Pennsylvania Notary Practice Exam.
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1. A signer cannot come to the notary's office and instead mails in an already-signed document, asking the notary to notarize the signature. What must the notary do?
- A. Notarize it, since the signature is already on the document
- B. Notarize it if a family member delivers the document in person
- C. Refuse, because the signer must be physically present at the time of notarization
- D. Notarize it if the signer confirms by telephone
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A notary may not notarize a signature unless the signer is physically present at the time of the notarization. A mailed-in signature does not satisfy this requirement.2. Which of the following is typically included on a notary's official seal?
- A. The signer's name and address
- B. The notary's name, the words "Notary Public," the commissioning state, and the commission expiration date
- C. The county population and the notary's date of appointment
- D. The notary's home address and telephone number
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Answer: B
The official seal typically includes the notary's name, the words "Notary Public," the commissioning state, and the commission expiration date.3. During a signing, the notary observes that an elderly signer keeps looking nervously at a relative who answers every question for her and appears to be pressuring her to sign. What must the notary do?
- A. Refuse to perform the notarization, because the signer appears coerced
- B. Proceed, because the relative is present to assist
- C. Ask the relative to leave and then continue immediately
- D. Proceed, but note the relative's name in the journal
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Answer: A
A notary must refuse to perform a notarization if the signer appears to be coerced, does not understand the transaction, or cannot be properly identified. Apparent coercion requires the notary to refuse.4. Which of the following best explains why a notary is expected to remain impartial and decline acts involving personal interest?
- A. Because a notary is a private contractor hired by the signer
- B. Because notaries are required to be licensed attorneys
- C. Because impartiality lets the notary charge higher fees
- D. Because a notary is a public officer commissioned to serve as an impartial witness and to deter fraud
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Answer: D
A notary public is a public officer commissioned by the state to serve as an impartial witness to signings and to deter fraud. That impartial role is why the notary must avoid acts involving personal interest.5. A signer mails a signed contract to a notary and asks the notary to notarize the signature, explaining they are too busy to come in person. What is the correct response?
- A. Notarize it if a witness confirms the signature by phone
- B. Refuse, because the signer must be physically present at the time of notarization
- C. Notarize it only if the signer's ID is enclosed
- D. Notarize it, since the signature is clearly on the page
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A notary may not notarize a signature unless the signer is physically present at the time of the notarization. A mailed-in document with an absent signer cannot be notarized.6. A signer at the notary's table appears frightened and is being urged by a companion to "just sign it, it's fine," and cannot explain what the document does. What is the notary's duty?
- A. Notarize but record the companion's name as a witness
- B. Notarize quickly to avoid escalating the tension
- C. Refuse to perform the notarization
- D. Notarize, since the signer is physically present
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A notary must refuse to perform a notarization if the signer appears to be coerced or does not understand the transaction. A frightened, pressured signer who cannot explain the document meets both grounds for refusal.7. A signer appears before a notary and states that the signature on a deed is genuine and was made willingly, but does not sign again in front of the notary. Which notarial act is being performed?
- A. A jurat
- B. An acknowledgment
- C. A protest
- D. An oath of office
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Answer: B
An acknowledgment is the act in which the signer declares the signature is genuine and made willingly; the signer need not sign in the notary's presence and takes no oath. A jurat, by contrast, requires signing in the notary's presence plus an oath.8. Which requirement distinguishes a jurat from an acknowledgment?
- A. The notary must personally know the signer
- B. The signer must provide two witnesses
- C. The signer may sign the document at any earlier time and takes no oath
- D. The signer must sign in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation that the statements are true
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Answer: D
A jurat requires the signer to sign in the notary's presence and to take an oath or affirmation that the document's statements are true; it is used for affidavits and sworn statements. This oath-and-presence-of-signing requirement is what sets it apart from an acknowledgment.9. A notary does not personally know a signer who has come in to have a document notarized. What is the notary's proper course of action to establish the signer's identity?
