NC Notary Public 2026 Comprehensive Questions And Verified Answers/ Complete Solutions With
Rationales |Get It 100% Accurate!! Already Passed!!
Question 1
Which notarial act involves a notary certifying that a principal appeared in person and indicated
that a signature already on a record was indeed their own?
A) Jurat
B) Oath
C) Verification or Proof
D) Acknowledgement
E) Attestation
Correct Answer: D) Acknowledgement
Rationale: An acknowledgement is unique because the individual does not necessarily have
to sign in the notary's presence; they can sign beforehand and then appear before the
notary to acknowledge that the signature is theirs.
Question 2
What is the primary difference between an Oath and an Affirmation in North Carolina?
A) An oath is written, while an affirmation is oral.
B) An oath involves a deity or the word "swear," while an affirmation uses "affirm" and is based
on personal honor.
C) An oath requires a seal, but an affirmation does not.
D) An affirmation can be done over FaceTime, while an oath must be in person.
E) There is no legal difference between the two.
Correct Answer: B) An oath involves a deity or the word "swear," while an affirmation uses
"affirm" and is based on personal honor.
Rationale: Both are legally equivalent vows of truthfulness under penalty of perjury, but an
affirmation is specifically designed for those who have conscientious objections to swearing
to a deity.
Question 3
Which notarial act requires the notary to witness the principal actually signing the document at
the time of the notarization?
A) Verification or Proof
B) Acknowledgement
C) Commissioning
D) Jurat
E) Revocation
Correct Answer: D) Jurat
Rationale: In a Jurat (the act of administering an oath or affirmation), the notary certifies
that the individual appeared in person and made a vow of truthfulness regarding the
record, which is almost always signed in the notary's presence.
, 2
Question 4
Under NC law, "Personal Appearance" is defined as which of the following?
A) Communicating via secure encrypted video conferencing
B) Being in close physical proximity so the notary and principal may freely see, communicate,
and exchange records
C) Speaking over a recorded telephone line
D) Having a document delivered by a trusted courier
E) Verification of identity via a third-party witness without the principal being present
Correct Answer: B) Being in close physical proximity so the notary and principal may freely
see, communicate, and exchange records
Rationale: NC law strictly requires physical presence. Digital communication methods like
Skype or FaceTime do not satisfy the legal requirement for "Personal Appearance."
Question 5
Which of the following is a REQUIRED element on a North Carolina notary's official seal?
A) The notary's phone number
B) The notary's commission expiration date
C) The name of the notary exactly as commissioned
D) The notary's home address
E) The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina
Correct Answer: C) The name of the notary exactly as commissioned
Rationale: Per NC statute, the seal must contain the notary's name, the words "Notary
Public," the county of commission, and "North Carolina" (or "N.C." / "NC"). The
expiration date is optional on the seal itself.
Question 6
A notary performs a notarial act in a manner that the Secretary of State finds to be negligent or
against the public interest. This is defined as:
A) Moral Turpitude
B) Revocation
C) Official Misconduct
D) Criminal Conspiracy
E) Attestation
Correct Answer: C) Official Misconduct
Rationale: Official misconduct includes both the performance of a prohibited act and the
failure to perform a mandated act, as well as performing acts in a negligent manner.
Question 7
Which of the following documents is considered "Satisfactory Evidence" for identifying a
principal?
A) A current credit card with a signature
, 3
B) A Social Security card
C) A current driver's license issued by a state-recognized tribal government bearing a photo
D) A temporary driver's license without a photo
E) A Matricula Consular document
Correct Answer: C) A current driver's license issued by a state-recognized tribal government
bearing a photo
Rationale: Satisfactory evidence must be a current document issued by a federal, state, or
tribal government that contains a photographic image of the individual’s face and either a
signature or physical description.
Question 8
In a "Verification or Proof," who is the individual that appears before the notary to testify about
the execution of a record?
A) The Principal
B) The Credible Witness
C) The Subscribing Witness
D) The Director
E) The Secretary of State
Correct Answer: C) The Subscribing Witness
Rationale: A verification or proof involves a witness (the subscribing witness) who either
saw the principal sign or heard the principal acknowledge the signature. This witness then
appears before the notary to prove the document.
Question 9
What is the legal consequence of a notary's "Revocation"?
A) A temporary 30-day suspension of duties
B) A formal warning from the Secretary of State
C) The permanent cancellation of the notary's commission
D) A fine of $10,000
E) A mandatory re-taking of the notary course every month
Correct Answer: C) The permanent cancellation of the notary's commission
Rationale: Revocation is the most severe administrative penalty, involving the total
cancellation of the notary's authority to act as a public officer.
Question 10
Which of the following is an INVALID form of identification for a notarial act in North
Carolina?
