Illinois Notary Public Exam Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales
1: Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, what is the minimum age requirement to qualify for
appointment as a notary public?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 18 years
Rationale: Section 2-102 of the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312/2-102) establishes that an
applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for appointment as a notary public in
Illinois.
2: Which Illinois agency is responsible for appointing notaries public in the state?
A. Illinois Secretary of State
B. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
C. Illinois Attorney General
D. Illinois Supreme Court
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Illinois Secretary of State
Rationale: The Illinois Secretary of State has statutory authority under the Illinois Notary Public
Act to receive applications, administer examinations, and appoint qualified individuals as
notaries public.
3: What is the standard term of office for a notary public commission in Illinois?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
,D. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 4 years
Rationale: Under 5 ILCS 312/2-105, a notary public commission in Illinois is valid for a term of
four years from the date of appointment, unless sooner revoked or resigned.
4: Which of the following is NOT a qualification to become a notary public in Illinois?
A. Being a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States
B. Being a resident of Illinois or employed in Illinois
C. Having a high school diploma or GED
D. Not having had a notary commission revoked in the past 10 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Having a high school diploma or GED
Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act does not require a high school diploma or GED;
qualifications include age, citizenship/legal residency, Illinois residency or employment, and no
recent commission revocation.
5: Under Illinois law, what is the maximum fee a notary public may charge for performing an
acknowledgment?
A. $1.00
B. $2.00
C. $5.00
D. $10.00
CORRECT ANSWER: A. $1.00
Rationale: Section 2-111 of the Illinois Notary Public Act sets the maximum fee for an
acknowledgment at $1.00 per signature, though notaries may charge less or waive fees entirely.
6: Which notarial act requires the signer to personally appear before the notary and declare
that the signature was made voluntarily?
A. Copy certification
,B. Acknowledgment
C. Jurat
D. Oath only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Acknowledgment
Rationale: An acknowledgment requires the signer to personally appear before the notary and
acknowledge that they executed the document voluntarily for its intended purpose; the signer
does not sign in the notary's presence.
7: What is the primary difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat under Illinois
notary law?
A. A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence; an acknowledgment does not
B. An acknowledgment requires an oath; a jurat does not
C. A jurat can be performed remotely; an acknowledgment cannot
D. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
CORRECT ANSWER: A. A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence; an
acknowledgment does not
Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to personally appear, sign the document in the notary's
presence, and swear or affirm the truthfulness of its contents; an acknowledgment only
requires the signer to acknowledge voluntary execution, not necessarily signing before the
notary.
8: Under Illinois law, when must a notary public refuse to perform a notarial act?
A. When the signer is a family member
B. When the signer cannot be properly identified or lacks mental capacity
C. When the document is written in a foreign language
D. When the notary is busy with other tasks
CORRECT ANSWER: B. When the signer cannot be properly identified or lacks mental capacity
, Rationale: Illinois law requires notaries to verify the identity of signers and ensure they are
acting willingly and with understanding; failure to properly identify a signer or signs of
incapacity mandate refusal to prevent fraud or invalid acts.
9: Which form of identification is generally acceptable for verifying a signer's identity in
Illinois?
A. A library card
B. A current driver's license issued by any U.S. state
C. A utility bill with the signer's name
D. A credit card with photo
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A current driver's license issued by any U.S. state
Rationale: Illinois notaries may accept government-issued photo identification, such as a current
driver's license or state ID from any U.S. state, as satisfactory evidence of identity under Section
2-115 of the Notary Public Act.
10: What is the purpose of a notary public's official seal or stamp in Illinois?
A. To decorate documents for aesthetic purposes
B. To authenticate the notary's official acts and deter fraud
C. To replace the need for the notary's signature
D. To indicate the document is legally binding regardless of content
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To authenticate the notary's official acts and deter fraud
Rationale: The official seal or stamp, containing the notary's name, commission number, and
expiration date, authenticates the notarial act, provides traceability, and helps prevent
fraudulent use of notarial certificates.
11: Under Illinois law, how long must a notary public retain their journal of notarial acts?
