Notary Practice Test

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Which document does the uniform law on notarial acts name as satisfactory evidence of identity?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with any state notary commissioning office or Secretary of State. Bank checked September 19, 2026.

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All 69 questions on shared rules

Notarial acts and the notary's role 10

  • A deed was notarized correctly. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what does that settle about the deed itself? RCW 42.45.240 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 326 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.26 (Wisconsin)
  • A notary missed a duty the chapter requires, such as a complete journal entry. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what happens to the notarial act? RCW 42.45.240 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 326 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.26 (Wisconsin)
  • A person with no commission and no other authority signs a certificate as a "notary". Does the validity section of the uniform law on notarial acts save that act? RCW 42.45.240 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 326 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.26 (Wisconsin)
Show all 69 questions on shared rules (66 more)

Notarial acts and the notary's role, continued

  • A record was notarized in another state by a notary public of that state. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what effect does that act have at home? Wis. Stat. 140.11(1) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.090 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 311 (Pennsylvania)
  • How does the uniform law on notarial acts define a "record"? RCW 42.45.010(13) (Washington); Fla. Stat. 117.201(13) (Florida)
  • In the uniform law on notarial acts, who is a "notarial officer"? RCW 42.45.010(9) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.01(8) (Wisconsin)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, the signature and title of a person performing a notarial act in the state are what kind of evidence? Wis. Stat. 140.10(2) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.080 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 310 (Pennsylvania)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what does an apostille in the form set by the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 conclusively establish? Wis. Stat. 140.14(5) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.120 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 314 (Pennsylvania)
  • Which list holds only notarial acts named in the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.010(8) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.01(7) (Wisconsin)
  • Which signer is acting "in a representative capacity" as the uniform law on notarial acts defines it? RCW 42.45.010(7) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.01(6) (Wisconsin)

Acknowledgments 6

  • A signer acknowledges a record signed as president of a company. What extra declaration does the definition of an acknowledgment call for? RCW 42.45.010(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 (Pennsylvania); Ohio R.C. 147.011(A)
  • Does a signer who makes an acknowledgment swear that the contents of the record are true? RCW 42.45.010(1) and (18) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.01 (Wisconsin)
  • In an acknowledgment, what does the signer declare to the notary? RCW 42.45.010(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.01(1) (Wisconsin); Ohio R.C. 147.011(A)
  • What does the short form certificate for an acknowledgment in a representative capacity add to the individual form? Wis. Stat. 140.16(2) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.140 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 316 (Pennsylvania)
  • What must a notary determine when taking an acknowledgment? RCW 42.45.030(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 305 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.05(1) (Wisconsin); Ohio R.C. 147.49(A)
  • Which short form wording marks an acknowledgment certificate under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.140 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 316 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.16(1) (Wisconsin)

Oaths, affirmations and jurats 3

  • How does the uniform law on notarial acts define a "verification on oath or affirmation"? RCW 42.45.010(18) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.01 (Wisconsin)
  • What must a notary determine when taking a verification on oath or affirmation under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.030(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 305 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.05(2) (Wisconsin); Ohio R.C. 147.49(B)
  • Which short form wording marks a verification on oath or affirmation under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.140 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 316 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.16(3) (Wisconsin)

Personal appearance 4

  • A husband brings in a deed already signed by his wife, shows her driver's license, and asks the notary to take her acknowledgment. What is the correct response? RCW 42.45.040 (Washington); Fla. Stat. 117.107(9) (Florida); N.C.G.S. 10B-20(c)(1) (North Carolina)
  • A notarial act relates to a signature on a record. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, who must appear personally before the notarial officer? RCW 42.45.040 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.06 (Wisconsin)
  • A regular client telephones a notary, confirms that the signature on a record is hers, and asks the notary to notarize it without a visit. What should the notary do? RCW 42.45.040 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.06 (Wisconsin)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, how can a remotely located individual meet the personal appearance requirement? Wis. Stat. 140.145(2) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)