- A. Proceed without identification if the document appears routine
- B. Accept the signer's spoken statement of their own name
- C. Require satisfactory evidence such as a current government-issued identification document
- D. Rely on a co-worker's informal assurance that the signer is trustworthy
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Answer: C
When personal knowledge is absent, the notary must positively identify the signer through satisfactory evidence, such as a current government-issued identification document.10. A notary is asked to notarize a mortgage document in a real estate transaction in which the notary personally stands to receive a share of the proceeds. How should the notary respond?
- A. Decline, because the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction
- B. Notarize it, since the notary is not the signer
- C. Notarize it after disclosing the interest in the journal
- D. Notarize it only if a second notary co-signs
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Answer: A
A notary must not notarize a document to which the notary is a party or in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest. A share of the proceeds is a direct financial interest, so the notary must decline.11. A member of the public asks a notary who is not an attorney which type of legal form to use and offers to pay for guidance in drafting it. What may the notary properly do?
- A. Advise on the form but not charge for preparing it
- B. Give the legal advice and charge a fee for it
- C. Decline, because a non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, accept fees for it, or prepare legal documents for others
- D. Prepare the legal document for the person for a reasonable fee
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Answer: C
A notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice, accept fees for legal advice, or prepare legal documents for others. The notary must decline all three.12. During a notarization, the signer seems confused about what the document does and hesitates, appearing to act under pressure from a person accompanying them. What is the notary's duty?
- A. Proceed if the accompanying person vouches for the signer
- B. Refuse to perform the notarization
- C. Proceed, since the signer is physically present
- D. Proceed but note the concern in the journal
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Answer: B
A notary must refuse to perform a notarization if the signer appears to be coerced or does not understand the transaction. Both conditions are present here, so the notary must refuse.13. Which set of details must a notary record in the notary journal for each notarial act?
- A. The date and time, type of act, type of document, name and address of each signer, and the identification method used
- B. The signer's date of birth and Social Security number
- C. Only the signer's name and the fee charged
- D. Only the type of document and the commission expiration date
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Answer: A
The notary journal records the date and time of the act, the type of act, the type of document, the name and address of each signer, and the method used to identify the signer.14. A notary's co-worker asks to borrow the notary's seal and journal to complete a notarization while the notary is away for the afternoon. What is the proper response, and why?
- A. Lend them, since both employees serve the same office
- B. Lend only the journal but keep the seal
- C. Lend them if the co-worker records the acts under the notary's name
- D. Refuse, because the notary must keep the seal and journal under exclusive control and not let another person use them
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Answer: D
The notary must keep the seal and journal under the notary's exclusive control and must not allow another person to use them, so the notary must refuse.15. A notary is asked to notarize a deed that transfers property to the notary personally. What is the notary's proper course of action?
- A. Notarize it if a witness co-signs the deed
- B. Decline, because the notary is a party to the document
- C. Notarize it only after charging a higher fee
- D. Notarize it, since the notary can identify the signer with certainty
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Answer: B
A notary must not notarize a document to which the notary is a party or in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest. Because the deed transfers property to the notary, the notary is a party and must decline.16. A signer's spouse arrives at the notary's office holding a power of attorney and the document to be signed, explaining that the signer is at home but authorized the spouse to have it notarized in the signer's place. May the notary proceed?
- A. Yes, because the power of attorney authorizes the spouse to act
- B. No, because the signer is not physically present at the notarization
- C. No, unless the notary telephones the signer to confirm
- D. Yes, if the spouse presents the signer's identification
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A notary may not notarize a signature unless the signer is physically present at the time of the notarization. A power of attorney does not substitute for the signer's physical presence.17. A notary who is not an attorney is asked by a customer, 'Which type of deed should I use to avoid probate?' How should the notary respond?
- A. Recommend the deed that best fits the customer's goal
- B. Answer, but only if no separate fee is charged for the answer
- C. Decline to advise and suggest the customer consult an attorney
- D. Prepare the deed for the customer at no charge
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Answer: C
A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, accept fees for legal advice, or prepare legal documents for others. Recommending which deed to use is legal advice, so the notary must decline and refer the customer to an attorney.18. A notary stands to receive a commission if a business contract is signed, though the notary is not named as a party to the contract. A signer asks the notary to notarize that contract. What is the correct action?
