NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Exam Notary Public Laws and Regulations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum fee a North Carolina notary may charge for performing a single notarial act under NCGS Chapter 10B?
- $5
- $10 (Correct answer)
- $15
- $25
Correct answer: $10
NCGS 10B-31 caps the fee for each notarial act at $10. Notaries may charge less or waive the fee entirely, but may not exceed this statutory maximum.
Question 2: Before receiving an initial North Carolina notary commission, an applicant is required to complete:
- A 3-hour online self-paced refresher course
- A 6-hour approved notary education course (Correct answer)
- A 10-hour apprenticeship under an active notary
- A state-administered proctored written examination only
Correct answer: A 6-hour approved notary education course
NCGS 10B-5 requires first-time applicants to complete a 6-hour notary education course approved by the Secretary of State before the commission is granted. Renewal applicants have a shorter course requirement.
Question 3: What surety bond amount must a North Carolina notary obtain as a condition of commissioning under NCGS Chapter 10B?
- $2,500
- $5,000
- $10,000 (Correct answer)
- $25,000
Correct answer: $10,000
NCGS 10B-7 requires every notary applicant to obtain and file a $10,000 surety bond. The bond protects the public from financial harm caused by a notary's misconduct.
Question 4: Under NCGS 10B-36, which of the following information is required to appear on a North Carolina notary's official seal?
- The notary's home address and telephone number
- The notary's name, county of commission, 'North Carolina,' and commission expiration date (Correct answer)
- The notary's signature, a unique serial number, and the state seal
- The notary's name and the words 'Notary Public' only
Correct answer: The notary's name, county of commission, 'North Carolina,' and commission expiration date
The official seal must include the notary's name exactly as commissioned, the county where commissioned, the words 'North Carolina,' and the commission expiration date — all required elements under NCGS 10B-36.
Question 5: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, a North Carolina notary is expressly prohibited from:
- Notarizing documents written in a foreign language
- Performing notarial acts outside their county of commissioning
- Notarizing their own signature on a document (Correct answer)
- Charging a fee for routine acknowledgment acts
Correct answer: Notarizing their own signature on a document
NCGS 10B-34 prohibits a notary from notarizing a document in which the notary is a named party or signer. Notarizing one's own signature is a fundamental conflict of interest barred by statute.
Question 6: Under NCGS Chapter 10B, which of the following constitutes a statutory ground for revocation or suspension of a North Carolina notary commission?
- Performing more than 50 notarial acts in a single calendar month
- Notarizing documents outside of normal business hours
- Conviction of a felony after the commission is granted (Correct answer)
- Charging the maximum allowable $10 fee per notarial act
Correct answer: Conviction of a felony after the commission is granted
NCGS 10B-60 authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke or suspend a commission upon conviction of a felony, among other grounds. Volume of acts, time of day, and lawful fees are not grounds for discipline.
NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Exam Notary Public Laws and Regulations 1
What is the maximum fee a North Carolina notary may charge for performing a single notarial act under NCGS Chapter 10B?