Montana Notary Public Practice Exam
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1. A notary public in Montana who changes their residential address must notify the
Secretary of State within how many days?
A) 10 days
B) 20 days
C) 30 days
D) 15 days
Answer: A) 10 days
Rationale: Under Montana law (MCA 1-5-615), a notary must notify the Secretary of
State of any change to their residential or business address within 10 days to maintain
accurate records.
2. Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method of identifying a document
signer in Montana?
A) Personal knowledge of the notary
B) Satisfactory evidence from a credible witness
C) A valid U.S. passport presented by the signer
D) An expired state driver’s license without additional verification
Answer: D) An expired state driver’s license without additional verification
Rationale: Valid identification must be current or issued within the past five years and
contain a photograph and signature. An expired license without other evidence does
not meet the standard.
,3. The maximum fee a Montana notary may charge for performing a notarization is:
A) 5𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝐵)10 per notarization
C) 15𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝐷)𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛20 per act
Answer: B) 10𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ∗∗ 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑒:∗∗ 𝑀𝐶𝐴1 − 5 − 619𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑠𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑜10
per notarization, unless the notary is an employee of a government agency not
authorized to collect fees.
4. A notary public in Montana may refuse to perform a notarization if:
A) The signer appears confused or disoriented
B) The signer does not speak English
C) The document is handwritten
D) The notary is personally related to the signer by blood or marriage
Answer: A) The signer appears confused or disoriented
Rationale: A notary must have reasonable assurance of the signer’s competence and
willingness. Confusion or disorientation suggests lack of capacity for a valid notarization.
5. For a Montana notary to perform a notarization via remote online notarization (RON),
the notary must first:
A) Complete a separate state-approved online training
B) Register with the Secretary of State as a remote online notary
C) Purchase a $50,000 surety bond specific to RON
D) Obtain a federal RON license
Answer: B) Register with the Secretary of State as a remote online notary
Rationale: Montana law requires a notary to register with the Secretary of State and use
approved audio-visual technology before performing RON.
6. The official notary stamp in Montana must include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) The notary’s name exactly as on commission
B) The date of commission expiration
C) The notary’s Social Security number
,D) The words “Notary Public for the State of Montana”
Answer: C) The notary’s Social Security number
Rationale: MCA 1-5-613 requires the stamp to contain name, commission expiration,
“Notary Public for the State of Montana,” and the county of commissioning, but not
SSN.
7. A Montana notary who knowingly notarizes a signature without the signer being
present may be subject to:
A) A warning only
B) Revocation of commission and criminal penalties
C) A $50 fine
D) Mandatory retraining
Answer: B) Revocation of commission and criminal penalties
Rationale: Notarizing without presence is a violation of MCA 1-5-612 and can be a
misdemeanor, leading to commission revocation and possible jail/fine.
8. The term “acknowledgment” in Montana notary practice means:
A) The signer swears to the truth of the document’s contents
B) The signer confirms they voluntarily signed for the purposes stated
C) The notary certifies the document is legally valid
D) The signer provides a thumbprint
Answer: B) The signer confirms they voluntarily signed for the purposes stated
Rationale: An acknowledgment is a declaration by the signer that they signed willingly
and that the signature is theirs, not an oath to truthfulness.
9. A notary in Montana may notarize for a family member who is their spouse:
A) Yes, if no financial benefit
B) Yes, always
C) No, never under any circumstances
D) Only if the spouse is also a notary
Answer: C) No, never under any circumstances
, Rationale: Montana law prohibits notarizing for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling
because of direct financial or beneficial interest.
10. The journal of notary acts in Montana must be kept for:
A) 5 years after the last entry
B) 10 years after the last entry
C) 1 year after commission expires
D) Permanently
Answer: B) 10 years after the last entry
Rationale: MCA 1-5-617 requires a notary to maintain a chronological journal of all
notarial acts for 10 years from the date of last entry.
11. Which document does NOT require a notary to administer an oath?
A) Affidavit
B) Deposition
C) Acknowledgment of a deed
D) Verification on oath
Answer: C) Acknowledgment of a deed
Rationale: An acknowledgment only requires the signer to acknowledge voluntary
signature; an oath is required for jurats, affidavits, and verifications.
12. A Montana notary commission is valid for:
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 8 years
Answer: B) 4 years
Rationale: MCA 1-5-611 states the term of a notary commission is four years,
renewable by reapplying.
