CA Notary Handbook Questions and Verified
Answers
In a signature by mark, what must the notary determine? Correct Answer: The signers identity
What is a credible witness used for? Correct Answer: To swear or affirm to the document signer's
identity
What can a proof of execution replace? Correct Answer: An acknowledgement
Can a Notary notarize a faxed document with an original signature? Correct Answer: Yes, for any
document, as long as the signature is original
What forms of satisfactory evidence can you use to identify a signer for a jurat? Correct Answer: -One
credible witness (known to the Notary)
-Tribal ID
-CA State DL/ID (Current or issued within 5 years)
What are the requirements for identification documents? Correct Answer: It must be current or issued
within 5 years
What are some acceptable forms of identification? Correct Answer: -An ID/DL issued by CA DMV
-A United States Passport
-An inmate ID card issued by the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
-Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff's department
What are some alternative forms of identification? Correct Answer: -A valid consular ID or passport from
the applicant's country of citizenship
-A DL issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican Public Agency authorized to issue a DL
-An ID card issued by another state
, -A United States Military ID card
-An employee ID card issued by an agency or office of the State of CA
-An ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government
What information must a notary include in their journal for identification documents? Correct Answer: -
The type of identifying document
-The governmental agency issuing the document
-The serial or identifying number of the document
-The date of issue or expiration of the document that was used to establish the identity of the signer
When would a notary be able to use the Oath of Single Credible Witness? Correct Answer: When other
identification is not available.
What 5 things must a Credible Witness swear or affirm to? Correct Answer: -That the individual
appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the person named in the document
-The credible witness personally knows the signer
-The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be
very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of ID
-The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the
signer's identity
-The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed
The Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses would be used when? Correct Answer: If the Notary does not have
a witness whom they personally know, they may use the Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses whom they
DO NOT know
What items must a Notarial Journal include? Correct Answer: -Date, time and type of each official act
(acknowledgment and jurat)
-Character of instrument sown to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved before the notary public (deed of
trust)
Answers
In a signature by mark, what must the notary determine? Correct Answer: The signers identity
What is a credible witness used for? Correct Answer: To swear or affirm to the document signer's
identity
What can a proof of execution replace? Correct Answer: An acknowledgement
Can a Notary notarize a faxed document with an original signature? Correct Answer: Yes, for any
document, as long as the signature is original
What forms of satisfactory evidence can you use to identify a signer for a jurat? Correct Answer: -One
credible witness (known to the Notary)
-Tribal ID
-CA State DL/ID (Current or issued within 5 years)
What are the requirements for identification documents? Correct Answer: It must be current or issued
within 5 years
What are some acceptable forms of identification? Correct Answer: -An ID/DL issued by CA DMV
-A United States Passport
-An inmate ID card issued by the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
-Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff's department
What are some alternative forms of identification? Correct Answer: -A valid consular ID or passport from
the applicant's country of citizenship
-A DL issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican Public Agency authorized to issue a DL
-An ID card issued by another state
, -A United States Military ID card
-An employee ID card issued by an agency or office of the State of CA
-An ID card issued by a federally recognized tribal government
What information must a notary include in their journal for identification documents? Correct Answer: -
The type of identifying document
-The governmental agency issuing the document
-The serial or identifying number of the document
-The date of issue or expiration of the document that was used to establish the identity of the signer
When would a notary be able to use the Oath of Single Credible Witness? Correct Answer: When other
identification is not available.
What 5 things must a Credible Witness swear or affirm to? Correct Answer: -That the individual
appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the person named in the document
-The credible witness personally knows the signer
-The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be
very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of ID
-The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the
signer's identity
-The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed
The Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses would be used when? Correct Answer: If the Notary does not have
a witness whom they personally know, they may use the Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses whom they
DO NOT know
What items must a Notarial Journal include? Correct Answer: -Date, time and type of each official act
(acknowledgment and jurat)
-Character of instrument sown to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved before the notary public (deed of
trust)
