Arizona Notary Practice Exam

1. Marcus receives his first Arizona notary commission with an effective date of March 1. Assuming he never resigns and the commission is not revoked, how long does it run?

• A. Four years from the effective date
• B. Two years, with an automatic extension if no complaints are filed
• C. For life, unless the Secretary of State suspends it
• D. Six years, matching most Arizona professional licenses

2. A surety company prints Wei's renewal bond on January 5 for a commission that will take effect on May 1. Why might the Secretary of State return his paperwork?

• A. Renewal bonds may only be printed by the Secretary of State itself
• B. The bond was issued more than 60 days before the commission effective date
• C. Bonds must always be issued after the effective date, never before
• D. Sureties are barred from issuing notary bonds during the first quarter

3. An applicant in Nogales is fluent in spoken Spanish and spoken English but cannot read or write English. Which commissioning requirement does this situation raise under Arizona law?

• A. An applicant must pass a college-level composition course
• B. An applicant must be bilingual in English and one other language
• C. An applicant must be able to read, write and understand English
• D. There is no language requirement of any kind for applicants

4. Besides the application, bond and oath, Arizona expects every commissioned notary to keep a specific reference resource on hand throughout the term. What is it?

• A. A subscription to a national signing-agent directory
• B. A bound set of the complete Arizona Revised Statutes
• C. A Secretary of State approved manual describing notarial duties, authority and ethics
• D. A county-issued handbook on real estate recording

5. Bruce discloses a ten-year-old felony fraud conviction on his Arizona notary application. How may the Secretary of State treat this history?

• A. As an automatic lifetime bar with no discretion to grant the commission
• B. As irrelevant because the conviction is more than five years old
• C. As disqualifying only if the conviction happened inside Arizona
• D. As a ground on which the office may deny the commission after review

6. During orientation, a new notary hears that a commission makes her a public officer of the state. What does an Arizona notary commission actually confer?

• A. Law-enforcement style authority to demand identification from the public
• B. Full civil immunity for any act performed in good faith
• C. Authority to perform notarial acts, without governmental immunity or public-employee benefits
• D. Eligibility for the state retirement system after four years

7. A 17-year-old high school senior in Mesa wants to become an Arizona notary public so she can notarize paperwork at her family's insurance agency after graduation. Under Arizona law, she:

• A. May apply now if a parent co-signs her surety bond
• B. Cannot receive a commission until she is at least eighteen years of age
• C. May receive a limited commission that converts to a full one at age 21
• D. Qualifies immediately as long as she has a high school diploma

8. Rosa is a lawful permanent resident of the United States who holds a green card, lives in Tucson and files Arizona income tax returns. May she be commissioned as an Arizona notary public?

• A. No, because only United States citizens may hold Arizona commissions
• B. Yes, because applicants may be either citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States
• C. Only if she first passes a citizenship interview with federal authorities
• D. Only if an attorney sponsors her application to the Secretary of State

9. Devon lives in Las Vegas, Nevada but commutes to a Phoenix title agency four days each week. He asks whether he can hold an Arizona notary commission. What controls the answer?

• A. He qualifies if he spends more than half of each week inside Arizona
• B. He qualifies because his employer maintains an Arizona business address
• C. He qualifies as long as his surety bond is issued by an Arizona company
• D. He does not qualify because an applicant must be an Arizona resident for income tax purposes

10. Before mailing her application to the Secretary of State, a first-time applicant in Flagstaff contacts an insurance agency about the required surety bond. What bond amount must she obtain?

• A. $5,000
• B. $2,500
• C. $1,000
• D. $10,000

11. A Scottsdale escrow company paid the application fee, bond premium, stamp and journal costs for its employee Priya to become a notary. When Priya later quits, who owns her stamping device and her journal of public-record entries?

• A. Priya, because those items remain the notary's property even when an employer paid for them
• B. The escrow company, because it covered every cost of the commission
• C. The Secretary of State, which holds title to all notarial tools
• D. Ownership is split, with the stamp going to Priya and the journal to the employer

12. When loan processor Danielle resigns from a Chandler mortgage office, the office manager calls the surety company to cancel the notary bond the company purchased for her. Arizona law provides that the:

• A. Bond cancels automatically on the notary's final day of employment
• B. Employer may cancel the bond once the notary's last day is documented
• C. Surety must transfer the bond to the next notary the employer hires
• D. Employer may not cancel the bond of an employee notary who leaves the job

13. Alongside the completed application and the surety bond, what sworn step must every Arizona notary applicant take before the Secretary of State will issue the commission?