13. If a notary’s stamp is lost or stolen, the notary must:
A) Immediately order a new stamp without notice
Questions and correct Answers | Instant
Download Pdf
1. A notary public in Montana who changes their residential address must notify the
Secretary of State within how many days?
A) 10 days
B) 20 days
C) 30 days
D) 15 days
Answer: A) 10 days
Rationale: Under Montana law (MCA 1-5-615), a notary must notify the Secretary of
State of any change to their residential or business address within 10 days to maintain
accurate records.
2. Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method of identifying a document
signer in Montana?
A) Personal knowledge of the notary
B) Satisfactory evidence from a credible witness
C) A valid U.S. passport presented by the signer
D) An expired state driver’s license without additional verification
Answer: D) An expired state driver’s license without additional verification
Rationale: Valid identification must be current or issued within the past five years and
contain a photograph and signature. An expired license without other evidence does
not meet the standard.
,3. The maximum fee a Montana notary may charge for performing a notarization is:
A) 5𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝐵)10 per notarization
C) 15𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝐷)𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛20 per act
Answer: B) 10𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ∗∗ 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑒:∗∗ 𝑀𝐶𝐴1 − 5 − 619𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑠𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑜10
per notarization, unless the notary is an employee of a government agency not
authorized to collect fees.
4. A notary public in Montana may refuse to perform a notarization if:
A) The signer appears confused or disoriented
B) The signer does not speak English
C) The document is handwritten
D) The notary is personally related to the signer by blood or marriage
Answer: A) The signer appears confused or disoriented
Rationale: A notary must have reasonable assurance of the signer’s competence and
willingness. Confusion or disorientation suggests lack of capacity for a valid notarization.
5. For a Montana notary to perform a notarization via remote online notarization (RON),
the notary must first:
A) Complete a separate state-approved online training
B) Register with the Secretary of State as a remote online notary
C) Purchase a $50,000 surety bond specific to RON
D) Obtain a federal RON license
Answer: B) Register with the Secretary of State as a remote online notary
Rationale: Montana law requires a notary to register with the Secretary of State and use
approved audio-visual technology before performing RON.
6. The official notary stamp in Montana must include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) The notary’s name exactly as on commission
B) The date of commission expiration
C) The notary’s Social Security number
,D) The words “Notary Public for the State of Montana”
Answer: C) The notary’s Social Security number
Rationale: MCA 1-5-613 requires the stamp to contain name, commission expiration,
“Notary Public for the State of Montana,” and the county of commissioning, but not
SSN.
7. A Montana notary who knowingly notarizes a signature without the signer being
present may be subject to:
A) A warning only
B) Revocation of commission and criminal penalties
C) A $50 fine
D) Mandatory retraining
Answer: B) Revocation of commission and criminal penalties
Rationale: Notarizing without presence is a violation of MCA 1-5-612 and can be a
misdemeanor, leading to commission revocation and possible jail/fine.
8. The term “acknowledgment” in Montana notary practice means:
A) The signer swears to the truth of the document’s contents
B) The signer confirms they voluntarily signed for the purposes stated
C) The notary certifies the document is legally valid
D) The signer provides a thumbprint
Answer: B) The signer confirms they voluntarily signed for the purposes stated
Rationale: An acknowledgment is a declaration by the signer that they signed willingly
and that the signature is theirs, not an oath to truthfulness.
9. A notary in Montana may notarize for a family member who is their spouse:
A) Yes, if no financial benefit
B) Yes, always
C) No, never under any circumstances
D) Only if the spouse is also a notary
Answer: C) No, never under any circumstances
, Rationale: Montana law prohibits notarizing for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling
because of direct financial or beneficial interest.
10. The journal of notary acts in Montana must be kept for:
A) 5 years after the last entry
B) 10 years after the last entry
C) 1 year after commission expires
D) Permanently
Answer: B) 10 years after the last entry
Rationale: MCA 1-5-617 requires a notary to maintain a chronological journal of all
notarial acts for 10 years from the date of last entry.
11. Which document does NOT require a notary to administer an oath?
A) Affidavit
B) Deposition
C) Acknowledgment of a deed
D) Verification on oath
Answer: C) Acknowledgment of a deed
Rationale: An acknowledgment only requires the signer to acknowledge voluntary
signature; an oath is required for jurats, affidavits, and verifications.
12. A Montana notary commission is valid for:
A) 2 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 8 years
Answer: B) 4 years
Rationale: MCA 1-5-611 states the term of a notary commission is four years,
renewable by reapplying.
13. If a notary’s stamp is lost or stolen, the notary must:
A) Immediately order a new stamp without notice