- A. Decline, because the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction
- B. Notarize it after disclosing the commission to the signer
- C. Notarize it, because the notary is not a named party
- D. Notarize it, because a commission is not a beneficial interest
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Answer: A
A notary must not notarize a document to which the notary is a party or in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest. A commission tied to the contract's signing is a direct financial interest, so the notary must decline even though not a named party.19. A signer presents a document but cannot produce any identification, and the notary has never met the signer before and has no personal knowledge of the signer's identity. What is the notary's obligation?
- A. Perform the notarization and record 'no ID' in the journal
- B. Refuse, because the signer cannot be properly identified
- C. Perform the notarization if the signer states his name under oath
- D. Perform the notarization if another customer vouches informally
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Answer: B
A notary must refuse if the signer cannot be properly identified. Identification requires personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence such as a current government-issued ID; with neither available, the notary must refuse.20. A regular customer asks a non-attorney notary to draft a simple lease agreement and then notarize the customer's signature on it. How should the notary handle this request?
- A. Draft the lease and notarize it, since the customer is a regular
- B. Decline to draft the lease, because preparing legal documents for others is prohibited
- C. Draft the lease only if the customer signs a waiver
- D. Draft the lease but decline to notarize it
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Answer: B
A non-attorney notary may not prepare legal documents for others. Drafting a lease agreement for the customer is preparing a legal document, which the notary must decline; the notary could still notarize a document the customer prepares if all other requirements are met.21. A signer wants to mail a signed contract to the notary and have the notary notarize the already-affixed signature after it arrives, without the signer coming in. May the notary do so?
- A. Yes, if the signer includes a copy of a government-issued ID
- B. No, because the signer must be physically present at the time of notarization
- C. Yes, if the notary recognizes the signature from prior dealings
- D. Yes, because the signature is genuine and belongs to the signer
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Answer: B
A notary may not notarize a signature unless the signer is physically present at the time of the notarization. Mailing in an already-signed document does not satisfy the physical-presence requirement, regardless of the signature's authenticity or an included ID copy.22. A signer appears confused, cannot describe what the document is, and repeatedly asks the notary what the paper means before signing. What is the notary's proper response?
- A. Explain the legal effect of the document and proceed
- B. Proceed, since understanding the document is not the notary's concern
- C. Refuse, because the signer does not appear to understand the transaction
- D. Proceed if the signer's ID is valid
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Answer: C
A notary must refuse to perform a notarization if the signer does not understand the transaction. Additionally, a non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, so the notary cannot cure the problem by explaining the document's legal effect.23. During a signing, the notary discovers that the person presenting the document is the notary's spouse and that the notary stands to receive money if the transaction closes. Under state law, what must the notary do?
- A. Notarize and note the relationship in the journal
- B. Proceed, because the signer is well known to the notary
- C. Decline to notarize, because the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest in the transaction
- D. Notarize only after doubling the standard fee
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A notary must not notarize a document to which the notary is a party or in which the notary has a direct financial or beneficial interest. The prospect of receiving money if the deal closes is exactly such an interest, so the notary must decline.24. Which statement best distinguishes an acknowledgment from a jurat?
- A. In an acknowledgment the signer takes an oath, while in a jurat the signer does not
- B. In an acknowledgment the signer need not sign in the notary's presence and takes no oath, while in a jurat the signer must sign in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation
- C. An acknowledgment is used for affidavits, while a jurat is used for deeds
- D. Both require the signer to swear the statements are true
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Answer: B
In an acknowledgment the signer declares the signature is genuine and willingly made, need not sign in the notary's presence, and takes no oath. In a jurat the signer must sign in the notary's presence and take an oath or affirmation that the statements are true. Choice B captures both distinctions.25. A client asks a non-attorney notary, "Which of these two contract forms should I sign to best protect my rights?" How should the notary respond?