Identifying the signer 5

  • A signer offers a government ID that is not a passport, driver's license or nondriver ID card. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what must that ID contain? RCW 42.45.050(2)(a)(ii) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(2)(a) (Wisconsin)
  • A signer's ID looks genuine but the notary still has doubts. What does the uniform law on notarial acts allow? RCW 42.45.050(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(3) (Wisconsin)
  • How does a credible witness identify a signer under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.050(2)(b) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(2)(b) (Wisconsin)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, when does a notarial officer have "personal knowledge" of a signer's identity? RCW 42.45.050(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(1) (Wisconsin)
  • Which document does the uniform law on notarial acts name as satisfactory evidence of identity? RCW 42.45.050(2)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(2)(a) (Wisconsin)

Certificates and the stamp or seal 12

  • A notarial act was performed in another jurisdiction and the certificate follows that jurisdiction's form. Is the certificate sufficient under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.130(4) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(3) (Wisconsin)
  • A notary discovers that the stamping device is missing. What does the uniform law on notarial acts require? RCW 42.45.160(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 318 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.18(2) (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.05(3)(c) (Florida)
  • A notary public performs a notarial act on a paper record. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what happens with the official stamp? RCW 42.45.130(2)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(2) (Wisconsin)
  • A notary resigns her commission. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what must she do with the stamping device? RCW 42.45.160(1) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.18(1)(b) (Wisconsin); 57 Pa.C.S. § 318 (Pennsylvania)
  • A title company asks a notary to sign and stamp ten blank certificates so its staff can attach them later. What does the uniform law on notarial acts say? RCW 42.45.130(6) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.15(5) (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.107(3) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(8)
  • By executing a certificate, what does a notarial officer certify under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.130(5) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(4) (Wisconsin)
  • Every official stamp under the uniform law on notarial acts must pass one practical test. What is it? RCW 42.45.150(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 317 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.17(1m)(b) (Wisconsin)
  • The record has no room for notarial wording, so the notary uses a separate certificate page. What does the uniform law on notarial acts require for a paper record? RCW 42.45.130(7) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(6) (Wisconsin)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, how must a notarial act be evidenced? RCW 42.45.130(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(1) (Wisconsin); Ohio R.C. 147.542(A)
  • When must the certificate be executed under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.130(1)(a) and (6) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15 (Wisconsin)
  • Which set of items must appear in a certificate under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.130(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 315 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.15(1) (Wisconsin)
  • Who is responsible for the security of a notary's stamping device under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.160 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 318 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.18(1)(a) (Wisconsin)

Journals and records 3

  • What form must a paper journal take under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.180(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania); ORS 194.300 (Oregon)
  • When must a journal entry be made under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.180(4) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania); ORS 194.300 (Oregon)
  • Which set of items does the uniform journal section require in every entry? RCW 42.45.180(4) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania); ORS 194.300 (Oregon)

Conflicts of interest 3

  • A notarial act breaks the conflict of interest rule in the uniform law on notarial acts. What is its status? RCW 42.45.020(2)(c) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 304 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.04(2) (Wisconsin)
  • May a notary notarize his or her own signature? RCW 42.45.020(2)(b) (Washington); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(2); Fla. Stat. 117.05(1) (Florida)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, a notarial officer may not act on a record in which of these situations? RCW 42.45.020(2) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.04(2) (Wisconsin); 57 Pa.C.S. § 304 (Pennsylvania)

Prohibited acts and penalties 4

  • A customer asks a notary who is not an attorney to draft a simple power of attorney before notarizing it. What does the uniform law on notarial acts say about the commission? RCW 42.45.230(1)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 325 (Pennsylvania)
  • A customer disputes the fee, and the notary says, "You get your original deed back when you pay." What does the uniform law on notarial acts say? RCW 42.45.230(6) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 325 (Pennsylvania)
  • Which of these does a notary commission NOT authorize under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.230(1)(b)-(c) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 325 (Pennsylvania)
  • Which of these is a listed ground to deny, suspend or revoke a commission under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.210(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 323 (Pennsylvania)

Refusing, signers who cannot sign, copies 5

  • A county recorder accepts only paper. Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what may a notarial officer certify about a printout of an electronic record? RCW 42.45.020(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 304 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.04(3) (Wisconsin)
  • A signer keeps glancing at a relative who is telling her to "just sign it". Under the uniform law on notarial acts, on what ground may the officer refuse? RCW 42.45.060(1)(b) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 308 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.08(1)(b) (Wisconsin); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(14)
  • An elderly signer seems confused about what the record is and why she is signing. What does the uniform law on notarial acts allow? RCW 42.45.060(1)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 308 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.08(1)(a) (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.107(5) (Florida)
  • Beyond doubts about capacity or willingness, what general refusal right does the uniform law on notarial acts give a notarial officer? RCW 42.45.060(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 308 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.08(2) (Wisconsin)
  • What must a notarial officer determine before certifying or attesting a copy under the uniform law on notarial acts? RCW 42.45.030(4) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.05(4) (Wisconsin); 57 Pa.C.S. § 305 (Pennsylvania)

