NJ Notary - New Jersey Notary Prohibited Acts and Misconduct Questions and Answers

Question 1

A New Jersey notary is also a licensed real estate agent.
They are handling a transaction where they will earn a commission upon closing.
The notary is asked to notarize the seller's signature on the deed.
Which of the following is the appropriate action for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to notarize the document due to a direct beneficial interest.

Answer

Notarize the signature but refuse to accept a notarial fee.

Answer

Notarize the signature since they are acting in two different professional capacities.

Answer

Have the seller sign the document first, then complete the notarization after the commission has been paid.

Question 2

A notary public who is not an attorney advertises their services in a local Spanish-language newspaper. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for their advertisement?

Accepted Answer

The advertisement must contain a specific notice in Spanish stating they are not an attorney.

Answer

The advertisement must list the statutory fees for all notarial acts.

Answer

The advertisement must be printed in both English and Spanish.

Answer

The advertisement must include their notary public commission number.

Question 3

Which of the following actions constitutes the unauthorized practice of law by a New Jersey notary?

Accepted Answer

Recommending that a signer use a jurat instead of an acknowledgment for their document.

Answer

Explaining the steps involved in an acknowledgment.

Answer

Refusing to notarize an incomplete document.

Answer

Charging the maximum fee allowed by the State Treasurer for administering an oath.

Question 4

A client brings a document to a notary that was signed and dated three days ago. The client asks the notary to backdate the notarial certificate to match the signature date. How must the notary proceed?

Accepted Answer

Complete the notarial certificate using the current date.

Answer

Refuse to notarize the document entirely.

Answer

Cross out the signature date and have the client re-date it to the current date.

Answer

Use the date on the document as long as the client confirms they signed it on that day.

Question 5

Under what circumstances is a New Jersey notary explicitly prohibited from notarizing a document for a family member?

Accepted Answer

When the document is a deed where the notary's spouse is the grantee.

Answer

When the document is for a cousin and relates to a car title transfer.

Answer

When the document is a permission slip for their child's school trip.

Answer

When the document is an affidavit for their sibling with whom they do not reside.

Question 6

Which of the following is a prohibited act for a New Jersey notary public?

Accepted Answer

Lending their official stamp and journal to another commissioned notary to use.

Answer

Charging a fee for travel in addition to the notarial fee.

Answer

Notarizing a document written in a language they do not understand.

Answer

Performing a notarization for an out-of-state resident who is physically present in New Jersey.