• A. File an affidavit of financial solvency with the county recorder
• B. Execute an oath of office and submit it to the Secretary of State
• C. Obtain a character reference sworn by two registered voters
• D. Swear a loyalty pledge before a superior court judge

14. Frank has been an Arizona notary since 2018 and his commission comes up for renewal in 2026. Compared with his earlier renewals, what new requirement now applies before the Secretary of State will renew him?

• A. He must be fingerprinted at a county sheriff's office
• B. He must obtain a second surety bond covering electronic acts
• C. He must complete eight hours of classroom continuing education
• D. He must pass the state notary examination that became mandatory for new and renewing notaries on July 1, 2025

15. Notary Beltran is permanently relocating from Yuma to Texas halfway through his commission term. What does Arizona law require him to do about his commission?

• A. Nothing, because the commission simply goes dormant while he is away
• B. Resign in writing to the Secretary of State and deliver his seal, journal and records as required
• C. Transfer the commission to the Texas Secretary of State for reciprocity
• D. Mail only his stamp to the Secretary of State and shred the journal

16. After her wedding, notary Alicia takes her spouse's surname. Her stamp still shows her prior name and her commission runs two more years. Which practice complies with Arizona law?

• A. Keep using the stamp in her prior name, sign the new surname above her commissioned name on certificates, and notify the Secretary of State within 30 days
• B. Immediately stop notarizing until a brand-new commission is issued in the married name
• C. Order a replacement stamp showing the married name and continue under the old commission
• D. Continue exactly as before with no notice, since surnames do not affect commissions

17. In the middle of his term, notary Okafor moves from an apartment in Tempe to a house in Gilbert. What is his duty to the Secretary of State?

• A. Send a signed notice showing the old and new addresses within 30 days of the change
• B. Report the move only when he files his renewal application
• C. Publish a change-of-address notice in a local newspaper
• D. Surrender his commission because a move voids it

18. Lucia's Arizona notary commission ends October 15. She wants to renew early enough to avoid any gap in her ability to notarize. When is the earliest the Secretary of State will accept her renewal?

• A. Twelve months before the commission ends
• B. Six months before the commission ends
• C. Two months before the commission ends
• D. Only after the current commission has expired

19. A paralegal requests a notary's complete application file from the Secretary of State, including the home address and phone number listed on it. What may be released?

• A. The entire file, because commission records are fully public
• B. Only the notary's name and business address, since the rest of the application is confidential
• C. Nothing at all, because applications are sealed permanently
• D. Whatever the requester can justify with a notarized demand letter

20. Renewal paperwork for notary Tran is still being processed when her current commission expires on Friday. A regular client begs her to notarize a deed the following Monday. She should:

• A. Notarize as usual, because a pending renewal extends the old commission
• B. Notarize but leave the expiration date blank on the certificate
• C. Notarize and backdate the certificate to the prior Thursday
• D. Decline, because she may not notarize between expiration and receipt of the new commission

21. To keep work and personal notarizations separate, notary Whitfield starts two paper journals and alternates between them as suits the entry. This violates the rule that a notary:

• A. Must store all journals at a commercial records facility
• B. Generally may keep only one paper journal at a time
• C. Must obtain journal serial numbers from the state
• D. May start a new journal only in January

22. After a hectic week of signings, a notary reconstructs her journal from sticky notes, entering Thursday's acts on a page before Tuesday's. Which journal principle did she break?

• A. Entries must be written in blue or black ink only
• B. Notarial acts must be recorded in chronological order
• C. Each page may contain a single entry
• D. Entries may only be made on weekdays

23. Sam, newly commissioned in Prescott, asks whether an app on his phone can serve as his only journal for his walk-in paper notarizations. Arizona law requires:

• A. Whatever format the notary finds most convenient
• B. A paper journal for all notarial acts performed on tangible records
• C. Cloud-based software certified by the Secretary of State
• D. Duplicate journals, one kept at home and one at work

24. Which record-keeping arrangement complies for an Arizona notary who performs both walk-in paper notarizations and notarizations of electronic records?

• A. One electronic journal covering everything
• B. No journal for electronic acts, since platforms keep their own logs
• C. A paper journal for tangible records, plus either a paper or electronic journal for the electronic-record acts
• D. Index cards filed alphabetically by signer surname

25. Setting up his journal columns, a new Kingman notary lists possible fields to capture. Which item is NOT one Arizona requires in every applicable journal entry?

