NEW YORK NOTARY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
A notary at the time of appointment must be either a NYS resident or have a place of
business in New York State? -ANS___________ TRUE - a notary must also be a
united states citizen at the time of appointment. however, the department of state,
division of licensing services web site adds that notary may also be a permanent resident
alien of the united states
A NYS resident notary public who moves out of NYS but still maintains a place of
business in NYS can continue to be a notary in NYS? -ANS___________ TRUE - how
if a non-resident notary ceases to have a place of business in NYS, then he vacates his
office as a notary public.
In certain situations, the Secretary of State is not required to satisfy himself of certain
notary public requirements of an applicant, such as education? -ANS___________
TRUE- example, when applicant applies less than 6 months after his term of notary has
expired, or upon the application of an attorney admitted to practice in NYS, and certain
court clerks
The Secretary of State can remove a notary without serving a copy of the charges against
him? -ANS___________ FALSE - the secretary of state must serve the charges and
give him an opportunity to be heard.
No person shall be appointed a notary who has been convicted of any misdemeanor. -
ANS___________ FALSE- a person cannot be appointed a notary if convicted of a
felony
No person shall be appointed a notary public if he has been convicted unlawful
possession or distribution of habit forming narcotic drugs? -ANS___________ TRUE
- also cannot be appointed a notary if convicted of vagrancy or prostitution (unless the
person was pardoned or received a certificate of good conduct from a parole board).
An attorney who is a notary public who moves to another state shall be deemed a
resident of the county where he maintains an office in NYS? -ANS___________ TRUE
- this section applies to attorneys who are admitted to practice in NYS and are
counselors in the courts of record in New York State.
The secretary of state shall receive a fee of $20 for changing the name or address of a
notary public -ANS___________ FALSE- the fee for changing the name or address of
a notary public is $10. also, the fee for issuing a duplicate ID is also $10.
Only the secretary of state may issue a certificate of official character. -
ANS___________ FALSE- the county clerk may also issue a certificate of office
, The secretary of state shall collect $10 for the issuance of a certificate official character?
-ANS___________ TRUE - the county clerk collects $10 for the filling of the
certificate of official character and $5 for the issuance of a certificate of official character
with seal attached
A certification of a notarial signature is issued by the court? -ANS___________
FALSE - a certification of a notarial signature is issued by the county clerk for a fee of $3
No person removed from commissioner of deeds in New York City is eligible for
reappointment as commissioner of deeds -ANS___________ TRUE - also not eligible
for appointment as a notary public
A commissioner of elections or inspector of elections is not eligible for the office of
notary public. -ANS___________ FALSE- they are eligible for appointment as notary
public
No person is eligible for the office of notary public who was convicted of a violation of
the selective draft act of MAY 18, 1917? -ANS___________ TRUE- also not eligible if
convicted of a violation of the selective training and service act of 1940
There shall be at least one person in the county clerk's office who shall notarize
documents for the public free of charge. -ANS___________ TRUE- that person shall
be exempt from the notary public examination fee and application fee.
A member of the legislature may not be appointed a notary public? -
ANS___________ FALSE- a member of the legislature may be appointed a notary.
A sheriff may be appointed notary public -ANS___________ FALSE- Sheriffs cannot
hold any other office
A notary public shall not notarize a paper if he has a pecuniary interest in the
transaction -ANS___________ TRUE- such notarization would be invalid
The signature and seal of the county clerk on a certificate of official character or
authentication may be facsimile, printed or stamped. -ANS___________ TRUE- also
may be photographed or engraved thereon
A notary shall be not be liable to the parties injured for damages sustained by them as a
result of the notary public's actions -ANS___________ FALSE- a notary public is
liable for such damages
A person not commissioned a notary public who acts as a notary public is guilty of a
felony. -ANS___________ FALSE- such a person is guilty of a misdemeanor. also
fraud in office is also a misdemeanor
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
A notary at the time of appointment must be either a NYS resident or have a place of
business in New York State? -ANS___________ TRUE - a notary must also be a
united states citizen at the time of appointment. however, the department of state,
division of licensing services web site adds that notary may also be a permanent resident
alien of the united states
A NYS resident notary public who moves out of NYS but still maintains a place of
business in NYS can continue to be a notary in NYS? -ANS___________ TRUE - how
if a non-resident notary ceases to have a place of business in NYS, then he vacates his
office as a notary public.
In certain situations, the Secretary of State is not required to satisfy himself of certain
notary public requirements of an applicant, such as education? -ANS___________
TRUE- example, when applicant applies less than 6 months after his term of notary has
expired, or upon the application of an attorney admitted to practice in NYS, and certain
court clerks
The Secretary of State can remove a notary without serving a copy of the charges against
him? -ANS___________ FALSE - the secretary of state must serve the charges and
give him an opportunity to be heard.
No person shall be appointed a notary who has been convicted of any misdemeanor. -
ANS___________ FALSE- a person cannot be appointed a notary if convicted of a
felony
No person shall be appointed a notary public if he has been convicted unlawful
possession or distribution of habit forming narcotic drugs? -ANS___________ TRUE
- also cannot be appointed a notary if convicted of vagrancy or prostitution (unless the
person was pardoned or received a certificate of good conduct from a parole board).
An attorney who is a notary public who moves to another state shall be deemed a
resident of the county where he maintains an office in NYS? -ANS___________ TRUE
- this section applies to attorneys who are admitted to practice in NYS and are
counselors in the courts of record in New York State.
The secretary of state shall receive a fee of $20 for changing the name or address of a
notary public -ANS___________ FALSE- the fee for changing the name or address of
a notary public is $10. also, the fee for issuing a duplicate ID is also $10.
Only the secretary of state may issue a certificate of official character. -
ANS___________ FALSE- the county clerk may also issue a certificate of office
, The secretary of state shall collect $10 for the issuance of a certificate official character?
-ANS___________ TRUE - the county clerk collects $10 for the filling of the
certificate of official character and $5 for the issuance of a certificate of official character
with seal attached
A certification of a notarial signature is issued by the court? -ANS___________
FALSE - a certification of a notarial signature is issued by the county clerk for a fee of $3
No person removed from commissioner of deeds in New York City is eligible for
reappointment as commissioner of deeds -ANS___________ TRUE - also not eligible
for appointment as a notary public
A commissioner of elections or inspector of elections is not eligible for the office of
notary public. -ANS___________ FALSE- they are eligible for appointment as notary
public
No person is eligible for the office of notary public who was convicted of a violation of
the selective draft act of MAY 18, 1917? -ANS___________ TRUE- also not eligible if
convicted of a violation of the selective training and service act of 1940
There shall be at least one person in the county clerk's office who shall notarize
documents for the public free of charge. -ANS___________ TRUE- that person shall
be exempt from the notary public examination fee and application fee.
A member of the legislature may not be appointed a notary public? -
ANS___________ FALSE- a member of the legislature may be appointed a notary.
A sheriff may be appointed notary public -ANS___________ FALSE- Sheriffs cannot
hold any other office
A notary public shall not notarize a paper if he has a pecuniary interest in the
transaction -ANS___________ TRUE- such notarization would be invalid
The signature and seal of the county clerk on a certificate of official character or
authentication may be facsimile, printed or stamped. -ANS___________ TRUE- also
may be photographed or engraved thereon
A notary shall be not be liable to the parties injured for damages sustained by them as a
result of the notary public's actions -ANS___________ FALSE- a notary public is
liable for such damages
A person not commissioned a notary public who acts as a notary public is guilty of a
felony. -ANS___________ FALSE- such a person is guilty of a misdemeanor. also
fraud in office is also a misdemeanor
