NJ NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(RATED A+)
T/F: When executing an electronic notarization, the notary public is not required to
attach or associate the notary certificate and stamp with the electronic notarization. -
ANSWERFALSE!
An electronic notarization involves the use of electronic signatures, digital certificates,
and electronic seals.
T/F: A notary must retain the notary's journal for 5 years after the last notarization act. -
ANSWERFALSE!
A notary must retain the notary's journal for 10 years after the last notarization act OR
transmit the journal to the Department of the Treasury or a repository approved by the
Treasurer.
T/F: The notary public may allow another person use the notary public's stamp at any
time. - ANSWERFALSE!
This would be a violation of professional duties.
T/F: A notary public is a person legally authorized to serve as an impartial witness. -
ANSWERTRUE!
A Notary Public is a public officer of the State of New Jersey who serves as an impartial
witness to the signing of documents and to the acknowledgement of signatures on
documents. (NJ Notary FAQ)
T/F: Notaries may not use electronic technology to notarize wills, codicils, and testimony
trusts. - ANSWERFALSE!
In 2021, the Assembly Judiciary Committee amended the bill to remove the exclusion
pertaining to wills and codicils, so that remote notarization through the use of
communication technology could be used for executing these records... as long as the
notarial act is performed in accordance with the bill's requirements for remote
notarization.
T/F: A person convicted of a crime in the second degree or above can never be granted
notary commission. - ANSWERTRUE!
A person convicted of any crime in NJ or the United States can never be granted notary
commission.
T/F: A notary located in this state may perform a notary act using tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears remotely. - ANSWERTRUE!
A notarial officer located in this State may perform a notarial act using a tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears in person or remotely before the
notarial officer at the time of the act. (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.16)
, T/F: Personal knowledge is a satisfactory form of identification. A notary has personal
knowledge of a signer if a friend pointed an individual out to a notary during a social
gathering. - ANSWERFALSE!
Personal knowledge alone is not a satisfactory form of identification for a notary public.
In order to properly identify a signer or witness, a notary public typically relies on valid
identification documents such as driver's licenses, passports, or other government-
issued identification. Notaries are bound by legal requirements to verify the identity of
signers and witnesses using reliable forms of identification to ensure the integrity of the
notarization process.
T/F: To complete a notarization, it is enough for a notary to place a stamp on the record
and sign it. - ANSWERFALSE!
There are several steps outside of stamping and signing that completes the
notarization.
1. Verify identity
2. Ensure person understands what is being notarized
3. Administer an oath or affirmation and record action in journal
4. Stamp and sign
5. Record notarization in journal
T/F: A notarial stamp is the property of the notary public and not of the notary's
employer, even if the employer paid for the stamp. - ANSWERTRUE!
A notarial stamp is the property of the notary public and not of the notary's employer,
even if the employer paid for the stamp.
T/F: All notarial acts must include the notary public's certificate and stamp. -
ANSWERTRUE!
All notarial acts shall be evidenced by a certificate and be stamped by the notary public
(NJ Notary Public Manual, Chapter 6, p. 11).
T/F: All forms of notarial certificates require that the notary public list the State and
county in which the notarial act takes place. - ANSWERTRUE!
(NJ Notary Public Manual, Chapter 6, p. 13-16)
T/F: When verifying identity, the notary public may only ask for the identification
information specified in the NJ Manual and therefore can not ask for additional
information or identification materials. - ANSWERFALSE!
When verifying a person's identity, a notary public in New Jersey is not limited to asking
for only the identification information specified in the New Jersey manual. They may ask
for additional information or identification credentials if they deem it necessary to
establish the person's identity.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(RATED A+)
T/F: When executing an electronic notarization, the notary public is not required to
attach or associate the notary certificate and stamp with the electronic notarization. -
ANSWERFALSE!
An electronic notarization involves the use of electronic signatures, digital certificates,
and electronic seals.
T/F: A notary must retain the notary's journal for 5 years after the last notarization act. -
ANSWERFALSE!
A notary must retain the notary's journal for 10 years after the last notarization act OR
transmit the journal to the Department of the Treasury or a repository approved by the
Treasurer.
T/F: The notary public may allow another person use the notary public's stamp at any
time. - ANSWERFALSE!
This would be a violation of professional duties.
T/F: A notary public is a person legally authorized to serve as an impartial witness. -
ANSWERTRUE!
A Notary Public is a public officer of the State of New Jersey who serves as an impartial
witness to the signing of documents and to the acknowledgement of signatures on
documents. (NJ Notary FAQ)
T/F: Notaries may not use electronic technology to notarize wills, codicils, and testimony
trusts. - ANSWERFALSE!
In 2021, the Assembly Judiciary Committee amended the bill to remove the exclusion
pertaining to wills and codicils, so that remote notarization through the use of
communication technology could be used for executing these records... as long as the
notarial act is performed in accordance with the bill's requirements for remote
notarization.
T/F: A person convicted of a crime in the second degree or above can never be granted
notary commission. - ANSWERTRUE!
A person convicted of any crime in NJ or the United States can never be granted notary
commission.
T/F: A notary located in this state may perform a notary act using tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears remotely. - ANSWERTRUE!
A notarial officer located in this State may perform a notarial act using a tamper-evident
technology if the individual requesting the act appears in person or remotely before the
notarial officer at the time of the act. (N.J. Admin. Code § 17:50-1.16)
, T/F: Personal knowledge is a satisfactory form of identification. A notary has personal
knowledge of a signer if a friend pointed an individual out to a notary during a social
gathering. - ANSWERFALSE!
Personal knowledge alone is not a satisfactory form of identification for a notary public.
In order to properly identify a signer or witness, a notary public typically relies on valid
identification documents such as driver's licenses, passports, or other government-
issued identification. Notaries are bound by legal requirements to verify the identity of
signers and witnesses using reliable forms of identification to ensure the integrity of the
notarization process.
T/F: To complete a notarization, it is enough for a notary to place a stamp on the record
and sign it. - ANSWERFALSE!
There are several steps outside of stamping and signing that completes the
notarization.
1. Verify identity
2. Ensure person understands what is being notarized
3. Administer an oath or affirmation and record action in journal
4. Stamp and sign
5. Record notarization in journal
T/F: A notarial stamp is the property of the notary public and not of the notary's
employer, even if the employer paid for the stamp. - ANSWERTRUE!
A notarial stamp is the property of the notary public and not of the notary's employer,
even if the employer paid for the stamp.
T/F: All notarial acts must include the notary public's certificate and stamp. -
ANSWERTRUE!
All notarial acts shall be evidenced by a certificate and be stamped by the notary public
(NJ Notary Public Manual, Chapter 6, p. 11).
T/F: All forms of notarial certificates require that the notary public list the State and
county in which the notarial act takes place. - ANSWERTRUE!
(NJ Notary Public Manual, Chapter 6, p. 13-16)
T/F: When verifying identity, the notary public may only ask for the identification
information specified in the NJ Manual and therefore can not ask for additional
information or identification materials. - ANSWERFALSE!
When verifying a person's identity, a notary public in New Jersey is not limited to asking
for only the identification information specified in the New Jersey manual. They may ask
for additional information or identification credentials if they deem it necessary to
establish the person's identity.