- A. Prepare a revised contract that combines the best terms of both
- B. Explain that a non-attorney notary may not give legal advice and decline to advise which form to sign
- C. Recommend the form that appears more favorable to the client
- D. Charge a small fee to review both forms and advise
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A notary who is not an attorney may not give legal advice, accept fees for legal advice, or prepare legal documents for others. Advising which form to sign, charging to advise, or drafting a revised contract would each violate that prohibition.26. A notary does not personally know the signer. Under state law, how may the notary properly establish the signer's identity?
- A. By satisfactory evidence such as a current government-issued identification document
- B. By confirming the signer's identity with the companion who came with them
- C. By matching the signature to the one on the document
- D. By accepting the signer's verbal statement of their name
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
The notary must positively identify the signer either through personal knowledge or by satisfactory evidence such as a current government-issued ID. Absent personal knowledge, a current government-issued identification document is the proper basis.27. Which set of entries is a notary expected to record in the notary journal for each act?
- A. The notary's own commission number and nothing about the signer
- B. Only the type of document and the fee charged
- C. The date and time, the type of act, the type of document, the name and address of each signer, and the method used to identify the signer
- D. The signer's political affiliation and employer only
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A notary journal records the date and time of the act, the type of act, the type of document, the name and address of each signer, and the identification method used. Choice B lists exactly those items.28. A notary's coworker asks to borrow the notary's official seal for an afternoon to stamp a few documents while the notary is at lunch. What does state law require?
- A. The notary may lend the seal if the journal is updated afterward
- B. The notary must keep the seal under exclusive control and must not allow another person to use it
- C. The seal may be shared within the same office freely
- D. Lending the seal is allowed as long as the coworker is also a notary
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Answer: B
The notary must keep the seal and journal under the notary's exclusive control and must not allow another person to use them. Lending the seal to a coworker violates that duty.29. Which combination of elements does a notary's official seal typically include?
- A. The notary's name, the words "Notary Public," the commissioning state, and the commission expiration date
- B. The signer's name and the document's title
- C. The notary's home address and telephone number
- D. A serial number issued by the federal government
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
The official seal typically includes the notary's name, the words "Notary Public," the commissioning state, and the commission expiration date. Choice B lists those elements.30. A candidate must pass an examination to be commissioned. Which statement about that examination is correct under state law?
- A. The examination costs $65 per test and the candidate has six months from being authorized to sit for it to pass
- B. The examination is free and may be taken at any time within one year
- C. The examination costs $65 per test but has no deadline to pass
- D. The examination is administered by the state directly for $65 with a three-month window
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Answer: A
The examination is administered by the Department's vendor, Pearson VUE, at a cost of $65 per test, and candidates have six months from the time they are authorized to sit for the examination to pass it. Only choice A states both the fee and the window correctly.31. Pennsylvania notarial practice is governed by a modern uniform statute. Which framework applies?
- A. The Model Notary Act of 1973, unchanged since adoption
- B. The Uniform Commercial Code
- C. The Uniform Probate Code
- D. The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which standardizes notarial acts, certificates and journal requirements
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Answer: D
Pennsylvania adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which defines the permitted notarial acts, prescribes certificate content, and imposes journal and seal requirements. The framework also addresses electronic notarial acts and recognition of acts performed in other jurisdictions, which older notary statutes handled inconsistently.32. Under Pennsylvania's framework, what is the essential difference between an acknowledgment and a verification on oath or affirmation?
- A. An acknowledgment confirms the signer executed the document for its stated purpose; a verification requires the signer to swear the statements in it are true
- B. An acknowledgment requires an oath and a verification does not
- C. A verification applies only to real property documents
- D. The two are interchangeable terms for the same act
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Answer: A
In an acknowledgment the signer declares they signed voluntarily for the document's stated purpose, and no oath is administered. A verification on oath or affirmation, historically called a jurat, requires the notary to administer an oath as to the truth of the document's contents and the signer to sign in the notary's presence, which is why the two have different legal consequences.33. A client brings an original passport and an original court judgment to a Pennsylvania notary and requests attested photocopies of both. How should the notary respond?