• A. The date of the notarial act
• B. A description of the document and the type of notarial act
• C. The signer's social security number
• D. The fee charged, if any

26. When a signer establishes identity with a driver license, what detail about that credential belongs in the journal beyond noting its type?

• A. The credential's full serial number and barcode data
• B. A description of the card including its date of issuance or expiration
• C. A photocopy of the front and back pasted into the journal
• D. The address of the issuing motor vehicle office

27. Rushing to catch a flight, a signer asks to skip the signature line in the notary's paper journal after his acknowledgment is finished. The notary should explain that:

• A. Journal signatures are optional courtesies, so he may go
• B. The notary can sign the journal on his behalf
• C. Each individual for whom a paper-journal act is performed must sign the journal entry
• D. A photograph of the signer can replace the journal signature

28. Escrow assistant Gloria was fully identified and signed the journal for an in-person notarization in February. She returns in May for another in-person notarization of a similar record. What does Arizona's repeat-customer rule provide?

• A. The rule waives identification for a full commission term of four years
• B. Identity must be re-verified at every single visit without exception
• C. Repeat customers are exempt from journal entries entirely
• D. The notary may not require new identification or another journal signature within six months of the first act

29. A seller acknowledges her signature on four similar transfer documents in one sitting at the notary's desk. How may the notary record this in the journal?

• A. As four entries spread across four different days for clarity
• B. As one grouped entry, because the acts are the same type, performed at the same time for the same signer
• C. As a single line reading 'miscellaneous documents'
• D. No entry is needed when documents are related

30. For a signer he knows personally, notary Ferris prefers not to make a standard entry. What alternative does the journal statute offer when identity rests on personal knowledge?

• A. Skipping all documentation for personally known signers
• B. A verbal report to the Secretary of State within ten days
• C. Retaining a paper or electronic copy of the notarized documents in place of a journal entry
• D. Having the signer initial the notary's stamp impression

31. A local reporter wants to inspect a notary's journal for a story. Under what condition must the notary allow viewing or copying of the public-record entries?

• A. Never, because journals are private business records
• B. On presentation of a written request stating the month and year, the signer's name and the type of record or transaction
• C. Whenever anyone asks verbally during business hours
• D. Only under a subpoena signed by a superior court judge

32. The office manager at a dealership locks the departing finance clerk's notary journal in the company safe, insisting the store paid for the book. If the journal holds only public-record entries, it:

• A. Belongs to the dealership as purchased office equipment
• B. Must be split page by page between clerk and dealership
• C. Belongs to the notary clerk regardless of who paid for it
• D. Escheats to the county where the dealership operates

33. A law-firm notary keeps a second journal used solely for entries protected by attorney-client privilege, as the statute permits. When she leaves the firm, that particular journal:

• A. Goes with her like any other notarial tool
• B. Stays with the employer, because a journal of non-public entries is the employer's property
• C. Must be destroyed in front of two witnesses
• D. Is mailed to the State Bar for safekeeping

34. While commissioned, how long must an Arizona notary preserve the journals and records of notarial acts, measured from the date each act was performed?

• A. One year
• B. Three years
• C. Ninety days after the commission ends
• D. At least five years

35. A thief smashes notary Calloway's car window overnight and takes the tote bag holding her journal and stamping device. Which response satisfies Arizona law?

• A. Order replacements and resume work with no notifications
• B. Report the theft to law enforcement and deliver a signed notice to the Secretary of State within ten days
• C. Wait thirty days in case the items are recovered, then decide
• D. Publish a notice of the theft in a Maricopa County newspaper

36. Months after misplacing his stamping device, a notary admits he never notified anyone about the loss. What civil penalty does the statute direct the Secretary of State to impose for the missed loss notice?

• A. $500
• B. $25
• C. $100
• D. $1,000

37. Proofreading her stamp order from the engraver, notary Egan checks it against the statute. Which set of elements must the official stamp include?

• A. Her photograph, her business hours and a fee schedule
• B. Her signature, her bond number and the state motto
• C. Only her surname and the year the commission began
• D. The words notary public, her county of commission, her name as commissioned and the commission expiration date

38. A stationery shop tempts a new notary with oversized decorative stamps. What size limit does Arizona place on the image produced by a physical stamping device?

