Illinois Notary Public Examination
Questions And Correct Answers
With Rationales| 2026 Updated
1. Question: Do you need to witness the signature for an
acknowledgment?
o A) Yes, you must witness the signature at the time of
acknowledgment.
o B) No, as long as the signer appears before the Notary and
acknowledges having signed.
o C) Only if the signer requests a witness.
o D) No, but you must verify the signature afterward.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: For an acknowledgment, the key requirement is
that the signer personally appears before the notary and
declares that the signature on the document is their own and
was made voluntarily. The notary does not need to see the
signature take place but must receive this acknowledgment
from the signer.
2. Question: When executing an acknowledgment, what three
things does a notary certify?
o A) The signer personally appeared, acknowledged the
signature was freely made, and was positively identified.
o B) The signer personally appeared, the document’s contents
are accurate, and the signer swore an oath.
o C) The signer was identified, the document is legally binding,
and the seal was affixed.
,o D) The signer wrote the document, appeared voluntarily, and
acknowledged the time of signing.
o Correct Answer: A
o Rationale: When performing an acknowledgment, a notary is
certifying three key facts: (1) The signer personally appeared
before the notary, (2) The signer acknowledged that the
signature on the document was their own and was made
voluntarily, and (3) The signer was positively identified by the
notary through personal knowledge or other satisfactory
evidence.
3. Question: What is the maximum fee an Illinois notary can
charge for a standard, in-person notarial act?
o A) $1.00
o B) $5.00
o C) $10.00
o D) $15.00
o Correct Answer: B ($5.00)
o Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act sets the maximum
fee for a standard notarial act, such as an acknowledgment,
oath, or jurat, at $5.00. A different maximum fee applies to
electronic notarial acts.
4. Question: How long is the term of a notary commission for
an Illinois resident?
o A) 2 years
o B) 3 years
o C) 4 years
o D) 5 years
o Correct Answer: C (4 years)
, o Rationale: According to Illinois law (5 ILCS 312/2-101[a]), the
commission for a notary public who is an Illinois resident is
valid for a term of four years.
Topic: Notarial Acts & Definitions
5. Question: Which of the following is a correct definition of a
"jurat"?
o A) A formal declaration before a notary that a signature is
voluntary.
o B) A notarial act where the signer swears or affirms the
truthfulness of the document's contents.
o C) The notary’s official seal and signature on a document.
o D) The written record of all notarial acts performed.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: A jurat is a specific notarial act that requires the
signer to take an oath or affirmation that the content of the
document is true. This is different from an acknowledgment,
which only certifies the signature's validity.
6. Question: An "affirmation" is best described as which of the
following?
o A) A written pledge to uphold the law.
o B) A spoken declaration of the truth made without a religious
reference.
o C) A sworn statement recorded in a notarial journal.
o D) A request for a notary’s seal.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: An affirmation is a solemn, spoken declaration of
truth that serves the same legal purpose as an oath but is
made by individuals who prefer not to use a religious
, statement such as "so help me God." It is a pledge on one's
personal honor.
Topic: Identification and Signer Presence
7. Question: A notary must positively identify a signer using
what standard?
o A) By personal knowledge of the signer.
o B) By a current government-issued ID with a photo.
o C) By the oath or affirmation of a credible witness who
personally knows the signer and is known to the notary.
o D) All of the above are acceptable forms of identification.
o Correct Answer: D
o Rationale: Illinois notaries can identify a signer through three
methods: personal knowledge of the signer, a current
government-issued photo ID, or the sworn oath of a credible
witness personally known to both the signer and the notary.
For the credible witness method, the notary must also record
the witness's name and other details in their journal.