- A. Decline both, since Pennsylvania notaries cannot attest copies
- B. Attest both copies after comparing each to its original
- C. Attest the passport copy after comparing it to the original, but decline the judgment, whose certification is reserved to the court's custodian of records
- D. Attest the judgment copy but decline the passport as a federal document
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Answer: C
Pennsylvania authorizes attesting a copy the notary has compared to an original, which distinguishes it from states such as New York. The authority stops where another office is the official custodian, so court records, vital records and similar publicly maintained documents must be certified by the issuing office rather than by a notary.34. Which act is a Pennsylvania notary authorized to perform under the uniform framework?
- A. Issuing certified copies of court records
- B. Witnessing or attesting a signature, in addition to acknowledgments, verifications and copy certifications
- C. Determining the legal sufficiency of a document
- D. Serving as a judge of a signer's mental competency
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Answer: B
The permitted acts include taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, taking verifications, witnessing or attesting signatures, certifying copies, and noting protests of negotiable instruments. Determining legal sufficiency or adjudicating competency falls outside the office entirely.35. A signer appears before a Pennsylvania notary with no photo credential but is accompanied by a neighbor the notary has known for years. Can the act proceed?
- A. Yes, a credible witness personally known to the notary who can identify the signer is one of the permitted methods, alongside personal knowledge and satisfactory evidence
- B. No, credible witnesses were eliminated under the uniform framework
- C. No, Pennsylvania accepts only an unexpired government photo credential
- D. Yes, but only if two additional witnesses also attend
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Answer: A
Pennsylvania permits identification through personal knowledge, satisfactory evidence from an acceptable credential, or a credible witness, giving three routes rather than one. This is broader than California, which eliminated personal knowledge entirely, so a notary commissioned in more than one state cannot assume the identification rules travel with them.36. A Pennsylvania notary applicant must satisfy education and examination requirements. What applies to an initial appointment?
- A. No education or examination, only a filing fee
- B. An approved basic education course and a passing examination score, along with a bond filed with the county
- C. Sponsorship by a practicing attorney
- D. A four-year college degree
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Answer: B
Pennsylvania requires completion of an approved basic notary education course within a stated period before application, passage of an examination, and filing of a surety bond and oath with the county recorder of deeds before the commission becomes effective. The commission runs four years.37. When does a Pennsylvania notary's commission become effective after appointment?
- A. Upon completing the education course
- B. Upon purchasing a seal
- C. Only after the notary registers the commission and files the bond and oath with the recorder of deeds within the prescribed period
- D. Immediately upon the Department issuing the appointment
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Answer: C
Appointment and commission are distinct steps: the notary must complete registration and file the bond and oath with the county recorder within the statutory window, and performing acts before doing so is unauthorized. Missing the window causes the appointment to lapse and requires starting the process again.38. A Pennsylvania notary must maintain a journal. Which acts must be recorded?
- A. Every notarial act performed, in a permanent bound or tamper-evident electronic record
- B. Only acts for which a fee was charged
- C. Only acts the notary considers unusual
- D. Only acts involving real property
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Answer: A
Pennsylvania requires a chronological journal entry for every notarial act, kept in a permanent bound register or a tamper-evident electronic format. Recording selectively defeats the record's purpose, since the entries a notary would omit are precisely the ones later challenged, and the journal must be retained for a statutory period.39. A Pennsylvania notary's official seal is required on notarial certificates. What must the seal contain?
- A. The county recorder's signature
- B. The notary's home address and telephone number
- C. The notary's name as commissioned, the words Notary Public, the county and commonwealth, and the commission expiration date
- D. The bond amount and surety name
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
The seal identifies the notary and the commission so a reader can verify authority, and it must produce a legible, photographically reproducible impression. The seal is the notary's exclusive property and must be kept secure, with loss reported promptly, because a seal in another's hands can authenticate fraudulent documents.40. A Pennsylvania notary resigns before the commission expires. What must be done with the journal and seal?