• A. No larger than one inch square
• B. No more than one and one-half inches high and two and one-half inches wide
• C. No more than four inches in any dimension
• D. Arizona sets no size limit for stamp impressions

39. Ordering a round self-inking stamp instead of the classic rectangle, a Tucson notary wonders whether the design will be rejected. Arizona permits an official stamp of:

• A. Rectangular shape only, by long-standing rule
• B. Circular shape only, to match the state seal
• C. Any shape, with no content requirements at all
• D. Any shape, provided the physical stamp includes the great seal of Arizona and the required text

40. Space is tight on a crowded certificate, so a notary considers stamping partly across her own signature to make the impression fit. The statute:

• A. Allows overlap as long as the text stays readable
• B. Prohibits affixing the stamp over the notary's signature or any other signature on the record
• C. Requires the stamp to always touch the signature line
• D. Leaves stamp placement entirely to office custom

41. While a notary is out at lunch, her trusted supervisor wants to borrow the stamping device to finish one customer's paperwork himself. Arizona law makes the notary:

• A. Free to lend the device to supervisors who are also employees
• B. Free to lend it if the supervisor logs the use in the journal
• C. Responsible for the device's security and forbids allowing another individual to use it for a notarial act
• D. Required to store the device at the Secretary of State's office overnight

42. A veteran notary loves the crisp raised impression of his metal embosser. How may an embosser be used under current Arizona law?

• A. As his only seal, since embossers predate ink stamps
• B. Only together with the inked physical stamp, because an embossment alone is not an official seal
• C. Only on documents headed to foreign countries
• D. Not at all, because embossers are banned outright

43. At a print shop counter, a walk-in customer orders a notary stamp but refuses to show any commission paperwork, saying he is in a hurry. What must the vendor require before producing the device?

• A. A copy of the customer's notary commission, which the vendor then keeps on file
• B. Nothing, because stamp sales are unregulated retail transactions
• C. A letter of employment from the customer's manager
• D. Payment by traceable credit card instead of cash

44. When a commissioned notary who performed electronic notarizations passes away, what duty falls on her personal representative regarding the electronic stamping device?

• A. Continue using it to wind up the notary's pending business
• B. Store it unchanged for the five-year retention period
• C. Sell it to another commissioned notary to recover costs
• D. Render it unusable by destroying, erasing or securing it against use

45. Comparing an older colleague's battered seal with her own brand-new one, a recently commissioned notary notices hers carries an extra identifying number. What do modern Arizona seals display?

• A. The notary's commission number imprinted on the seal
• B. The notary's date of birth in coded form
• C. The surety company's claims hotline number
• D. A barcode linking to the state elections database

46. Unless a Secretary of State rule sets a different period, how long after creation must the audiovisual recording of a remote notarization be retained?

• A. Six months
• B. Twenty-five years
• C. At least five years after the recording is made
• D. Two years

47. A title officer asks a notary to date an acknowledgment certificate three days earlier so a recording deadline appears to have been met. The notary must:

• A. Comply if the signer consents in writing to the earlier date
• B. Comply because escrow professionals direct the closing timeline
• C. Split the difference and date the certificate one day earlier
• D. Refuse, because the certificate must be executed contemporaneously with the notarial act

48. For the notarial act of witnessing a signature on a gym membership buyout agreement, what must the notary personally observe and determine?

• A. That the signer read every clause aloud before signing
• B. That the agreement's terms are fair to both parties
• C. That the identified individual signed the record in the notary's presence
• D. That the gym's corporate officers have approved the buyout

49. Harold signed a quitclaim deed at his kitchen table on Tuesday. On Wednesday he brings it to a notary, presents his driver license, and declares that the signature is his and that he signed willingly. Which notarial act fits?

• A. A verification on oath, because every notarization requires swearing
• B. A copy certification of the deed
• C. An acknowledgment, because a signer may sign beforehand and later declare the signature to the notary
• D. No act is possible, since the deed was not signed in the notary's presence

50. A process server needs her affidavit of service completed with a verification on oath or affirmation. What must happen in front of the notary for this act?

• A. She must sign the affidavit before the notary and swear or affirm that its contents are true
• B. She only needs to confirm her mailing address matches the affidavit
• C. She must recite the entire affidavit aloud from memory
• D. Her supervisor must vouch for the affidavit in her place

51. Naomi's religious beliefs prevent her from swearing an oath to a higher power, yet her custody affidavit needs sworn language before filing. What should the notary offer?

