration date so parties can verify the commission was active.
Question 2: A Colorado notary may refuse to perform a notarial act if:
- The signer does not speak English
- The notary is not satisfied the signer is competent or willing (Correct answer)
- The document is written in a foreign language
- The fee requested is too low
Correct answer: The notary is not satisfied the signer is competent or willing
A notary may refuse if they have reasonable doubt about the signer's competency, willingness, or identity.
Question 3: What is a copy certification by a document custodian in Colorado?
- A notary certifies the copy themselves
- The notary notarizes the custodian's statement that the copy is accurate (Correct answer)
- A court order confirming a copy
- A bank-certified true copy
Correct answer: The notary notarizes the custodian's statement that the copy is accurate
When a notary cannot directly certify a copy, they can notarize the custodian's sworn statement that the copy is a true and correct copy of the original.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a signature witnessing notarial act?
- The notary certifies the document's content is accurate
- The notary witnesses the signer sign the document but no oath is taken (Correct answer)
- The notary swears the signer is honest
- The notary provides a certified copy
Correct answer: The notary witnesses the signer sign the document but no oath is taken
A signature witnessing involves the notary watching the signer sign the document without administering an oath or taking an acknowledgment.
Question 5: Who is responsible for completing the notarial certificate on a Colorado document?
- The document drafter
- The signer
- The notary (Correct answer)
- The county recorder
Correct answer: The notary
The notary is responsible for completing the notarial certificate accurately to reflect what occurred during the notarization.
Question 6: May a Colorado notary add a notarial certificate to a document after the fact if one was omitted?
- Yes, at any time
- Yes, but only within 30 days
- Only if the signer is still present (Correct answer)
- No, a new notarization must be performed
Correct answer: Only if the signer is still present
A notarial certificate cannot be added later unless the signer is still present; otherwise a new notarization must occur.
CO Notary Notarial Acts & Certificates 2
What must a Colorado notary include in every notarial certificate?