- A. Both are destroyed immediately
- B. Both are transferred to a successor notary
- C. Both are given to the notary's employer
- D. The journal is retained or transmitted as the law directs, and the seal is disposed of so it cannot be misused
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Answer: D
The record of acts must survive the commission so past notarizations can be verified, while the seal must be rendered unusable because it can otherwise authenticate documents after authority ends. A notarial seal and journal are never transferable to another person, since both are personal to the commissioned individual.41. A Pennsylvania notary is asked to perform an act while the notary's employer is a party to the transaction. What is the analysis?
- A. Disqualification depends solely on the transaction's dollar value
- B. Employment by a party always disqualifies the notary
- C. The notary is never disqualified for any reason
- D. Employment alone is generally not disqualifying, but a personal financial interest in the transaction is
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Answer: D
The disqualifying factor is the notary's own interest, so a salaried employee performing routine notarizations for an employer is generally permitted while an employee who is a party or who receives a commission tied to the transaction is not. Where the analysis is uncertain, using a disinterested notary removes the question entirely.42. A Pennsylvania notary charges a fee above the maximum set by the Department. What is the consequence?
- A. Fees apply only to acts performed outside the notary's office
- B. No consequence, since fees are negotiable
- C. It is a violation subject to discipline, and clerical or travel charges must be separately itemized and agreed in advance
- D. The excess is simply refunded with no other consequence
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Answer: C
Notarial fees are capped by the Department, and exceeding them is misconduct regardless of the signer's willingness to pay. Charges for clerical work or travel are permitted only if clearly distinguished from the notarial fee and agreed before the act, so a bundled charge that obscures the notarial component is improper.43. A Pennsylvania notary is asked to advertise notarial services on a website. What disclosure requirement commonly applies to a non-attorney notary?
- A. A statement of the notary's years of experience
- B. No disclosure is required in any medium
- C. A statement that the notary is not an attorney and may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice
- D. A statement of the notary's bond amount
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Answer: C
Advertising by a non-attorney notary must make clear that the notary cannot provide legal advice, because consumers frequently assume otherwise, particularly where the notary offers document preparation services. The disclosure is required across advertising media and is separate from any language-specific requirements.44. A Pennsylvania notary performs an act for a signer who appears to be signing under pressure from a person accompanying them. What should the notary do?
- A. Ask the accompanying person to confirm the signer's willingness
- B. Proceed, since willingness is not the notary's concern
- C. Decline unless able to speak with the signer alone and confirm the signing is voluntary
- D. Proceed but note the accompanying person in the journal
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Answer: C
A notarial act certifies a voluntary signing, so apparent duress goes to the heart of the act rather than being a peripheral concern. Speaking with the signer separately is the practical test, and asking the potentially coercing party to vouch for voluntariness is precisely the wrong inquiry. Elder financial exploitation frequently presents this way.45. A Pennsylvania notary wishes to perform electronic notarial acts. What is required?
- A. Nothing beyond the existing commission
- B. Approval or registration to perform electronic notarizations, using technology conforming to Department standards
- C. Electronic notarial acts are prohibited in Pennsylvania
- D. A separate commission from a different state
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
Electronic notarization requires separate approval and use of a solution meeting Department standards for tamper-evident electronic signatures and records. The underlying requirements of the act, including personal appearance and identification, continue to apply, so the technology changes the medium rather than the substance of the notarial duty.46. A Pennsylvania notary receives a document already signed, and the signer appears and states that the signature is theirs and was made voluntarily. Which act fits?
- A. An acknowledgment, since the signer is acknowledging a signature already made
- B. A copy certification
- C. A verification on oath or affirmation
- D. A protest
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
An acknowledgment permits a previously made signature, because what the signer acknowledges is that they executed the document for its purpose. A verification requires signing in the notary's presence along with an oath as to content truth, so the two acts cannot be substituted for one another even though both involve the signer appearing.47. A notarial certificate under the Pennsylvania framework must contain certain elements. Which is required?
