Common Questions & Answers 31-40 Flashcards
How long is a 6 hour or 3-hour notary course of study proof of completion valid for?
2 years of the date of completion
If I am a current notary who took a 6-hour refresher course do I still need to pass the written state exam?
Yes, every notary, whether renewing their commission or obtaining it for the first time must take the state exam.
If a notary applicant has been convicted of a crime, does that make then ineligible to become a notary?
No if a person has been convicted of a crime it MAY render them ineligible, but such offense does not count grounds for immediate disqualification.
Are those who committed a felony, including crimes committed over 10 years ago that are compatible with notary public duties, subject to disqualification.
Yes, persons who committed a felony compatible with the duties of a notary would become immediately disqualified.
Who ultimately makes the decision if an applicant is unfit to be a notary public?
The California SOS
What can happen if a notary completes a certificate of acknowledgement that contains a statement the notary knows to be false?
The notary can be liable for civil penalties and administrative actions, and the act is also a criminal offense.
Can a notary be guilty of forgery if they issue an acknowledgment that they know to be false?
YES
Can a person be sent to person for forgery?
Ys if a person is found guilty of forgery, they may be imprisoned for more than one year.
What form should a notary use when a person swears (or affirms) that the contents of a document are true and correct?
A Jurat
In order for a notary to complete a jurat, do they need to certify that the signer personally appeared before them?
Yes, to complete a jurat a notary must certify that the signer appeared before them and must include the date and county where it occurred.
If I am a notary for my employer, can I leave my journal with my employer so they may inspect whether I am present or not?
No, the notary must be present at ALL times. the journal must stay in the possession of the notary at all times.
If notaries who work for their employers are requested to hand over copies of their journal entries, can he notary certified copies of their entries?
No, the notary must provide plain copies of the journal entries.
Should a notary be subpoena duces tecum which is a subpoena to produce records in court, are the copies to be certified copies?
Yes, they shall be certified copies if requested.
At any time, do I have to turn my journal over to someone?
Yes but only during a select number of occassions:
1) if requested in writing by law
2) by a peace officer after a legal request
3) by a county clerk
If a police Officer believes that my journal has evidence of a criminal offense, am I required to surrender my journal?
YES
Can I accept an Identification card issued by a mexican public agency that has the person’s photo?
Yes, so long as it also includes a description of the person, signature, and ID number.
Can I accept all U.S Military id cards as proof of identification?
Yes, but they must also contain a photo, a description of the person, signature, and ID number. (Note most modern military ID cards do not satisify these requirements)
Can I accept an employee ID card Issured by an agency or office of the state of California, or by an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in the state?
Yes, so long as it also contains a photo, a description of the person, signature, and searel or ID Number.
Can a notary establish the signer’s ID by the oath of a single credible witness when they personally know the signer?
Yes, so long the notary also knows the credible witness personally and a proper ID of the credible witness is provided.
If a peace officer properly requests ,y journal but refuse their request, what consequence may I face?
You may be punished by law or stripped of your notary license.
When a notary has their journal surrendered to a peace officer, what should the notary public do?
The notary must do the following:
Obtain a receipt for the journal from the peace officer.
Notify the SOS within 10 days by certified mail or other means that provides a receipt.
The notary shall obtain a new sequential journal.
If the journal is returned, the notary shall make NO new entries in the returned journal.
What should a notary public do if my journal is stolen?
If a sequential journal of official acts performed by a notary public is stolen, lost, misplaced, destroyed, damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable The notary shall:
- Immediately notify the SOS by certified mail or other means that provides a receipt.
- If applicable provide a police report of theft.
If i no longer wish to be a notary (resign) what am I to do with my notary supplies?
You are to return your notary journal to the county clerks office where you filed your notary public oath of office and destroyed your notary seal/Stamp
I’m a notary public and my commission expired and I have NOT obtained a re-appointment what do I do?