• A. A plain acknowledgment, which is legally interchangeable with sworn language
• B. An affirmation, a solemn promise on personal honor that carries the same legal force as an oath
• C. A referral to clergy who can administer a religious oath
• D. A refusal, since Arizona notaries may only administer religious oaths

52. A customer at a Peoria shipping store asks a notary to certify a photocopy of his Arizona birth certificate for a passport application. The notary should:

• A. Certify the copy if the original looks genuine under ultraviolet light
• B. Certify the copy but add a disclaimer about government documents
• C. Charge double the usual fee to offset the added risk
• D. Decline, because a notary may not certify a copy of a public record of this state

53. Ingrid asks for a certified copy of a handwritten letter her grandfather wrote that she keeps in a safe. Before completing the copy certification, the notary must determine that the copy:

• A. Was made on archival-quality paper approved by the state library
• B. Is a full, true and accurate transcription or reproduction of the original letter
• C. Has sentimental value sufficient to justify certification
• D. Contains no statements that could embarrass living relatives

54. A mother brings her college-age son's financial aid form to a notary, explaining that he is away at school in Colorado but can confirm everything by telephone. Arizona law requires the notary to:

• A. Refuse, because the person whose signature is notarized must personally appear before the notary
• B. Proceed if the mother presents identification for both herself and her son
• C. Proceed after the son reads his student identification number over the phone
• D. Notarize the form but mail the certificate to Colorado for the son's countersignature

55. A longtime client proposes a quick video chat so the notary can watch him sign a warranty deed from his mountain cabin, with the papers mailed to her afterward. May the notary treat the ordinary video call as an appearance?

• A. Yes, any live video call satisfies personal appearance in Arizona
• B. Yes, if the client holds his driver license up to the camera
• C. No, unless the notary is authorized for remote online notarization and uses compliant technology and identity checks
• D. No, because Arizona forbids notarizing deeds under all circumstances

56. While completing notarial wording on a partnership agreement, notary Salazar double-checks the required contents of the certificate. Which set of items must appear?

• A. The signer's birthdate, thumbprint and telephone number
• B. The consideration paid, the drafter's bar number and the recorder's stamp
• C. The notary's home address, bond number and surety company name
• D. The date of the act, the jurisdiction, the notary's signature and title, and the commission expiration date

57. To save time before a busy signing week, a notary pre-signs a stack of blank acknowledgment certificates on Sunday night. Under Arizona law this practice is:

• A. Prohibited, because a notary may not sign a certificate until the notarial act has been performed
• B. Permitted as long as each certificate is used within seven days
• C. Permitted only for repeat customers with journal history
• D. Efficient and permitted if the certificates are locked in a drawer

58. Because the escrow packet's printed notarial wording is smudged beyond use, notary Vega attaches a certificate on a separate sheet of paper. What extra information must that attachment contain?

• A. A description of the record, including its title or type, date, number of pages and any additional signers
• B. A photocopy of the signer's identification stapled behind it
• C. The county recorder's pre-approval stamp for loose certificates
• D. Nothing extra, as long as the sheet is the same paper size as the record

59. A walk-in customer hands over a form with no notarial wording at all and says, 'Whatever you think is best.' The notary may:

• A. Select the act she believes serves the customer's legal interests
• B. Add acknowledgment wording by default, since it is the most common act
• C. Notarize without any certificate and let the receiving agency add one
• D. Describe the available notarial acts but require the signer or the document's issuer to choose

60. An affidavit presented for a sworn signature still has two empty blanks in the body where dollar figures belong. Before notarizing, the notary should:

• A. Ask the signer to complete or strike through the blanks so the statement is complete
• B. Fill in reasonable amounts based on the conversation
• C. Notarize now and let the signer add figures later that day
• D. Cross out the jurat wording and perform an acknowledgment instead

61. At a hospice bedside, the patient repeatedly drifts off and cannot explain what the power of attorney before her does. The notary is not satisfied the patient understands. Arizona law allows the notary to:

• A. Proceed because medical patients are exempt from competency concerns
• B. Notarize but write 'capacity uncertain' in the certificate margin
• C. Proceed if two family members confirm the patient's wishes
• D. Refuse to perform the act when not satisfied the signer is competent or has capacity to execute the record

62. During a signing at a family home, an adult daughter answers every question for her elderly father, who keeps glancing at her nervously before nodding. The notary suspects the signature is not voluntary. The safest lawful course is to:

• A. Complete the act quickly to avoid family conflict
• B. Have the daughter sign a waiver accepting responsibility
• C. Notarize but note the daughter's behavior in the certificate
• D. Decline the notarization because the notary is not satisfied the signature is knowingly and voluntarily made

63. Kyle presents an Arizona driver license that expired eight months ago as his only identification for an acknowledgment. How should the notary proceed?