- A. The document's total page count
- B. The venue, the date of the act, the notary's signature and seal, and language identifying the act performed and how the signer was identified
- C. The signer's identification number
- D. The fee charged for the act
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
The certificate states where and when the act occurred, what act was performed, how the signer appeared and was identified, and bears the notary's signature and seal. Recording an identification number on the certificate is discouraged, since the certificate travels with the document and would expose the signer's credential details.48. A Pennsylvania notary discovers after completing an act that the notarial certificate contains an error. What is the correct remedy?
- A. Ask the recipient to correct it
- B. Have the signer appear again for a corrected notarial act, rather than altering the completed certificate
- C. Alter the certificate and initial the change
- D. Issue a signed letter describing the correct facts
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Answer: B
A certificate documents what occurred at a particular moment with the signer present, so amending it afterward asserts facts about an event that has passed. The clean remedy is a new act with the signer appearing again. A letter cannot substitute, because the recording office and any court rely on the certificate itself.49. A Pennsylvania notary is presented with a document that appears to be part of a transaction the notary believes is fraudulent. What is the appropriate response?
- A. Perform the act, since fraud is not the notary's concern
- B. Decline to perform the act, since a notary may refuse where there is a reasonable basis to believe the transaction is unlawful
- C. Perform the act and report it afterward
- D. Perform the act only if the fee is paid in advance
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A notary is not merely a stamp and may decline where there is a reasonable belief the act would facilitate an unlawful transaction, documenting the refusal. Performing the act first and reporting later still lends official authentication to the document, which is exactly the harm the refusal power exists to prevent.50. A Pennsylvania notary allows an assistant to complete journal entries and affix the seal while the notary observes. What is wrong?
- A. The notarial act, the journal entry and the seal are personal to the notary and may not be delegated
- B. Nothing, provided the notary is present
- C. Nothing, if the assistant is also a notary
- D. The problem is only that the assistant is unpaid
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
A commission is personal, so the notary must personally perform the act, make the entry and apply the seal, and permitting anyone else to handle the seal is a serious violation regardless of supervision. Another notary's commission does not authorize them to act under a different notary's seal either.51. A Pennsylvania notary is asked to notarize a document for a signer located in another state, by video call. What is the requirement?
- A. The notary must hold a commission in the signer's state
- B. The notary may be located anywhere as long as the signer is in Pennsylvania
- C. The notary must be physically located in Pennsylvania and be authorized for remote acts under conforming technology
- D. Video calls are never a permissible substitute for appearance
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
A notary's authority is tied to physical presence within the commissioning state, so the notary must be in Pennsylvania when performing the act even where remote technology places the signer elsewhere. Remote acts are permitted only with the required authorization and conforming technology, so neither element alone is sufficient.52. What does it mean that a notarial act performed in another state is recognized in Pennsylvania?
- A. Recognition requires a court order in every case
- B. Out-of-state notarial acts have no effect in Pennsylvania
- C. An act validly performed under the other jurisdiction's law has the same effect as if performed in Pennsylvania
- D. The document must be re-notarized by a Pennsylvania notary
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
The uniform framework provides for recognition of notarial acts performed under the law of another state, a federally recognized tribe, a federal jurisdiction or a foreign state, so documents move between jurisdictions without duplicate notarization. Foreign acts may still require an apostille or legalization depending on the country.53. A Pennsylvania notary must report a change of address or name. What is the general requirement?
- A. Notify the Department within the prescribed period, and obtain an amended commission before signing under a new name
- B. No notification is required during the commission term
- C. Notify only the county recorder
- D. Notify the surety company only
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Changes to the information on which the commission rests must be reported within the statutory window so the state's record remains accurate and the notary can be located. A name change additionally requires an amended commission and seal before the notary signs differently, since the signature and seal must match the commissioned name.54. A Pennsylvania notary's journal is subpoenaed in litigation over a disputed deed. What is the notary's position?
- A. Refuse, since journal contents are privileged
- B. Provide only a summary prepared by the notary
- C. Destroy the journal to protect signer privacy
- D. Comply with valid legal process, since the journal exists precisely to provide evidence of what occurred
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
The journal's evidentiary role is its central purpose, so a valid subpoena is answered. No notarial privilege shields the entries, a self-prepared summary is not the record, and destroying a subpoenaed journal is spoliation carrying consequences far exceeding any notarial violation.55. A Pennsylvania notary performs a protest of a negotiable instrument. What does this act accomplish?