Electronic and remote notarization 9

  • A lender insists that a notary use the lender's own electronic signing platform, which the notary has not selected. What does the uniform law on notarial acts say? RCW 42.45.190(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 320 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.20 (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.021(4) (Florida)
  • A notary has no personal knowledge of a remote signer and no credible witness. Under the uniform remote notarization section, how can identity be established? Wis. Stat. 140.145(3)(a) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(3)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • A remote signer is located outside the United States. Which condition is part of the uniform rule for that notarial act? Wis. Stat. 140.145(3)(d) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(3)(d) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • Before a notary performs a first remote notarial act under the uniform law on notarial acts, what must the notary do? Wis. Stat. 140.145(7) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(7) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • How does the uniform law on notarial acts define "identity proofing"? Wis. Stat. 140.145(1)(c) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(1)(c) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • In the remote notarization section of the uniform law on notarial acts, what must "communication technology" allow? Wis. Stat. 140.145(1)(a) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(1)(a) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what must the technology a notary picks for electronic records be? RCW 42.45.190(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 320 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.20 (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.021(7) (Florida)
  • What must the certificate for a remote notarial act show under the uniform law on notarial acts? Wis. Stat. 140.145(4)-(5) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(4)-(5) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • What record of a remote notarization must be created under the uniform law on notarial acts? Wis. Stat. 140.145(3)(c) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(3)(c) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)

Commission, bond and fees 5

  • Does a notary commission give the notary the legal immunity that state employees may enjoy? RCW 42.45.200(6) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 (Pennsylvania)
  • Must a notary charge a fee for every notarial act? RCW 42.45.170(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • Under the uniform law on notarial acts, what must an applicant execute before a commission is issued? RCW 42.45.200(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 (Pennsylvania); N.C.G.S. 10B-9 (North Carolina)
  • What is the purpose of the database of notaries public that the uniform law on notarial acts requires the state to maintain? RCW 42.45.220 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 324 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.24 (Wisconsin)
  • Whom does a notary's surety bond protect? Fla. Stat. 117.01(7)(a) (Florida); RCW 42.45.200(4) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 (Pennsylvania)

How this list was compiled: Written from state notary statutes as each legislature publishes them, checked on 2026-09-19. Most questions rest on the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts as enacted in three states: Washington, chapter 42.45 RCW, one page per section in the form https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.45.050; Pennsylvania, 57 Pa.C.S. chapter 3, https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/57/57.HTM; Wisconsin, chapter 140 of the statutes, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/140.pdf (the copy published 2026-09-04). The journal questions add Oregon, ORS chapter 194, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors194.html. Where Florida (chapter 117, one page per section in the form https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0117/Sections/0117.05.html), North Carolina (G.S. Chapter 10B, in the form https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_10B/GS_10B-20.html) or Ohio (Revised Code chapter 147, in the form https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-147.141) states the same rule, the question cites that section too. No question in this set names a state in the question itself. Every question shows the sections it rests on and links to one of them. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text; nothing is copied from another practice test, a state notary handbook or a course provider. Short quotations from the statutes are marked with quotation marks. The statutes quoted are enacted state law, which is in the public domain.

All 105 questions on state rules

California 8

  • A California notary is asked to complete another state's acknowledgment form on a document to be filed in that state. When does Civil Code 1189 allow it? Cal. Civil Code § 1189(c) (California)
  • A California notary relies on a credible witness but fails to obtain the satisfactory evidence that Civil Code 1185 requires for that method. What civil penalty does the section allow? Cal. Civil Code § 1185(b)(1)(B) (California)
  • A California notary willfully states as true, in an acknowledgment certificate, a material fact the notary knows to be false. What civil penalty does Civil Code 1189 allow? Cal. Civil Code § 1189(a)(4) (California)
Show all 105 questions on state rules (102 more)

