NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Exam Notary Public Responsibilities and Eligibility 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the length of a notary public commission in North Carolina?
- 2 years
- 4 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
North Carolina notary commissions are valid for 5 years. After expiration, the notary must reapply and complete the required training to be recommissioned.
Question 2: A North Carolina notary public must be at least how old at the time of application?
- 16 years old
- 17 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
Correct answer: 18 years old
NC law requires that an applicant be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for a notary commission, in addition to meeting other statutory requirements.
Question 3: Which of the following individuals would be ELIGIBLE to apply for a North Carolina notary commission?
- A 16-year-old honor student who speaks fluent English
- A person convicted of a felony whose rights have never been restored
- A lawful permanent resident who works full-time at a business located in North Carolina (Correct answer)
- A person who cannot read or write in any language
Correct answer: A lawful permanent resident who works full-time at a business located in North Carolina
NC law allows lawful permanent residents to become notaries if they have a regular place of work or business in North Carolina. Felons without restored rights, minors, and those unable to read/write English are disqualified.
Question 4: Under North Carolina law, when a commissioned notary legally changes their name, they must notify the Secretary of State within:
- 10 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
A NC notary must notify the Secretary of State within 30 days of a legal name change and must obtain a new notary seal reflecting the new name before performing further notarial acts.
Question 5: A North Carolina notary public is PROHIBITED from performing a notarial act when:
- The signer is a coworker but not a supervisor
- The document will be recorded in another state
- The notary is a named grantee or party to the transaction being notarized (Correct answer)
- The signer requests the notarization be completed in a language other than English
Correct answer: The notary is a named grantee or party to the transaction being notarized
NC law prohibits a notary from notarizing any document in which they have a direct financial or beneficial interest, including being a named party or grantee. This prevents conflicts of interest.
Question 6: What must a North Carolina notary do when their commission expires and they wish to continue performing notarial acts?
- Simply file a renewal notice with the county clerk
- Wait 6 months before reapplying
- Submit a new application and complete the required education course again (Correct answer)
- Reapply only if their previous commission was revoked or suspended
Correct answer: Submit a new application and complete the required education course again
An expired NC notary commission does not automatically renew. The notary must submit a new application and complete the state-approved education course, even if they were previously commissioned.
NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Exam Notary Public Responsibilities and Eligibility 1
What is the length of a notary public commission in North Carolina?