If you do not obtain reappointment within 30 days of the expiration of your commission, all notarial records and papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary public’s current official oath of office is on file.
After obtaining your notary license and you change your place of residence is updating my information with the DMV sufficient?
No, you must within 30 days notify the SOS office in writing, by certified mail or any other means of physical delivery that provides a receipt , of your change of address. There is a change of address form.
When submitting my change of address do I need to supply a check to cover the fee?
NO. There is no fee to change your address.
When changing my address, I moved to a different county than my orginal oath and bond are filed what should I do?
You are not required to change your bond or notarial acts.
If i decide to change my legal name what do I do next?
- Send a complete name change form to the SOS
- Once approved you will be issued an amended commission that reflects your new name.
- Next you will need to file a new oath of office and an amendment to your bond with the county clerk within 30 days from the date the amended commission was issued in order for the name change to take effect.
- Within 30 days of the filing, you must obtain a new seal that reflects the new name.
- Once the amended oath and bond are filed you may no longer use the commission including the stamp that was issued in your previous name.
- If you fail to file your amended oath and bond within the 30 day time limit the name change will become void, your commission will revert back to the previous name, and you will be required to submit another name change application.
What happens if I fail to notify the SOS of my name or address change within 30 days?
Willful failure to notify the SOS of a change of address is punishable as an infraction by a fine of not more than $500
Can my private employer require all notary fees be turned over to them and not allow me to perform notary duties outside their place of business?
Yes, if the Notary pays the premium on the bond and the cost of any tamps seals, or other supplies required in connection with the appt, commission or performance of the duties of such notary public.
If a person influences a notary to conduct an improper act are they guilty of a crime?
Yes, they can be found guilty of a misdemeanor.
Is it okay to keep my journal and seal in the company safe, only employees have access to open it.
No it must be under the exclusive control of the notary.
Is there a time where the notary seal is not required on an acknowledgment?
The law allows a limited exception when a notary public may authenticate an official act without using an official notarial public seal.
Are their special rules for placing the notary stamp on a docment?
Yes, the seal must be legibly and not placed over signatures or other printed material when placed on the document.
I lost my stamp What do I do?
I lost my stamp What do I do?
Send a letter immediately by certified mail or any other means of physical delivery that provides a receipt to the SOS explaining what happened and if applicable a photocopy of police report.
If I resign my commission, what do I do with my seal.
Seal must be destroyed you can do this by cutting it or peeling the seal.
What is the purpose of a Certificate of Acknowledgment?
The purpose of a Cert of Acknowledgement is to acknowledge that the person who signed appeared before the notary was properly identified and signed the document.
If a notary realizes the documents are not complete, can they still perform an acknowledgement?
No the Public must refuse to notarize the document.
To complete an acknowledgment does the signer have to sign the document in the presence of the notary?
No they only need to acknowledge that they did sign the document.
What is a subscribing witness?
Should a person that signed a document not be able to appear before the notary, the signer may request antohrer person to sign the document as a witness that the preincipal singer did sign or stated to them that they signed the orginal document therefor this person is called a subscribing witness.
Does a subscribing witness have to sear under oath?
Yes, they must swear under oath that:
- the subscribing witness either saw the principal sign the document or heard the signer acknowledge that he or she signed the document.
- The principal requested that the subscribing witness sign the document as a witness.
When can a subscribing witness not be used?
A proof by subscribing witness cannot be used with any mortgage deed of trust security agreement quitclaim deed or grant deed document.
If there is a credible witness, What must the witness do?
The credible witness must sign the notary public’s journal and the notary public must indicate in his or her journal the type of identifying documents, the identifying numbers of the documents and the dates of issuance or expiration of the documents presented by the witness to establish identities.
Once a person has become a Notary public what other tites are they entitled to?
None
If a notary has a financial interest in a document, are they allowed to notarize a signature in the document?
No, if the notary has a financial or beneficial interest, then you are not able to notarize the document.