• A. Accept it only after photocopying it for the journal
• B. Treat it as unacceptable, because the identification documents listed in the statute must be unexpired
• C. Accept it if Kyle also recites his social security number
• D. Accept it, since the photo still resembles Kyle

64. A rancher with no current photo identification arrives with his neighbor, whom the notary can properly identify. How can identity still be established for the rancher's notarization?

• A. By the neighbor taking an oath or affirmation as a credible witness verifying the rancher's identity
• B. By the rancher producing a utility bill and a library card
• C. By the notary comparing the rancher's signature to an old deed
• D. It cannot be established without government-issued photo identification

65. A buyer from Japan appears at a Sedona escrow signing with her unexpired Japanese passport plus valid United States entry documentation. For this real estate conveyance, the notary may:

• A. Refuse, because foreign passports are never usable in Arizona
• B. Accept the foreign passport with the accompanying entry documentation, an allowance specific to real estate transactions
• C. Accept the passport only if a consular officer countersigns the deed
• D. Accept any foreign identification as long as it includes a photograph

66. An active-duty airman offers his unexpired United States armed forces identification card so a vehicle power of attorney can be acknowledged. This credential is:

• A. Usable only on federal installations, not in civilian offices
• B. Usable only if paired with a birth certificate
• C. Satisfactory evidence of identity under the Arizona statute
• D. Unusable, because military cards lack a listed expiration format

67. Visiting a state prison to notarize a settlement release, notary Duarte is offered the signer's inmate identification card issued by the state Department of Corrections. May she rely on it?

• A. No, inmate cards are informational only and never usable
• B. Only if a corrections officer signs the journal as a witness
• C. Only for documents related to the inmate's criminal case
• D. Yes, an inmate identification card from the Department of Corrections qualifies while the signer is in state custody

68. Notary Reyes has worked beside cashier Tom every business day for six years and knows him well. Tom forgot his wallet but needs an acknowledgment on a storage lien form today. Reyes may:

• A. Refuse, because physical identification is mandatory for every act
• B. Proceed only if Tom returns with two coworkers as character witnesses
• C. Proceed using personal knowledge of Tom's identity gained through dealings sufficient for reasonable certainty
• D. Proceed but leave the identification column of the journal blank

69. A signer speaks only Mandarin and the notary speaks only English. The signer's bilingual niece is present and can interpret between them. Arizona law permits the notarization if:

• A. The niece serves as translator, communicates directly with both, and personally appears before the notary
• B. The niece signs the record on her aunt's behalf as interpreter of record
• C. The notary uses a translation phone app rated for legal use
• D. The signer memorizes an English statement and repeats it

70. A lender sends over a certificate whose notarial wording is printed entirely in German for a notary who reads only English and Spanish. What does Arizona law require in this situation?

• A. The notary may complete it if the signer translates each line aloud
• B. The certificate must be worded and completed in letters and a language the notary can read, write and understand
• C. The notary must send the certificate to a certified translator before signing
• D. Foreign-language certificates are acceptable if the stamp is placed in the margin

71. The treasurer of a homeowners association acknowledges a lien release she signed on the association's behalf. Which short form certificate is designed for this situation?

• A. The acknowledgment in a representative capacity, naming her authority and the entity she represents
• B. The certificate for a verification on oath or affirmation
• C. The certificate for certifying a tangible copy of an electronic record
• D. The certificate for witnessing or attesting a signature

72. A seller believes notarization proves the disclosure statement he signed is truthful. For an acknowledgment, what does the notary's certificate actually establish?

• A. That the identified signer appeared and declared the signature to be his, not that the contents are true
• B. That every statement inside the document has been fact-checked
• C. That the document complies with Arizona formatting rules
• D. That the transaction described is commercially reasonable

73. Administering an oath for an affidavit, notary Booker mumbles 'sign here' and stamps the form without any verbal exchange. What essential element did he skip?

• A. Collecting a second form of identification
• B. The spoken ceremony in which the signer swears or affirms that the statement is true
• C. Obtaining the affiant's employer authorization
• D. Recording the act with an audiovisual device

74. A contract presented on June 9 carries a document date of June 10 because funds change hands tomorrow. The signer appears today with valid identification and wants the signature acknowledged now. The notary may:

• A. Notarize today and show June 9 on the certificate, since the certificate reflects the date of the notarial act rather than the document date
• B. Write June 10 on the certificate so the dates match
• C. Refuse, because a record may never bear a date later than its notarization
• D. Notarize but leave the certificate date blank for escrow to complete

75. After a stroke, Mr. Elgin cannot hold a pen. He asks his neighbor to sign his name on an insurance claim form while he watches and verbally directs her. How does Arizona law treat this?

