The Basics

Question 1

Notarial Officer

Answer 1

“Notarial Officer” means a Notary Public or an officer authorized to perform notarial acts.

Question 2

Notary Public

Answer 2

“Notary Public” means a person appointed to perform a notarial act by the Secretary of State.

Question 3

Notarial Act

Answer 3

“Notarial Act” is an act that a notarial officer of this state is authorized to perform.

Question 4

Acknowledgment

Answer 4

An “Acknowledgment” is a declaration by an individual who executes an instrument for the purposes stated therein and, if the instrument is executed in a representative capacity, that the individual signed the instrument with proper authority and executed it as the act of the individual or entity represented and identified therein.

Question 5

Jurat

Answer 5

A “Jurat” is a declaration by a notarial officer that the signer of a document signed the document in the presence of the notarial officer and swore to or affirmed that the statements in the document are true.

Question 6

Oath

Answer 6

An “Oath” is a form of attestation which affirms that the taker will faithfully performs the duties of a specified office.

Question 7

Noting a Protest (of a Negotiable Instrument)

Answer 7

“Noting a Protest” is an act in which a Notary Public certifies that a signer did not receive payment for a negotiable instrument.

Question 8

Certifying a Copy

Answer 8

The act of “Certifying a Copy” is when the Notary Public creates a copy of a document which is presented by an individual.

The Notary Public must photocopy the entire document, then certify that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the document that was presented by the individual.

Question 9

Person

Answer 9

“Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, statutory trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

Question 10

Credible Witness

Answer 10

“Credible Witness” means a person who swears or affirms that the signer of a document is the person who they claim to be and is known personally to the signer of the document and the notarial officer.

Question 11

Representative Capacity

Answer 11

“In a Representative Capacity” means any one of the following:
* For and on behalf of an entity, as an authorized representative.
* A public officer, personal representative, or guardian.
* An attorney-in-fact for a principal.
* In any other capacity as an authorized representative.

Question 12

Impartial Witness

Answer 12

An “Impartial Witness” is a person who either watches another (the principal) sign a document or takes that person’s acknowledgement of an already-signed document and appears before the Notary on behalf of the principal. The subscribing witness must sign the document in addition to the principal, must be personally known by the Notary Public and must take an oath or affirmation stating that he or she witnessed the principal sign or took the principal’s acknowledgement.

Question 13

“Known Personally”

Answer 13

Personal Knowledge is being familiar with an individual resulting from interaction over a period of time sufficient to eliminate every reasonable doubt that the individual has the identity claimed.

When a Notary Public verifies an identity is this manner, they will enter “known personally” when completing the entry in their journal.

Question 14

Credential

Answer 14

A “Credential” is a tangible record evidencing the identity of a person.

Question 15

Identification Document (ID)

Answer 15

An “Identification Document” is a document with an individual’s Photo, Name, and Signature.

Question 16

Examples of Credentials

Answer 16

Driver’s License
Consoler Card
Passport

Question 17

Record

Answer 17

A “Record” is information that is inscribed on a tangible medium, or that is stored in an electric medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

Question 18

Journal of Notarial Acts

Answer 18

The “Journal of Notarial Acts” is the detailed, chronological record which a Nevada Notary Public is required to keep.

Question 19

Instrument

Answer 19

An “Instrument” is any contract, deed, bond, other security, proceedings, or other document of any kind, proposed , or executed or otherwise made.

Question 20

Secured Location

Answer 20

“Secured Location” means either the stamp and journal are in the sole possession of the Notary Public to whom they belong or a locked location over which the Notary Public to whom a stamp or journal belongs has sole control.

Question 21

Venue

Answer 21

The “Venue” is the part of the notarial certificate which identifies the county, including, without limitation, Carson City, and the Stae in which the notarial act was performed.

Question 22

State

Answer 22

“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Question 23

County

Answer 23

“County” means a County of the State of Nevada, … including the Independent-City of Carson City.

Question 24

Notarial Wording

Answer 24

The “Notarial Wording” includes all the wording within a notarial certificate which identifies the type of notarial act performed and all other required information for the notarization.

Question 25

Byline

Answer 25

The “Byline” is the part of the notarial certificate which identifies the name of the person or persons whose signature is being notarized or the name of the individual who is presenting the document when a Notary Public is Certifying a Copy.

Question 26

Date

Answer 26

The “Date” is the calendar date within the certificate which the notarial act was completed by the Notary Public.

Question 27

Administer

Answer 27

“To Administer” is to give formally, as in giving an oath or affirmation.

Question 28

Affirmed (An Affirmation)

Answer 28

“To Affirm” is when a spoken, solemn promise on one’s personal honor, with no reference to a Supreme Being, is made for a Notary Public in relation to the Notarial act.

Question 29

Sworn

Answer 29

“To Swear” is to state under oath a solemn promise to a Supreme Being.

Question 30

Signature by Mark

Answer 30

To “Sign by Mark” is when an X or other symbol is made in place of a signature by a person who is unable to write which is witnessed by a Notary Public and Two Other Persons.

Question 31

Signature

Answer 31

A “Signature” is a name, word, symbol, or mark executed or otherwise adopted or a record encrypted, or similarly processed in whole or in part, by a person with the present intent to identify themself and adopt or accept a record.

A Notary Public must sign in the same manner as the signature the notarial officer has on file with the Secretary of State.

Question 32

Stamp

Answer 32

A “Stamp” must be a rectangle, not larger than 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches, and produce a legible imprint with the required information for the Notary Public as described in NRS 240.040.

If you update the name associated with or renew your commission with the Secretary of State, you may not use your old stamp while waiting for your new one.