NC Notary - North Carolina Notary Notarial Certificates Questions and Answers

Question 1

A signer presents a document in Chatham County with a pre-printed notarial certificate showing the venue as "State of North Carolina, County of Wake." What is the notary's proper course of action?

Accepted Answer

Line through "Wake," write "Chatham," and initial the change.

Answer

Refuse the notarization as the document is incorrect.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization as the venue is just a formality.

Answer

Tell the signer to get a new document with the correct county pre-printed.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a required element for attestation on every North Carolina notarial certificate?

Accepted Answer

The notary's printed name.

Answer

The signature of the notary, exactly as commissioned.

Answer

The clear and legible appearance of the notary's seal.

Answer

A statement of the date the notary's commission expires.

Question 3

A notary is asked to perform an acknowledgment. The notarial certificate provided by the document creator is missing the principal signer's name and the date of the notarization. How should the notary proceed?

Accepted Answer

Handwrite the missing information into the existing certificate and then complete the notarization.

Answer

Notarize the document but leave the spaces blank for the signer to fill in later.

Answer

Attach a new, completed loose-leaf certificate to the document.

Answer

Return the document to the signer and instruct them to have the creator add the information.

Question 4

The primary purpose of the 'body' of a notarial certificate, such as the wording for an acknowledgment, is to:

Accepted Answer

Describe the facts being certified by the notary for that specific notarial act.

Answer

State the physical location where the notarization took place.

Answer

Provide the notary's commission expiration date and official seal.

Answer

Identify any credible witnesses used during the notarization process.

Question 5

A document requires a jurat, but the pre-printed notarial certificate contains the standard wording for an acknowledgment. Which action is appropriate for the North Carolina notary?

Accepted Answer

Cross out the acknowledgment wording, write in the correct jurat wording, initial the change, and then proceed with the notarization.

Answer

Use the acknowledgment form since it is already on the document.

Answer

Refuse to notarize the document entirely.

Answer

Advise the signer on the legal differences between the two acts.

Question 6

When completing a notarial certificate, a notary in North Carolina must sign their name in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Exactly as their name appears on their notary commission.

Answer

Using a common nickname they are known by.

Answer

With their first initial and last name.

Answer

Any legible signature is acceptable as long as the seal is clear.