NC Notary Notary Public Responsibilities and Eligibility 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum age requirement to qualify as a notary public in North Carolina?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- 25 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
NC law (GS §10B-5) requires notary applicants to be at least 18 years of age.
Question 2: Who has the authority to appoint notaries public in North Carolina?
- The Governor of North Carolina
- The NC Secretary of State (Correct answer)
- The county clerk of court
- The NC Attorney General
Correct answer: The NC Secretary of State
Under GS Chapter 10B, the NC Secretary of State appoints all notaries public.
Question 3: How long is a North Carolina notary commission valid?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 5 years
A NC notary commission is valid for five years from the date of appointment per GS §10B-9.
Question 4: Which of the following would make a person INELIGIBLE to apply for a NC notary commission?
- Being a permanent legal resident alien
- Being employed in NC while residing in another state
- Being 17 years old with a high school diploma (Correct answer)
- Having completed a GED program
Correct answer: Being 17 years old with a high school diploma
NC requires notary applicants to be at least 18 years old, so being 17 is disqualifying regardless of other qualifications.
Question 5: A person who does NOT reside in North Carolina may still qualify for a NC notary commission if they:
- Own real property in North Carolina
- Are married to a North Carolina resident
- Regularly work or have a place of business in NC (Correct answer)
- Pay North Carolina state income taxes
Correct answer: Regularly work or have a place of business in NC
GS §10B-5 allows non-residents who have a regular place of work or business in NC to qualify for a notary commission.
Question 6: Which action would most likely result in revocation of a NC notary's commission?
- Charging the maximum permitted fee for each act
- Notarizing a document for a coworker
- Being convicted of a felony offense (Correct answer)
- Moving to a different county within North Carolina
Correct answer: Being convicted of a felony offense
A felony conviction is grounds for the NC Secretary of State to revoke a notary's commission.
Question 7: A NC notary who legally changes their name must notify the Secretary of State within:
- 10 days
- 30 days
- 45 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 45 days
NC law requires a notary to notify the Secretary of State of a name change within 45 days and obtain a new certificate of commission.
NC Notary Notary Public Responsibilities and Eligibility 3
What is the minimum age requirement to qualify as a notary public in North Carolina?