California, continued

  • California puts a boxed notice at the top of every acknowledgment certificate. According to that notice, what does the notary verify? Cal. Civil Code § 1189(a)(1) (California)
  • For which documents must a California notary take the signer's right thumbprint in the journal? Cal. Gov. Code § 8206(a)(2)(G) (California)
  • Under California Government Code 8224, which notary has a disqualifying direct financial or beneficial interest? Cal. Gov. Code § 8224 (California)
  • What is the maximum fee in California for taking an acknowledgment? Cal. Gov. Code § 8211 (California)
  • Which statement about California's path to a first notary commission is correct? Cal. Gov. Code § 8201 (California)

Florida 26

  • A Florida employer paid for a notary employee's seal and commission. The employee quits. Who keeps the seal? Fla. Stat. 117.05(3)(b) (Florida)
  • A Florida notary commits official misconduct while notarizing for the employer's customers. Who else can be liable for the damages? Fla. Stat. 117.05(6) (Florida)
  • A Florida notary marries and lawfully changes her name. Within how many days must she request an amended commission? Fla. Stat. 117.05(9) (Florida)
  • A Florida notary notarizes a signature for a person who did not appear. What does Fla. Stat. 117.107(9) provide? Fla. Stat. 117.107(9) and 117.105 (Florida)
  • A Florida notary works for a mortgage company and notarizes borrowers' signatures on the company's loan papers. Is that a financial interest that bars the act? Fla. Stat. 117.107(12) (Florida)
  • A Florida notary's four-year term is about to end. How does the notary keep a commission? Fla. Stat. 117.01(6) (Florida)
  • A record requires an oath. May a Florida notary take an acknowledgment instead because it is quicker? Fla. Stat. 117.03 (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(15)
  • A signer in Florida does not speak or understand English, and the instrument is in English. When may the notary take the acknowledgment? Fla. Stat. 117.107(6) (Florida)
  • After a deed is signed, the buyer notices a wrong lot number and asks the Florida notary to fix it on the spot. What does Fla. Stat. 117.107 say? Fla. Stat. 117.107(7) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(11)
  • As part of the oath of office, what must a Florida applicant swear? Fla. Stat. 117.01(3) (Florida)
  • Before notarizing the signature of a person who is blind, what must a Florida notary do? Fla. Stat. 117.05(14)(a) (Florida)
  • Florida allows identification by credible witness in two ways. Which pair is correct? Fla. Stat. 117.05(5)(b)1 (Florida); Cal. Civil Code § 1185(b) (California)
  • Florida gives its notaries a power that the uniform law on notarial acts does not list as a notarial act. What is it? Fla. Stat. 117.045 (Florida)
  • Florida handles a signer who is physically unable to sign or make a mark differently from the uniform act. What does Fla. Stat. 117.05(14) allow? Fla. Stat. 117.05(14)(d) (Florida)
  • Florida names the relatives whose signatures a notary may not notarize. Who is on the list? Fla. Stat. 117.107(11) (Florida)
  • Florida's official notary seal must be of what type? Fla. Stat. 117.05(3)(a) (Florida)
  • How does Florida define "personally knows" for a notary? Fla. Stat. 117.05(5)(a) (Florida)
  • How does Florida's online notarization part define "physical presence"? Fla. Stat. 117.201(11) (Florida)
  • In Florida's online notarization law, what is "credential analysis"? Fla. Stat. 117.201(3) (Florida)
  • In Florida, a credible witness swears to several facts. Which of these is one of them? Fla. Stat. 117.05(5)(b)1.e (Florida); N.C.G.S. 10B-3(5) (North Carolina)
  • In Florida, what crime does a notary commit by falsely or fraudulently taking an acknowledgment? Fla. Stat. 117.105 (Florida)
  • What must a Florida jurat or acknowledgment certificate say about how the signer appeared? Fla. Stat. 117.05(4)(c) (Florida)
  • What must the venue of a Florida notarial certificate state? Fla. Stat. 117.05(4)(a) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.542(F)
  • Which documents may a Florida notary NOT attest as true copies? Fla. Stat. 117.05(12)(a) (Florida)
  • Which statement about journals is true for Florida? Fla. Stat. 117.245 (Florida); Wis. Stat. ch. 140 (Wisconsin)
  • Who is an "online notary public" under Florida law? Fla. Stat. 117.201(10) (Florida)

