INDIANA NOTARY PUBLIC UPDATED EXAMS SCRIPT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is a certified copy? - ✔✔a copy of a record that can only be issued by the
original issuing organization or agency or a specifically authorized agent of the original
issuer.
✔✔Can a notary create or certify copies of official records or documents? - ✔✔No; a
notary public does not have authority to create or certify copies of official records or
documents.
✔✔What is a true copy? - ✔✔a copy of any document containing a notarized affidavit or
attestation of the person who made the copy that it is an accurate, "true" and complete
copy of the original.
✔✔Does the person signing the document have to be physically in your presence? -
✔✔Yes; the person signing the document must be physically in your presence for the
notarization to be valid.
✔✔What are the 3 possible ways for a notary to verify the identity of the signer? - ✔✔1.
identification documents, 2. personal knowledge, 3. credible witness
✔✔How long can ID be expired? - ✔✔Must be current and not expired more than 3
years.
✔✔What is a credible witness? - ✔✔The notary personally knows someone who swears
that he or she personally knows the signer.
✔✔What is Notario Publico? - ✔✔(a class A misdemeanor) fraudulent advertising or
misrepresentation by a notary who is not an attorney in good standing and admitted to
practice law in IN
✔✔What is the maximum fee a notary may charge? - ✔✔Maximum of $10 per individual
notarization
✔✔What is an apostille (or authentication)? - ✔✔A certificate that authenticates the
origin of a public document by validating the official's signature.
✔✔Can you notarize a blank document? - ✔✔A notary must never notarize a blank
document, a document that has not been signed by the parties, or a document that
contains blank spaces with omitted information (such as parties who are not present
before the notary)
, ✔✔What is a notary liability? - ✔✔A notary public who fails to carry out notary duties
correctly may be subject to civil liability for any damages caused by the failure or error.
✔✔What is misconduct? - ✔✔Negligent or purposeful improper notarization.
✔✔Intentional Misconduct - ✔✔deliberate disobedience of notarial statute that seeks to
benefit the notary in some way, often to defraud the signer of or a party to the
document.
✔✔Unintentional Misconduct - ✔✔negligent error or failure of duty in performing a
notarization. (a notary failing to do everything the law requires or attempting to assist
beyond what the law allows)
✔✔What are examples of misconduct? - ✔✔-not requiring personal appearance of the
signer, -failing to attach the notary seal, -neglecting to attach the expiration of
commission, -failing to sign notarized document, -omitting
✔✔Can notaries give legal advice? - ✔✔No; notaries must not give legal advice and
they cannot prepare documents.
✔✔What is a civil penalty? - ✔✔Civil penalties are the most common, if a notary
intentionally or unintentionally damages the complainant, they may be liable for
monetary damages.
✔✔What is a criminal penalty? - ✔✔May apply if the notary's act enables a forgery,
false writing, or other crime to occur. (intentional and can be prosecuted as any other
crime)
✔✔What is a notary journal? - ✔✔A journal of all notarial acts they perform. (IN does
not require this)
✔✔If my notary appt expires but I have applied for a new appt, may I continue to
exercise my notarial powers? - ✔✔no; there is no carryover or grace period for a notary
public once their appt has expired.
✔✔Can I only notarize documents in my own county? - ✔✔An Indiana notary has
authority throughout Indiana; the jurisdiction of a notary qualified in IN is co-extensive
with the limits of the state.
✔✔What is the filing fee? - ✔✔Filing applicated fee $75
✔✔How much is a remote notary authorization application? - ✔✔$100
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is a certified copy? - ✔✔a copy of a record that can only be issued by the
original issuing organization or agency or a specifically authorized agent of the original
issuer.
✔✔Can a notary create or certify copies of official records or documents? - ✔✔No; a
notary public does not have authority to create or certify copies of official records or
documents.
✔✔What is a true copy? - ✔✔a copy of any document containing a notarized affidavit or
attestation of the person who made the copy that it is an accurate, "true" and complete
copy of the original.
✔✔Does the person signing the document have to be physically in your presence? -
✔✔Yes; the person signing the document must be physically in your presence for the
notarization to be valid.
✔✔What are the 3 possible ways for a notary to verify the identity of the signer? - ✔✔1.
identification documents, 2. personal knowledge, 3. credible witness
✔✔How long can ID be expired? - ✔✔Must be current and not expired more than 3
years.
✔✔What is a credible witness? - ✔✔The notary personally knows someone who swears
that he or she personally knows the signer.
✔✔What is Notario Publico? - ✔✔(a class A misdemeanor) fraudulent advertising or
misrepresentation by a notary who is not an attorney in good standing and admitted to
practice law in IN
✔✔What is the maximum fee a notary may charge? - ✔✔Maximum of $10 per individual
notarization
✔✔What is an apostille (or authentication)? - ✔✔A certificate that authenticates the
origin of a public document by validating the official's signature.
✔✔Can you notarize a blank document? - ✔✔A notary must never notarize a blank
document, a document that has not been signed by the parties, or a document that
contains blank spaces with omitted information (such as parties who are not present
before the notary)
, ✔✔What is a notary liability? - ✔✔A notary public who fails to carry out notary duties
correctly may be subject to civil liability for any damages caused by the failure or error.
✔✔What is misconduct? - ✔✔Negligent or purposeful improper notarization.
✔✔Intentional Misconduct - ✔✔deliberate disobedience of notarial statute that seeks to
benefit the notary in some way, often to defraud the signer of or a party to the
document.
✔✔Unintentional Misconduct - ✔✔negligent error or failure of duty in performing a
notarization. (a notary failing to do everything the law requires or attempting to assist
beyond what the law allows)
✔✔What are examples of misconduct? - ✔✔-not requiring personal appearance of the
signer, -failing to attach the notary seal, -neglecting to attach the expiration of
commission, -failing to sign notarized document, -omitting
✔✔Can notaries give legal advice? - ✔✔No; notaries must not give legal advice and
they cannot prepare documents.
✔✔What is a civil penalty? - ✔✔Civil penalties are the most common, if a notary
intentionally or unintentionally damages the complainant, they may be liable for
monetary damages.
✔✔What is a criminal penalty? - ✔✔May apply if the notary's act enables a forgery,
false writing, or other crime to occur. (intentional and can be prosecuted as any other
crime)
✔✔What is a notary journal? - ✔✔A journal of all notarial acts they perform. (IN does
not require this)
✔✔If my notary appt expires but I have applied for a new appt, may I continue to
exercise my notarial powers? - ✔✔no; there is no carryover or grace period for a notary
public once their appt has expired.
✔✔Can I only notarize documents in my own county? - ✔✔An Indiana notary has
authority throughout Indiana; the jurisdiction of a notary qualified in IN is co-extensive
with the limits of the state.
✔✔What is the filing fee? - ✔✔Filing applicated fee $75
✔✔How much is a remote notary authorization application? - ✔✔$100
