INDIANA NOTARY PUBLIC COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Can a notary notarize their own signature? - ✔✔NO; a notary cannot notarize their
own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the notary.
✔✔What is the role of a notary? - ✔✔To be an impartial witness to a signature, oath or
affidavit.
✔✔What is notarial act? - ✔✔Serves as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking or
swearing to an affidavit.
✔✔Who is a notary public commissioned by? - ✔✔Commissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
✔✔How long is the term of office for a notary? - ✔✔8 years
✔✔What are examples of notarial acts? - ✔✔1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
✔✔How old do you have to be to become a notary? - ✔✔18 years of age
✔✔Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - ✔✔You have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
✔✔How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - ✔✔Every 2 years
✔✔What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - ✔✔$50
✔✔How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - ✔✔Draw a line through the
mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake with your initial
and date by it.
✔✔What must be included on notary seal? - ✔✔1. "notary public"
2. "state of Indiana"
3. "seal"
4. the name of the notary public exactly as it appears on the notary public's commission
certificate
, 5. commission number
6. "my commission expires"
✔✔What does jurisdiction mean? - ✔✔with respect to the parties, subject matter and
place.
✔✔Where do IN notaries have the authority to attest/authenticate to affirmations? -
✔✔In the state of Indiana
✔✔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.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Can a notary notarize their own signature? - ✔✔NO; a notary cannot notarize their
own, their spouse's, or any party's signature that may directly benefit the notary.
✔✔What is the role of a notary? - ✔✔To be an impartial witness to a signature, oath or
affidavit.
✔✔What is notarial act? - ✔✔Serves as a legal attestation to a signing, oath taking or
swearing to an affidavit.
✔✔Who is a notary public commissioned by? - ✔✔Commissioned by the state and
serves as a public official.
✔✔How long is the term of office for a notary? - ✔✔8 years
✔✔What are examples of notarial acts? - ✔✔1. taking an acknowledgment
2. administering an oath or affirmation
3. taking a verification on an oath
4. attesting to or witnessing a signature
5. attesting to or certifying a copy of a tangible document or record (or an electronic
record)
6. noting a protest of a negotiable record
7. any other act authorized by common law or the custom of merchants
✔✔How old do you have to be to become a notary? - ✔✔18 years of age
✔✔Do you have to live in IN to become a notary? - ✔✔You have to be a citizen or
permanent resident of the US OR primarily employed in the state of IN
✔✔How often do you have to take continuing education courses? - ✔✔Every 2 years
✔✔What is the fee to complete the continuing edeucation? - ✔✔$50
✔✔How do you make a correction to a notarial certificate? - ✔✔Draw a line through the
mistake in ink and print the correct info immediately above the mistake with your initial
and date by it.
✔✔What must be included on notary seal? - ✔✔1. "notary public"
2. "state of Indiana"
3. "seal"
4. the name of the notary public exactly as it appears on the notary public's commission
certificate
, 5. commission number
6. "my commission expires"
✔✔What does jurisdiction mean? - ✔✔with respect to the parties, subject matter and
place.
✔✔Where do IN notaries have the authority to attest/authenticate to affirmations? -
✔✔In the state of Indiana
✔✔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.
