Illinois Notary Public Exam — 300
Prep Questions ,Answers &
rationales
PART 1: BASICS OF NOTARIAL LAW IN ILLINOIS
1. Which act primarily governs notarial acts in Illinois?
A) The Illinois Notary Act of 1965 B) The Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312) (correct
answer) C) The Uniform Commercial Code D) The Illinois Administrative Procedures Act
Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312) is the primary statute governing
notaries public in Illinois, covering appointment, authority, duties, and prohibited acts.
2. Who is responsible for appointing notaries public in Illinois?
A) The Governor B) The county clerk C) The Secretary of State (correct answer) D) The State
Attorney General
Rationale: The Illinois Secretary of State has the authority to appoint, commission, and
revoke notary commissions in Illinois under the Illinois Notary Public Act.
3. How long is a notary commission term in Illinois?
A) 2 years B) 10 years C) 4 years (correct answer) D) 1 year
Rationale: An Illinois notary commission is valid for 4 years from the date of appointment.
After expiration, a notary must reapply for a new commission.
4. What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Illinois?
A) 16 years old B) 21 years old C) 18 years old (correct answer) D) 25 years old
,Rationale: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for a notary public
commission in Illinois.
5. Which of the following is a residency requirement for an Illinois notary applicant?
A) Must be a U.S. citizen B) Must be a resident of Illinois or have a principal place of
employment in Illinois (correct answer) C) Must have lived in Illinois for at least 5 years D)
Must be a registered voter in Illinois
Rationale: Applicants must be Illinois residents OR maintain a principal place of business
or employment in Illinois. Non-residents who work in Illinois may also qualify.
6. An Illinois notary may perform notarial acts in which geographic area?
A) Only in the county where they reside B) Only in the county where they were commissioned
C) Anywhere within the state of Illinois (correct answer) D) Anywhere in the United States
Rationale: An Illinois notary commission grants statewide authority. The notary may
perform notarial acts anywhere within the boundaries of Illinois.
7. What is required on the notary's official seal in Illinois?
A) The notary's photo and fingerprint B) The notary's name, the state of Illinois, and the words
"Notary Public" (correct answer) C) The notary's county of residence and commission number
only D) The Secretary of State's signature
Rationale: Illinois law requires that the official notarial seal include the notary's name
exactly as commissioned, the state of Illinois, and the words "Notary Public."
8. Which of the following is NOT an authorized notarial act in Illinois?
A) Taking an acknowledgment B) Administering an oath C) Giving legal advice about a
document (correct answer) D) Certifying a copy
Rationale: Providing legal advice is the practice of law and is strictly prohibited for
notaries unless they are also licensed attorneys. Notaries certify, witness, and authenticate
— they do not advise.
,9. A notary in Illinois is asked to notarize a document for their spouse. What should the
notary do?
A) Notarize it as long as the spouse provides ID B) Refuse to notarize because it creates a
disqualifying interest (correct answer) C) Notarize it with a disclaimer note D) Notarize it with a
second witness present
Rationale: Illinois law prohibits a notary from notarizing a document in which they have a
direct financial or beneficial interest, including transactions involving a spouse.
10. What is the maximum penalty amount for an illegal or improper notarial act in
Illinois?
A) $500 B) $1,000 C) $5,000 (correct answer) D) $10,000
Rationale: Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, the civil penalty for misconduct can be up
to $5,000 per violation, in addition to actual damages suffered by the aggrieved party.
11. What must a notary do when their address changes during the commission period?
A) Nothing — the change takes effect automatically B) Notify the Secretary of State within 30
days (correct answer) C) Reapply for a new notary commission D) Notify the county clerk only
Rationale: An Illinois notary must notify the Secretary of State of any address change
within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in commission suspension or revocation.
12. What must a notary public do when their commission expires and they wish to continue
notarizing?
A) Simply renew their seal B) File a name change form C) Apply for a new commission (correct
answer) D) Pay a renewal fee without reapplying
Rationale: There is no automatic renewal in Illinois. When a commission expires, the
notary must submit a new application, bond, and fees to the Secretary of State.
, 13. A notary public in Illinois is required to obtain a surety bond. What is the required
bond amount?
A) $5,000 B) $10,000 C) $500 D) $1,500 (correct answer)
Rationale: Illinois law requires notary public applicants to obtain a $1,500 surety bond
filed with the county clerk where they reside or work before receiving their commission.
14. Which statement about an Illinois notary's surety bond is correct?
A) It protects the notary from personal liability B) It protects the public against notarial
misconduct (correct answer) C) It must be renewed annually D) It replaces the need for errors
and omissions insurance
Rationale: The surety bond protects the public — not the notary — by providing a fund for
recovery if the notary causes harm through improper notarial acts. It does not protect the
notary personally.
15. When an Illinois notary's commission is revoked, what must the notary do with their
seal?
A) Keep it as personal property B) Sell it to another notary C) Destroy or surrender it (correct
answer) D) Store it for future reinstatement
Rationale: Upon revocation of a commission, the notary must destroy or surrender their
official seal to prevent unauthorized use. Continued use of a revoked commission is a
criminal offense.
PART 2: NOTARIAL ACTS AND PROCEDURES
16. What is an acknowledgment?
A) An oath taken before a notary B) A notary's act of certifying a document is authentic C) A
signer's declaration that they willingly signed a document (correct answer) D) A notary's
certification of a copy
Rationale: An acknowledgment is the signer's declaration to the notary that they are the
person named in the document and that they signed it voluntarily. The notary then certifies
this declaration.
