DE Notary Notarial Acts and Certificates 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What language must a Delaware notarial certificate be written in to be valid?
- A language the notary can read and understand (Correct answer)
- Only Latin
- Only English
- Any foreign language the signer prefers
Correct answer: A language the notary can read and understand
Delaware law requires that a notarial certificate be written in a language the notary is able to read and understand.
Question 2: Which of the following documents typically requires an acknowledgment rather than a jurat?
- A deed conveying real property (Correct answer)
- An affidavit sworn before a notary
- A deposition transcript
- A sworn financial statement
Correct answer: A deed conveying real property
Deeds and other instruments conveying real property typically require an acknowledgment to confirm the signer voluntarily executed the document.
Question 3: Under Delaware law, can a notary certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate?
- No, vital records may only be certified by the issuing agency (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the original is presented
- Yes, if the signer requests it
- No, unless authorized by a judge
Correct answer: No, vital records may only be certified by the issuing agency
Delaware notaries cannot certify copies of vital records; only the issuing government agency has authority to certify such documents.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the venue on a Delaware notarial certificate?
- To identify the state and county where the notarial act was performed (Correct answer)
- To list the notary's home address
- To record the document's filing location
- To show where the signer lives
Correct answer: To identify the state and county where the notarial act was performed
The venue on a notarial certificate identifies the state and county where the notarial act was actually performed.
Question 5: How should a Delaware notary handle a certificate that contains a blank to be filled in?
- Complete all blanks before signing and sealing (Correct answer)
- Leave blanks for the signer to fill in later
- Sign and seal before blanks are completed
- Return the document to the issuer
Correct answer: Complete all blanks before signing and sealing
A notary should never sign or seal a certificate with blank spaces; all required blanks must be completed before the notarial act is finalized.
Question 6: Which notarial certificate wording is associated with an acknowledgment in Delaware?
- 'Acknowledged before me' or similar language confirming voluntary execution (Correct answer)
- 'Subscribed and sworn before me' confirming truthfulness
- 'I certify that this is a true copy' of an original
- 'Witnessed by me' during the signing
Correct answer: 'Acknowledged before me' or similar language confirming voluntary execution
Acknowledgment certificates include language such as 'acknowledged before me' to confirm the signer voluntarily executed the document.
DE Notary Notarial Acts and Certificates 2
What language must a Delaware notarial certificate be written in to be valid?