New York 2

  • What is the statutory fee in New York for taking an acknowledgment, per person? N.Y. Executive Law § 136 (New York)
  • What is the term of a New York notary public appointment under Executive Law section 130? N.Y. Executive Law § 130(1) (New York)

North Carolina 13

  • A grateful client offers a North Carolina notary a gift card worth far more than the statutory fee for notarizing a record. What does G.S. 10B-20 say? N.C.G.S. 10B-20(c)(6) (North Carolina)
  • A North Carolina notary is an employee of the bank that is a party to the record. Does that alone disqualify the notary? N.C.G.S. 10B-20(c)(5) (North Carolina)
  • A record was signed yesterday at home. Under North Carolina's definition of an acknowledgment, can the notary still take the acknowledgment today? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(1) (North Carolina)
  • A signer objects to swearing and asks to affirm instead. Under North Carolina's definitions, how do the two compare in law? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(2) and 10B-3(14) (North Carolina)
  • How does North Carolina define "personal appearance" before a notary? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(16) (North Carolina)
  • How does North Carolina define a "jurat"? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(8) (North Carolina)
  • In North Carolina, a principal who cannot sign or make a mark may name a designee to sign. Who must be present when the designee signs? N.C.G.S. 10B-20(e) (North Carolina)
  • North Carolina sets a high bar for "personal knowledge" of a signer. How does G.S. 10B-3 put it? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(17) (North Carolina)
  • North Carolina's statute states a pass mark for the notary exam. What share of questions must an applicant answer correctly? N.C.G.S. 10B-8(a) (North Carolina)
  • Under North Carolina law, must the notary complete the notarial certificate while the signer is still present? N.C.G.S. 10B-20(c)(1) (North Carolina)
  • Under North Carolina's definitions, what separates an affirmation from an oath? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(2) and 10B-3(14) (North Carolina)
  • What does North Carolina tell a notary to do with blank lines left in the notarial certificate before signing it? N.C.G.S. 10B-20(o) (North Carolina)
  • What kind of document counts as satisfactory evidence of identity under North Carolina's definition? N.C.G.S. 10B-3(22) (North Carolina)

Ohio 11

  • A customer asks an Ohio notary to certify that a photocopy of a diploma is a true copy. What does Ohio law allow? Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(5) and (B)
  • A signer asks an Ohio notary who is not an attorney, "Do I need an acknowledgment or a jurat?" What may the notary do? Ohio R.C. 147.542(G)
  • A signer in a hurry asks an Ohio notary to skip the spoken oath on an affidavit and just stamp it. What does Ohio law say? Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(16) and 147.542(D)(2)
  • An agent signs a deed for a principal under a power of attorney and acknowledges it in Ohio. What does "acknowledged before me" mean for that signer? Ohio R.C. 147.53(B)(3)(e) and 147.141(A)(17)
  • An Ohio notary finds that the certificate on a record names the wrong type of notarization. What does R.C. 147.542 require? Ohio R.C. 147.542(B)
  • In Ohio, what do the words "acknowledged before me" in a certificate mean about the signer? Ohio R.C. 147.53(B)
  • May an Ohio notary use an embosser as the official seal? Ohio R.C. 147.04; Fla. Stat. 117.05(3)(a) (Florida); 57 Pa.C.S. § 317 (Pennsylvania)
  • Two signers sign one deed before an Ohio notary in person. What is the most the notary may charge for the notarial act? Ohio R.C. 147.08(A) and (C)
  • Under Ohio's certificate rules, which words mark a jurat? Ohio R.C. 147.542(C)(3)
  • Under Ohio's definition, which two things make a notarial act a jurat? Ohio R.C. 147.011(C)
  • Which of these does Ohio require of a non-attorney applicant for a notary commission? Ohio R.C. 147.01(B)