8. Question: A signer appears with a document that has already
been signed. The signer wishes to have the signature
notarized. What must you, as the notary, do?
o A) Refuse to notarize the signature because you did not see it
being signed.
o B) Notarize the signature if the signer provides a valid
identification.
o C) Have the signer re-sign the document in your presence.
o D) Notarize the signature as long as the signer acknowledges
it as their own.
o Correct Answer: D
Questions And Correct Answers
With Rationales| 2026 Updated
1. Question: Do you need to witness the signature for an
acknowledgment?
o A) Yes, you must witness the signature at the time of
acknowledgment.
o B) No, as long as the signer appears before the Notary and
acknowledges having signed.
o C) Only if the signer requests a witness.
o D) No, but you must verify the signature afterward.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: For an acknowledgment, the key requirement is
that the signer personally appears before the notary and
declares that the signature on the document is their own and
was made voluntarily. The notary does not need to see the
signature take place but must receive this acknowledgment
from the signer.
2. Question: When executing an acknowledgment, what three
things does a notary certify?
o A) The signer personally appeared, acknowledged the
signature was freely made, and was positively identified.
o B) The signer personally appeared, the document’s contents
are accurate, and the signer swore an oath.
o C) The signer was identified, the document is legally binding,
and the seal was affixed.
,o D) The signer wrote the document, appeared voluntarily, and
acknowledged the time of signing.
o Correct Answer: A
o Rationale: When performing an acknowledgment, a notary is
certifying three key facts: (1) The signer personally appeared
before the notary, (2) The signer acknowledged that the
signature on the document was their own and was made
voluntarily, and (3) The signer was positively identified by the
notary through personal knowledge or other satisfactory
evidence.
3. Question: What is the maximum fee an Illinois notary can
charge for a standard, in-person notarial act?
o A) $1.00
o B) $5.00
o C) $10.00
o D) $15.00
o Correct Answer: B ($5.00)
o Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act sets the maximum
fee for a standard notarial act, such as an acknowledgment,
oath, or jurat, at $5.00. A different maximum fee applies to
electronic notarial acts.
4. Question: How long is the term of a notary commission for
an Illinois resident?
o A) 2 years
o B) 3 years
o C) 4 years
o D) 5 years
o Correct Answer: C (4 years)
, o Rationale: According to Illinois law (5 ILCS 312/2-101[a]), the
commission for a notary public who is an Illinois resident is
valid for a term of four years.
Topic: Notarial Acts & Definitions
5. Question: Which of the following is a correct definition of a
"jurat"?
o A) A formal declaration before a notary that a signature is
voluntary.
o B) A notarial act where the signer swears or affirms the
truthfulness of the document's contents.
o C) The notary’s official seal and signature on a document.
o D) The written record of all notarial acts performed.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: A jurat is a specific notarial act that requires the
signer to take an oath or affirmation that the content of the
document is true. This is different from an acknowledgment,
which only certifies the signature's validity.
6. Question: An "affirmation" is best described as which of the
following?
o A) A written pledge to uphold the law.
o B) A spoken declaration of the truth made without a religious
reference.
o C) A sworn statement recorded in a notarial journal.
o D) A request for a notary’s seal.
o Correct Answer: B
o Rationale: An affirmation is a solemn, spoken declaration of
truth that serves the same legal purpose as an oath but is
made by individuals who prefer not to use a religious
, statement such as "so help me God." It is a pledge on one's
personal honor.
Topic: Identification and Signer Presence
7. Question: A notary must positively identify a signer using
what standard?
o A) By personal knowledge of the signer.
o B) By a current government-issued ID with a photo.
o C) By the oath or affirmation of a credible witness who
personally knows the signer and is known to the notary.
o D) All of the above are acceptable forms of identification.
o Correct Answer: D
o Rationale: Illinois notaries can identify a signer through three
methods: personal knowledge of the signer, a current
government-issued photo ID, or the sworn oath of a credible
witness personally known to both the signer and the notary.
For the credible witness method, the notary must also record
the witness's name and other details in their journal.
8. Question: A signer appears with a document that has already
been signed. The signer wishes to have the signature
notarized. What must you, as the notary, do?
o A) Refuse to notarize the signature because you did not see it
being signed.
o B) Notarize the signature if the signer provides a valid
identification.
o C) Have the signer re-sign the document in your presence.
o D) Notarize the signature as long as the signer acknowledges
it as their own.
o Correct Answer: D
