NH Notary NH Notary Acknowledgments and Jurats 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a NH notary performs a copy certification, what are they attesting to?
- That the original document is authentic
- That the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original (Correct answer)
- That the signer's identity has been verified
- That the document has been sworn to be true
Correct answer: That the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original
A copy certification attests that the copy the notary compared to the original is a true, correct, and complete reproduction.
Question 2: Can a NH notary certify a copy of a vital record such as a birth certificate?
- Yes, for any document presented
- No, vital records are issued by government offices and may not be notary-certified as copies (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the original is presented
- Only if the signer requests it
Correct answer: No, vital records are issued by government offices and may not be notary-certified as copies
Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must be obtained as certified copies from the issuing government agency, not from a notary.
Question 3: What should a NH notary do if a document presented for notarization is incomplete (has blank spaces)?
- Complete the blanks for the signer
- Refuse to notarize until all blanks are filled in (Correct answer)
- Notarize it anyway as long as the signer agrees
- Add 'N/A' to all blanks and proceed
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize until all blanks are filled in
Notarizing a document with blank spaces could enable fraud; the notary must decline until blanks are completed.
Question 4: For a NH real estate deed acknowledgment, who must personally appear before the notary?
- Only the grantor (seller)
- All parties whose signatures are to be acknowledged (Correct answer)
- The attorney who drafted the deed
- Only the grantee (buyer)
Correct answer: All parties whose signatures are to be acknowledged
Every signer whose signature is being acknowledged must personally appear before the notary to acknowledge their signature.
Question 5: What is a signature by mark in the context of NH notarizations?
- A digital signature
- A physical mark (such as an X) made by a signer unable to write their name (Correct answer)
- A notary's stamp
- An attorney's certification
Correct answer: A physical mark (such as an X) made by a signer unable to write their name
A signature by mark occurs when a signer who cannot write uses a mark (often an X) witnessed by the notary and typically two witnesses.
Question 6: When notarizing for a signer who cannot speak English in New Hampshire, what should the notary do?
- Refuse to notarize
- Use a qualified interpreter and note this in the certificate if necessary (Correct answer)
- Proceed without interpretation
- Call the Secretary of State for approval
Correct answer: Use a qualified interpreter and note this in the certificate if necessary
A qualified interpreter may facilitate communication, and the notary should ensure the signer understands what they are signing.
NH Notary NH Notary Acknowledgments and Jurats 2
When a NH notary performs a copy certification, what are they attesting to?