Pennsylvania 10

  • A Pennsylvania notary identifies a signer by driver's license. What must the journal entry say about that credential? 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania)
  • A Pennsylvania notary leaves her job. Her employer demands the notary journal because the entries were made on company time. What does 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 say? 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania)
  • A Pennsylvania notary works for a bank. Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1, who is presumed to own the notary fee? 57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(d) (Pennsylvania)
  • A Pennsylvania notary's commission expires and she does not reapply. Where does her journal go, and by when? 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania); RCW 42.45.180(6) (Washington)
  • Pennsylvania added two grounds for refusal that are not in the uniform text. What do they cover? 57 Pa.C.S. § 308 (Pennsylvania)
  • Pennsylvania adopted the uniform law on notarial acts but changed the rule on expired identification. What does 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 require of a driver's license? 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania)
  • Pennsylvania's definition of a "verification on oath or affirmation" says the term includes what familiar document? 57 Pa.C.S. § 302 (Pennsylvania)
  • Under Pennsylvania law, which of these does NOT count as a direct or pecuniary interest in a notarized transaction? 57 Pa.C.S. § 304 (Pennsylvania)
  • What administrative penalty may Pennsylvania's Department of State impose on a notary for each act or omission that violates the notary chapter? 57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a.1) (Pennsylvania)
  • What education must a first-time applicant in Pennsylvania complete before applying? 57 Pa.C.S. § 322 (Pennsylvania)

Washington 8

  • A signer in Washington presents a driver's license that expired two years ago. Can it serve as satisfactory evidence of identity? RCW 42.45.050(2)(a) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.07(2)(a) (Wisconsin)
  • A Washington notary who is not an attorney scans every document she notarizes and keeps the images "just in case". Is that allowed? RCW 42.45.230(6) (Washington)
  • How many paper journals may a Washington notary keep in use at one time? RCW 42.45.180(3) (Washington); Cal. Gov. Code § 8206(a)(1) (California)
  • In Washington, what two things must be true of a credible witness besides appearing before the officer? RCW 42.45.050(2)(b) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 307 (Pennsylvania); Wis. Stat. 140.07(2)(b) (Wisconsin)
  • Under Washington's version of the uniform law on notarial acts, who may note a protest of a negotiable instrument? RCW 42.45.030(5) and 42.45.210(1)(j) (Washington)
  • Washington added a language rule to the uniform certificate section. What is it? RCW 42.45.130(1)(e) (Washington)
  • Washington moves to revoke a notary's commission under its version of the uniform law on notarial acts. What is the notary entitled to? RCW 42.45.210(2)-(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 323 (Pennsylvania)
  • Washington's definition of an acknowledgment says the signer states the record was signed in what way? RCW 42.45.010(1) (Washington)

Wisconsin 7

  • A Wisconsin notary sits in Milwaukee while the signer joins by video from Arizona. For deciding the jurisdiction in which the notarial act is performed, whose location counts? Wis. Stat. 140.145(1m) (Wisconsin); Fla. Stat. 117.265(1) (Florida)
  • A Wisconsin notary's neglect of duty causes a signer to lose money. What does Wis. Stat. 140.02(8) say? Wis. Stat. 140.02(8) (Wisconsin)
  • Does Wisconsin require the commission expiration date on the official stamp? Wis. Stat. 140.17(2m) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.150(1)(d) (Washington)
  • Unless a rule sets another period, how long must the recording of a remote notarization be kept in Wisconsin? Wis. Stat. 140.145(6) (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.280(6) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1 (Pennsylvania)
  • Wisconsin caps the fee for taking an acknowledgment in a way that differs from per-signature states. How is the Wisconsin cap measured? Wis. Stat. 140.02(9)(e) (Wisconsin)
  • Wisconsin enacted the uniform law on notarial acts as chapter 140 of its statutes. Which uniform section has no counterpart there? Wis. Stat. ch. 140 (Wisconsin); RCW 42.45.180 (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania)
  • Wisconsin lists who may perform a notarial act in the state. Besides a notary public, which of these is on that list? Wis. Stat. 140.10(1) (Wisconsin)