• A. The notary must sign Mr. Elgin's name personally as the officer
• B. It is allowed only if the neighbor holds a power of attorney
• C. The signature is invalid because only the named individual may ever sign
• D. It is allowed, and the notary inserts wording that the signature was affixed by the named person at Mr. Elgin's direction

76. Reviewing the statutory list of notarial acts with a study group, Pilar is surprised by one entry. Which of the following genuinely is a notarial act in Arizona?

• A. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument
• B. Preparing a bill of sale for a customer's used truck
• C. Approving the legal sufficiency of a settlement agreement
• D. Certifying that a translation of a contract is accurate

77. Before a remote court hearing begins, an attorney asks a notary to administer a spoken oath to a testifying witness, with no document to be signed at all. May the notary perform this service?

• A. Yes, administering an oath or affirmation is itself a notarial act
• B. Yes, but only if the witness is a licensed professional
• C. No, every notarial act must involve a signed record
• D. No, only judges may administer oaths to witnesses

78. Using a tablet at a car dealership, a buyer executes an electronic title application while the notary stands beside him at the desk. What still governs this electronic notarization?

• A. Only the software vendor's terms of service
• B. Every traditional requirement, including personal appearance and satisfactory evidence of identity
• C. Federal electronic-commerce rules instead of Arizona notary law
• D. Nothing, because electronic records cannot be notarized in Arizona

79. A vineyard owner prints out an electronic operating agreement and wants formal assurance that the paper version matches the digital original. Which notarial service addresses this need?

• A. An acknowledgment of the printout by whoever printed it
• B. Certifying that the tangible copy is an accurate copy of the electronic record
• C. Witnessing the owner's signature on the printout
• D. A protest noting the discrepancy between formats

80. A stranger grows hostile when a notary asks routine identification questions, and the notary feels uneasy about the whole transaction. Regarding refusal, Arizona law says a notary:

• A. Must complete every act requested by a member of the public
• B. May refuse only with written approval from the Secretary of State
• C. May refuse to perform a notarial act unless a refusal is prohibited by another law
• D. Must refer all declined customers to the county recorder

81. Two documents arrive together: a deed whose wording says the signer 'acknowledged before me,' and an affidavit stating 'sworn to and subscribed before me.' What does the difference in wording signal?

• A. Both phrases describe the identical act with regional variations
• B. The affidavit wording is obsolete and should be crossed out
• C. The deed wording requires two witnesses in addition to the notary
• D. The deed requires a declaration of an existing or present signature, while the affidavit requires an oath and a signature executed before the notary

82. A downtown Phoenix notary wants to bill $25 for a single acknowledgment because parking near her office is expensive. What is the most the Arizona notary fee rules allow for one notarial act?

• A. $2
• B. $10
• C. $15
• D. $25

83. A client later complains to the state that she paid $18 for one sworn affidavit signature at a storefront. Why does the complaint expose that notary to commission trouble?

• A. Storefront businesses may not employ notaries
• B. Affidavits carry a special no-fee rule
• C. Complaints automatically suspend a commission pending review
• D. Charging more than the authorized fee is a statutory ground for action against the commission

84. The credit union where Bianca works tells her to notarize for members at no charge as a service perk. Is a free notarization lawful in Arizona?

• A. Only for family members of the notary
• B. No, notaries must collect at least a nominal fee to make the act valid
• C. No, waiving fees is unfair competition against mobile notaries
• D. Yes, the authorized fee runs from no charge up to the maximum, so zero is fine

85. A mobile notary drives forty miles to a signing in Wickenburg and wants compensation for the journey on top of the per-act charge. What travel payment does Arizona law contemplate?

• A. Whatever the market will bear for mobile service
• B. Up to the mileage and per diem amounts authorized for state employees
• C. Nothing, because travel may never be compensated
• D. A mandatory ten percent surcharge on the notarial fees

86. Along with the per-act charge, a storefront notary tacks a mandatory $5 'processing surcharge' onto every visit. This extra charge is:

• A. Improper, because a notary may not charge or receive fees for notarial work except as authorized by rule
• B. Fine, if it is posted on a sign at the counter
• C. Improper only when the customer pays in cash
• D. Fine, because surcharges are administrative rather than notarial

87. One customer needs acknowledgment certificates completed on three different deeds during a single visit. Applying the Arizona fee cap, the notary may collect at most:

• A. $50, adding a handling allowance for multiple documents
• B. $20, a discounted bundle rate set by rule
• C. $10 total, because everything happened in one visit
• D. $30, because the maximum applies to each notarial act

88. A neighbor asks notary Iverson to complete her divorce petition and tell her which county forms to file. Iverson should refuse because Arizona notaries:

• A. May not draft legal records, give legal advice or otherwise practice law
• B. May help with family law only after taking a certification course
• C. May assist neighbors but not strangers with court forms
• D. May help only if the divorce is uncontested

89. A confused customer at a Glendale mail center wants to understand notarizations before choosing a service. Which assistance can the non-attorney notary lawfully give?