A) A valid US Passport
B) A current out-of-state driver's license
C) A retired military identification card
D) A current consulate document (Matricula Consular)
Rationales |Get It 100% Accurate!! Already Passed!!
Question 1
Which notarial act involves a notary certifying that a principal appeared in person and indicated
that a signature already on a record was indeed their own?
A) Jurat
B) Oath
C) Verification or Proof
D) Acknowledgement
E) Attestation
Correct Answer: D) Acknowledgement
Rationale: An acknowledgement is unique because the individual does not necessarily have
to sign in the notary's presence; they can sign beforehand and then appear before the
notary to acknowledge that the signature is theirs.
Question 2
What is the primary difference between an Oath and an Affirmation in North Carolina?
A) An oath is written, while an affirmation is oral.
B) An oath involves a deity or the word "swear," while an affirmation uses "affirm" and is based
on personal honor.
C) An oath requires a seal, but an affirmation does not.
D) An affirmation can be done over FaceTime, while an oath must be in person.
E) There is no legal difference between the two.
Correct Answer: B) An oath involves a deity or the word "swear," while an affirmation uses
"affirm" and is based on personal honor.
Rationale: Both are legally equivalent vows of truthfulness under penalty of perjury, but an
affirmation is specifically designed for those who have conscientious objections to swearing
to a deity.
Question 3
Which notarial act requires the notary to witness the principal actually signing the document at
the time of the notarization?
A) Verification or Proof
B) Acknowledgement
C) Commissioning
D) Jurat
E) Revocation
Correct Answer: D) Jurat
Rationale: In a Jurat (the act of administering an oath or affirmation), the notary certifies
that the individual appeared in person and made a vow of truthfulness regarding the
record, which is almost always signed in the notary's presence.
, 2
Question 4
Under NC law, "Personal Appearance" is defined as which of the following?
A) Communicating via secure encrypted video conferencing
B) Being in close physical proximity so the notary and principal may freely see, communicate,
and exchange records
C) Speaking over a recorded telephone line
D) Having a document delivered by a trusted courier
E) Verification of identity via a third-party witness without the principal being present
Correct Answer: B) Being in close physical proximity so the notary and principal may freely
see, communicate, and exchange records
Rationale: NC law strictly requires physical presence. Digital communication methods like
Skype or FaceTime do not satisfy the legal requirement for "Personal Appearance."
Question 5
Which of the following is a REQUIRED element on a North Carolina notary's official seal?
A) The notary's phone number
B) The notary's commission expiration date
C) The name of the notary exactly as commissioned
D) The notary's home address
E) The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina
Correct Answer: C) The name of the notary exactly as commissioned
Rationale: Per NC statute, the seal must contain the notary's name, the words "Notary
Public," the county of commission, and "North Carolina" (or "N.C." / "NC"). The
expiration date is optional on the seal itself.
Question 6
A notary performs a notarial act in a manner that the Secretary of State finds to be negligent or
against the public interest. This is defined as:
A) Moral Turpitude
B) Revocation
C) Official Misconduct
D) Criminal Conspiracy
E) Attestation
Correct Answer: C) Official Misconduct
Rationale: Official misconduct includes both the performance of a prohibited act and the
failure to perform a mandated act, as well as performing acts in a negligent manner.
Question 7
Which of the following documents is considered "Satisfactory Evidence" for identifying a
principal?
A) A current credit card with a signature
, 3
B) A Social Security card
C) A current driver's license issued by a state-recognized tribal government bearing a photo
D) A temporary driver's license without a photo
E) A Matricula Consular document
Correct Answer: C) A current driver's license issued by a state-recognized tribal government
bearing a photo
Rationale: Satisfactory evidence must be a current document issued by a federal, state, or
tribal government that contains a photographic image of the individual’s face and either a
signature or physical description.
Question 8
In a "Verification or Proof," who is the individual that appears before the notary to testify about
the execution of a record?
A) The Principal
B) The Credible Witness
C) The Subscribing Witness
D) The Director
E) The Secretary of State
Correct Answer: C) The Subscribing Witness
Rationale: A verification or proof involves a witness (the subscribing witness) who either
saw the principal sign or heard the principal acknowledge the signature. This witness then
appears before the notary to prove the document.
Question 9
What is the legal consequence of a notary's "Revocation"?
A) A temporary 30-day suspension of duties
B) A formal warning from the Secretary of State
C) The permanent cancellation of the notary's commission
D) A fine of $10,000
E) A mandatory re-taking of the notary course every month
Correct Answer: C) The permanent cancellation of the notary's commission
Rationale: Revocation is the most severe administrative penalty, involving the total
cancellation of the notary's authority to act as a public officer.
Question 10
Which of the following is an INVALID form of identification for a notarial act in North
Carolina?
A) A valid US Passport
B) A current out-of-state driver's license
C) A retired military identification card
D) A current consulate document (Matricula Consular)