Two or more states compared 20

  • A non-attorney notary in Washington or Pennsylvania promotes notarial services on a website. What must the promotion include? RCW 42.45.230(5) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 325 (Pennsylvania)
  • A notary plans to charge for driving to a signer's home. What do Ohio, Oregon and North Carolina have in common on travel fees? Ohio R.C. 147.08(D)(1); ORS 194.400(2) (Oregon); N.C.G.S. 10B-31(5) (North Carolina)
  • A notary's journal is stolen from a car. What do the journal sections in Washington and Pennsylvania require? RCW 42.45.180(5) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania)
  • A signer hands a Florida or Ohio notary a contract with several empty pages "to be filled in later". What is the rule? Fla. Stat. 117.107(10) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(13)
  • A signer in Washington or Wisconsin is physically unable to sign. Whom may the signer direct to sign the signer's name on the record? RCW 42.45.070 (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.09 (Wisconsin)
  • A week after a notarization is complete, a Florida or Ohio notary sees a wrong date in the notarial certificate. May the notary amend it? Fla. Stat. 117.107(8) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(12)
  • Bond amounts vary widely. Which list matches the statutes of California, Pennsylvania, Florida and Wisconsin, in that order? Cal. Gov. Code § 8212; 57 Pa.C.S. § 321; Fla. Stat. 117.01(7)(a); Wis. Stat. 140.02(1)(d)
  • California and Florida use the same time test for an identification document. What is it? Cal. Civil Code § 1185(b)(3) (California); Fla. Stat. 117.05(5)(b)2 (Florida)
  • Florida, North Carolina and Oregon also share a fee cap for a remote or online notarial act. What is it? Fla. Stat. 117.275 (Florida); N.C.G.S. 10B-31(4) (North Carolina); ORS 194.400(1) (Oregon); Ohio R.C. 147.08(A)(2)
  • Florida, North Carolina and Oregon cap the fee for an in-person notarial act at the same figure. What is it? Fla. Stat. 117.05(2)(a) (Florida); N.C.G.S. 10B-31(1) (North Carolina); ORS 194.400(1) (Oregon)
  • How long must a Washington or Oregon notary keep a journal? RCW 42.45.180(1) (Washington); ORS 194.300 (Oregon)
  • Of the eight states whose terms this page cites, six commission a notary for four years. Which two set a five-year term? N.C.G.S. 10B-9 (North Carolina); Ohio R.C. 147.03
  • Pennsylvania's notary seal carries one item that the Washington and Wisconsin stamp sections do not require. What is it? 57 Pa.C.S. § 317 (Pennsylvania); RCW 42.45.150 (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.17 (Wisconsin)
  • Under the journal section that Washington, Pennsylvania and Oregon enacted from the uniform law on notarial acts, which acts go in the journal? RCW 42.45.180(1) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 319 (Pennsylvania); ORS 194.300 (Oregon)
  • Washington and Wisconsin both name one more person in the conflict of interest rule, besides the officer and the officer's spouse. Who? RCW 42.45.020(2)(a) (Washington); Wis. Stat. 140.04(2) (Wisconsin); 57 Pa.C.S. § 304 (Pennsylvania)
  • When may a Florida or Ohio notary sign notarial certificates with a facsimile signature stamp? Fla. Stat. 117.107(2) (Florida); Ohio R.C. 147.141(A)(7)
  • Where do California and Washington tell a notary to keep the journal? Cal. Gov. Code § 8206(a)(1) (California); RCW 42.45.180(5) (Washington)
  • Where may a notary perform notarial acts under the statutes of North Carolina, Ohio and Florida? N.C.G.S. 10B-9 (North Carolina); Ohio R.C. 147.01(C)(1); Fla. Stat. 117.01(1) (Florida)
  • Which set of qualifications comes from the commission section of the uniform law on notarial acts as enacted in Washington and Pennsylvania? RCW 42.45.200(2) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 321 (Pennsylvania)
  • Who may use the term "notario publico" under the uniform law on notarial acts as enacted in Washington and Pennsylvania? RCW 42.45.230(3) (Washington); 57 Pa.C.S. § 325 (Pennsylvania); Fla. Stat. 117.05(11) (Florida)

How this list was compiled: Written from state notary statutes as each legislature publishes them, checked on 2026-09-19. Every question in this set names the state or states whose rule it asks about. California, Government Code 8200 to 8230 and Civil Code 1185 and 1189, in the form https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=8206.; Florida, chapter 117, one page per section in the form https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0117/Sections/0117.05.html; New York, Executive Law sections 130 and 136, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EXC/130 and https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EXC/136; North Carolina, G.S. Chapter 10B, in the form https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_10B/GS_10B-20.html; Ohio, Revised Code chapter 147, in the form https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-147.141; Oregon, ORS chapter 194, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors194.html; Pennsylvania, 57 Pa.C.S. chapter 3, https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/57/57.HTM; Washington, chapter 42.45 RCW, in the form https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.45.050; Wisconsin, chapter 140 of the statutes, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/140.pdf (the copy published 2026-09-04). Every question shows the sections it rests on and links to one of them. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text; nothing is copied from another practice test, a state notary handbook or a course provider. Short quotations from the statutes are marked with quotation marks. The statutes quoted are enacted state law, which is in the public domain.