A. 1 year after the last entry
B. 3 years after the last entry
Answers with Rationales
1: Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, what is the minimum age requirement to qualify for
appointment as a notary public?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. 30 years
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 18 years
Rationale: Section 2-102 of the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312/2-102) establishes that an
applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for appointment as a notary public in
Illinois.
2: Which Illinois agency is responsible for appointing notaries public in the state?
A. Illinois Secretary of State
B. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
C. Illinois Attorney General
D. Illinois Supreme Court
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Illinois Secretary of State
Rationale: The Illinois Secretary of State has statutory authority under the Illinois Notary Public
Act to receive applications, administer examinations, and appoint qualified individuals as
notaries public.
3: What is the standard term of office for a notary public commission in Illinois?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
,D. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 4 years
Rationale: Under 5 ILCS 312/2-105, a notary public commission in Illinois is valid for a term of
four years from the date of appointment, unless sooner revoked or resigned.
4: Which of the following is NOT a qualification to become a notary public in Illinois?
A. Being a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States
B. Being a resident of Illinois or employed in Illinois
C. Having a high school diploma or GED
D. Not having had a notary commission revoked in the past 10 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Having a high school diploma or GED
Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act does not require a high school diploma or GED;
qualifications include age, citizenship/legal residency, Illinois residency or employment, and no
recent commission revocation.
5: Under Illinois law, what is the maximum fee a notary public may charge for performing an
acknowledgment?
A. $1.00
B. $2.00
C. $5.00
D. $10.00
CORRECT ANSWER: A. $1.00
Rationale: Section 2-111 of the Illinois Notary Public Act sets the maximum fee for an
acknowledgment at $1.00 per signature, though notaries may charge less or waive fees entirely.
6: Which notarial act requires the signer to personally appear before the notary and declare
that the signature was made voluntarily?
A. Copy certification
,B. Acknowledgment
C. Jurat
D. Oath only
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Acknowledgment
Rationale: An acknowledgment requires the signer to personally appear before the notary and
acknowledge that they executed the document voluntarily for its intended purpose; the signer
does not sign in the notary's presence.
7: What is the primary difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat under Illinois
notary law?
A. A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence; an acknowledgment does not
B. An acknowledgment requires an oath; a jurat does not
C. A jurat can be performed remotely; an acknowledgment cannot
D. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
CORRECT ANSWER: A. A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence; an
acknowledgment does not
Rationale: A jurat requires the signer to personally appear, sign the document in the notary's
presence, and swear or affirm the truthfulness of its contents; an acknowledgment only
requires the signer to acknowledge voluntary execution, not necessarily signing before the
notary.
8: Under Illinois law, when must a notary public refuse to perform a notarial act?
A. When the signer is a family member
B. When the signer cannot be properly identified or lacks mental capacity
C. When the document is written in a foreign language
D. When the notary is busy with other tasks
CORRECT ANSWER: B. When the signer cannot be properly identified or lacks mental capacity
, Rationale: Illinois law requires notaries to verify the identity of signers and ensure they are
acting willingly and with understanding; failure to properly identify a signer or signs of
incapacity mandate refusal to prevent fraud or invalid acts.
9: Which form of identification is generally acceptable for verifying a signer's identity in
Illinois?
A. A library card
B. A current driver's license issued by any U.S. state
C. A utility bill with the signer's name
D. A credit card with photo
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A current driver's license issued by any U.S. state
Rationale: Illinois notaries may accept government-issued photo identification, such as a current
driver's license or state ID from any U.S. state, as satisfactory evidence of identity under Section
2-115 of the Notary Public Act.
10: What is the purpose of a notary public's official seal or stamp in Illinois?
A. To decorate documents for aesthetic purposes
B. To authenticate the notary's official acts and deter fraud
C. To replace the need for the notary's signature
D. To indicate the document is legally binding regardless of content
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To authenticate the notary's official acts and deter fraud
Rationale: The official seal or stamp, containing the notary's name, commission number, and
expiration date, authenticates the notarial act, provides traceability, and helps prevent
fraudulent use of notarial certificates.
11: Under Illinois law, how long must a notary public retain their journal of notarial acts?
A. 1 year after the last entry
B. 3 years after the last entry