• A. Decide which service the customer's paperwork legally requires
• B. A factual description of the different notarial acts the notary can perform
• C. An opinion on whether the document will hold up in court
• D. Rewriting confusing paragraphs in plainer language

90. For $75, a notary offers to review green-card paperwork and coach applicants on their upcoming interviews. Arizona law treats acting as an immigration consultant as:

• A. Permitted when the customer signs a liability waiver
• B. Permitted if the notary once worked for a federal agency
• C. A gray area left to county enforcement discretion
• D. Outside the authority of a notarial commission and grounds for severe penalties

91. A family asks their trusted notary to speak on their behalf at an administrative hearing about a relative's United States citizenship application. May the notary take this role?

• A. Yes, if no attorney is available within the county
• B. No, a commission never authorizes representing a person in proceedings on immigration or citizenship matters
• C. Yes, because administrative hearings are informal
• D. Only if the notary declines any payment for appearing

92. To attract Spanish-speaking customers, a Mesa storefront paints 'Notario Publico' in large letters across its front window. Unless the commissioned operator is a licensed Arizona attorney, this signage is:

• A. Acceptable as a routine translation of notary public
• B. Acceptable with a small-print English disclaimer
• C. Prohibited outright by statute
• D. A matter regulated only by the city sign code

93. The Secretary of State confirms that a non-attorney notary charged families to prepare immigration filings. Alongside a civil penalty of up to $1,000, what happens to his commission?

• A. It continues with a supervision condition
• B. It is suspended for ninety days
• C. It is permanently revoked
• D. It converts to a restricted commercial commission

94. A non-attorney notary runs radio spots in English and Spanish promoting her notarial services around Tucson. What statement must accompany the advertising in each language used?

• A. That her prices beat every competitor in the county
• B. That she is not an attorney and cannot draft legal records, give legal advice or charge for those activities
• C. That the Secretary of State has endorsed her services
• D. That all sales are final once a document is stamped

95. Ignoring repeated warnings, a notary keeps advertising that he can prepare legal documents for his customers. Beyond permanent revocation of the commission, this advertising violation is classified as:

• A. A petty offense with a fine only
• B. A class 3 misdemeanor
• C. A civil infraction with no criminal element
• D. A class 6 felony

96. After a payment dispute, a notary refuses to hand back a customer's original power of attorney until the disputed fee clears. Arizona law:

• A. Supports holding documents as a standard mechanic's lien
• B. Forbids withholding access to or possession of an original record provided for notarization
• C. Allows a hold of up to five business days
• D. Requires the dispute to go to small claims court before release

97. A flyer promises that documents notarized at a certain kiosk are 'guaranteed valid in every court in America.' Which statutory rule does this marketing break?

• A. The ban on false or deceptive advertising by notaries
• B. The requirement that flyers be printed in two languages
• C. The rule that notaries may not advertise at all
• D. The prohibition on out-of-state marketing

98. A customer arrives with a fully completed federal immigration affidavit that simply needs her signature sworn and notarized. For a non-attorney Arizona notary, performing this verification is:

• A. Prohibited, because immigration documents may never be touched
• B. Prohibited unless an attorney is physically present
• C. Permitted, because taking a sworn signature differs from giving immigration advice or acting as a consultant
• D. Permitted only at a federal building

99. A tax-preparation franchise instructs its employee notary to bill $20 per notarization during the spring rush and split the proceeds with the store. Complying would mean:

• A. Nothing improper, since employers set workplace prices
• B. Exceeding the authorized fee, which violates the rules even when an employer orders it
• C. A violation only if the customer complains in writing
• D. A violation by the franchise alone, never the notary

100. On Saturdays, staff accountant and commissioned notary Jamal performs signings that have nothing to do with his weekday employer. His manager claims the weekend fees belong to the firm because it paid for his commission. Arizona law says fees for services performed while off duty:

• A. Remain the property of the notary
• B. Belong to whichever party invoiced the customer
• C. Must be split evenly with the sponsoring employer
• D. Must be donated to the notary bond fund