How it works

This unofficial notary practice test holds 174 questions in two sets. Shared rules has 69 on what several states word the same way: notarial acts, acknowledgments, oaths, identification, certificates, journals and conflicts of interest. State by state has 105 that each name their state. No national exam exists, so every question cites the state statute it was written from, checked on September 19, 2026.

Read the full guide

Why there is no single notary exam

Each state commissions its own notaries, so there are many exams, and some states set none. California requires a six-hour course and a written examination (Gov. Code 8201). Pennsylvania requires an examination and a three-hour course (57 Pa.C.S. 322). No national body sets a question count, a time limit or a pass mark. Exam mode, under the question, draws up to 25 questions, a size this site chose, with no clock and no pass line. Nothing is marked until you finish.

What this notary exam practice test covers

Question set, at the top of the tool, switches between two sets. Shared rules opens first: 69 questions in 12 topics, none naming a state. Most rest on the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts as enacted in Washington (chapter 42.45 RCW), Pennsylvania (57 Pa.C.S. chapter 3) and Wisconsin (chapter 140). State by state holds 105 notary test questions, filed by state in its Start from menu: Florida 26, North Carolina 13, Ohio 11, Pennsylvania 10, California 8, Washington 8, Wisconsin 7 and New York 2, plus 20 that compare two or more states, Oregon among them.

Using the bank as a notary exam study guide

Pick an answer: practice mode marks it and shows the rule, then the section with a link to the statute. Read it even when you were right, because the state it names may not be yours. More options holds Missed, where wrong answers wait, and Clear my progress, which erases what this browser keeps. Print is on the score card, with a tick for the answer key. Full state tests here: New York, California, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Nebraska. In any other state, finish on your commissioning office's site.

  • Learn the two main acts first. An acknowledgment is the signer declaring the signature is theirs. A verification on oath or affirmation, often called a jurat, adds a sworn statement that the record is true.
  • Learn identification as a ladder: personal knowledge, then a government ID, then a credible witness. Next, read how your state words each step.
  • Treat every dollar figure as one state's rule. One acknowledgment is $2 in New York (Exec. Law 136), up to $5 in Ohio (R.C. 147.08) and $15 per signature in California (Gov. Code 8211).
  • Finish Shared rules before State by state. The second set shows which habits from another state's course would be wrong in yours.
  • Work through Missed until it is empty, then open your state's page, if it has one, for the rules this practice notary test leaves out.

Questions and answers

Is the notary exam hard?

It depends on the state. New York's exam is multiple choice, lasts one hour and is reported only as passed or failed (Department of State exam schedule, July to December 2026). California requires a score of 70 or more and allows one attempt per calendar month (Secretary of State exam page). North Carolina requires 80 percent correct (G.S. 10B-8). We have no pass-rate figures to quote.

Are these real notary exam questions?

No. This site has never seen any state's examination and is not affiliated with any commissioning office. These sample notary public questions come from enacted statutes, and each links its section under the explanation. No commissioned notary has reviewed the bank yet, so treat the linked statute as the final word.

Which state's law does this bank follow?

No single state. The bank cites nine. Washington, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Oregon each enacted a version of the same uniform act. Florida, California, North Carolina, Ohio and New York wrote their own codes. A Shared rules question cites at least two states that word the rule alike. Your state may differ on any point, so check its statute.

Does every state require a journal, a seal and a bond?

No. New York's Executive Law 137 lists what a notary prints beneath the signature, and a seal is not on the list. Its sections 130 and 131 ask for no bond. Washington and Pennsylvania kept the uniform act's journal section, and Wisconsin's chapter 140 has none. Bond amounts in the statutes cited here run from $500 in Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. 140.02) to $15,000 in California (Gov. Code 8212).

Can I use this page to decide how to handle a real notarization?

No. This is study material, not legal advice. For a real signing, follow your state's statute and your commissioning office's instructions, and ask an attorney licensed in your state about any legal question.

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