Prep Questions ,Answers &
rationales
PART 1: BASICS OF NOTARIAL LAW IN ILLINOIS
1. Which act primarily governs notarial acts in Illinois?
A) The Illinois Notary Act of 1965 B) The Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312) (correct
answer) C) The Uniform Commercial Code D) The Illinois Administrative Procedures Act
Rationale: The Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312) is the primary statute governing
notaries public in Illinois, covering appointment, authority, duties, and prohibited acts.
2. Who is responsible for appointing notaries public in Illinois?
A) The Governor B) The county clerk C) The Secretary of State (correct answer) D) The State
Attorney General
Rationale: The Illinois Secretary of State has the authority to appoint, commission, and
revoke notary commissions in Illinois under the Illinois Notary Public Act.
3. How long is a notary commission term in Illinois?
A) 2 years B) 10 years C) 4 years (correct answer) D) 1 year
Rationale: An Illinois notary commission is valid for 4 years from the date of appointment.
After expiration, a notary must reapply for a new commission.
4. What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public in Illinois?
A) 16 years old B) 21 years old C) 18 years old (correct answer) D) 25 years old
,Rationale: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for a notary public
commission in Illinois.
5. Which of the following is a residency requirement for an Illinois notary applicant?
A) Must be a U.S. citizen B) Must be a resident of Illinois or have a principal place of
employment in Illinois (correct answer) C) Must have lived in Illinois for at least 5 years D)
Must be a registered voter in Illinois
Rationale: Applicants must be Illinois residents OR maintain a principal place of business
or employment in Illinois. Non-residents who work in Illinois may also qualify.
6. An Illinois notary may perform notarial acts in which geographic area?
A) Only in the county where they reside B) Only in the county where they were commissioned
C) Anywhere within the state of Illinois (correct answer) D) Anywhere in the United States
Rationale: An Illinois notary commission grants statewide authority. The notary may
perform notarial acts anywhere within the boundaries of Illinois.
7. What is required on the notary's official seal in Illinois?
A) The notary's photo and fingerprint B) The notary's name, the state of Illinois, and the words
"Notary Public" (correct answer) C) The notary's county of residence and commission number
only D) The Secretary of State's signature
Rationale: Illinois law requires that the official notarial seal include the notary's name
exactly as commissioned, the state of Illinois, and the words "Notary Public."
8. Which of the following is NOT an authorized notarial act in Illinois?
A) Taking an acknowledgment B) Administering an oath C) Giving legal advice about a
document (correct answer) D) Certifying a copy
Rationale: Providing legal advice is the practice of law and is strictly prohibited for
notaries unless they are also licensed attorneys. Notaries certify, witness, and authenticate
— they do not advise.
,9. A notary in Illinois is asked to notarize a document for their spouse. What should the
notary do?
A) Notarize it as long as the spouse provides ID B) Refuse to notarize because it creates a
disqualifying interest (correct answer) C) Notarize it with a disclaimer note D) Notarize it with a
second witness present
Rationale: Illinois law prohibits a notary from notarizing a document in which they have a
direct financial or beneficial interest, including transactions involving a spouse.
10. What is the maximum penalty amount for an illegal or improper notarial act in
Illinois?
A) $500 B) $1,000 C) $5,000 (correct answer) D) $10,000
Rationale: Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, the civil penalty for misconduct can be up
to $5,000 per violation, in addition to actual damages suffered by the aggrieved party.
11. What must a notary do when their address changes during the commission period?
A) Nothing — the change takes effect automatically B) Notify the Secretary of State within 30
days (correct answer) C) Reapply for a new notary commission D) Notify the county clerk only
Rationale: An Illinois notary must notify the Secretary of State of any address change
within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in commission suspension or revocation.
12. What must a notary public do when their commission expires and they wish to continue
notarizing?
A) Simply renew their seal B) File a name change form C) Apply for a new commission (correct
answer) D) Pay a renewal fee without reapplying
Rationale: There is no automatic renewal in Illinois. When a commission expires, the
notary must submit a new application, bond, and fees to the Secretary of State.
, 13. A notary public in Illinois is required to obtain a surety bond. What is the required
bond amount?
A) $5,000 B) $10,000 C) $500 D) $1,500 (correct answer)
Rationale: Illinois law requires notary public applicants to obtain a $1,500 surety bond
filed with the county clerk where they reside or work before receiving their commission.
14. Which statement about an Illinois notary's surety bond is correct?
A) It protects the notary from personal liability B) It protects the public against notarial
misconduct (correct answer) C) It must be renewed annually D) It replaces the need for errors
and omissions insurance
Rationale: The surety bond protects the public — not the notary — by providing a fund for
recovery if the notary causes harm through improper notarial acts. It does not protect the
notary personally.
15. When an Illinois notary's commission is revoked, what must the notary do with their
seal?
A) Keep it as personal property B) Sell it to another notary C) Destroy or surrender it (correct
answer) D) Store it for future reinstatement
Rationale: Upon revocation of a commission, the notary must destroy or surrender their
official seal to prevent unauthorized use. Continued use of a revoked commission is a
criminal offense.
PART 2: NOTARIAL ACTS AND PROCEDURES
16. What is an acknowledgment?
A) An oath taken before a notary B) A notary's act of certifying a document is authentic C) A
signer's declaration that they willingly signed a document (correct answer) D) A notary's
certification of a copy
Rationale: An acknowledgment is the signer's declaration to the notary that they are the
person named in the document and that they signed it voluntarily. The notary then certifies
this declaration.