- A. It cancels the underlying obligation
- B. It formally certifies that an instrument was presented for payment or acceptance and was dishonored
- C. It transfers the instrument to a new holder
- D. It guarantees payment of the instrument
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B
A protest is a formal certificate of dishonor, evidencing that presentment was made and refused, which matters in preserving rights against parties secondarily liable on the instrument. It is a rarely used act in modern practice but remains within notarial authority, and it neither transfers nor guarantees anything.56. A Pennsylvania notary is presented with a document bearing an out-of-state notarial certificate that lacks a seal. What should the notary consider?
- A. That some jurisdictions do not require a seal, so absence alone does not establish the act was invalid
- B. That the Pennsylvania notary should add their own seal
- C. That the certificate must be removed
- D. That the document is definitely fraudulent
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Seal requirements vary by jurisdiction, and several states permit an unsealed certificate, so the absence is not itself evidence of invalidity. The Pennsylvania notary must never add a seal to another notary's certificate, and questions about a foreign certificate's sufficiency belong to the receiving office or counsel.57. A Pennsylvania notary's surety bond is filed with the county. What happens if a claim is paid on the bond?
- A. The surety pays the injured party and may seek reimbursement from the notary, whose personal liability is not limited to the bond amount
- B. The bond pays the notary's legal defense costs
- C. The notary's liability is capped at the bond amount
- D. The county absorbs the loss
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
The bond assures a minimum recovery for the public, not a ceiling on the notary's exposure, and the surety's right of reimbursement means the notary ultimately bears the loss. Errors and omissions coverage, which the notary may purchase separately, is what actually protects the notary rather than the public.58. A Pennsylvania notary is asked to select and prepare a deed for a signer in addition to notarizing it. What is the concern?
- A. Selecting and drafting a legal instrument is the practice of law for a non-attorney, separate from the notarial act
- B. There is no concern if the notary uses a standard form
- C. There is no concern if the notary charges no extra fee
- D. The concern applies only to wills and trusts
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Choosing which instrument accomplishes a party's goal and drafting its terms are legal judgments, and using a preprinted form does not change that when the notary decides which form applies and how to complete it. Waiving a fee does not cure unauthorized practice, since the harm is the unqualified legal judgment rather than the compensation.59. A Pennsylvania notary observes that the signer's name on the identification differs slightly from the name on the document. What should the notary do?
- A. Proceed, since minor variations are always acceptable
- B. Alter the document to match the identification
- C. Proceed and note the discrepancy in the certificate
- D. Resolve the discrepancy before proceeding, since the notary must be satisfied the signer is the person named in the document
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
The notary certifies that the person appearing is the person named, so an unexplained difference between the credential and the document undermines the act. Common resolutions include the signer producing another credential or the document being corrected by its preparer. The notary never alters the document, which would be preparing it.60. A Pennsylvania notary is a party to a transaction but is asked to notarize a different signer's signature on the same document. What is the position?
- A. The notary may proceed if the other party consents
- B. The notary may proceed with disclosure in the journal
- C. The notary should decline, since being a party to the transaction compromises the impartiality the act requires
- D. The notary may proceed because the notary is not the signer being notarized
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C
Impartiality concerns the notary's relationship to the transaction, not merely to the particular signature, so being a party disqualifies the notary from notarizing any signature on the instrument. Journal disclosure and party consent do not restore the independence the act depends on.61. A Pennsylvania notary keeps the journal in an unlocked desk drawer accessible to coworkers. What is the concern?
- A. The notary must maintain custody and control of the journal, since unrestricted access permits alteration and exposes signer information
- B. The concern is limited to physical wear on the journal
- C. No concern, since the journal is a public record
- D. The concern applies only to electronic journals
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
The journal's evidentiary value depends on the notary controlling it, so accessible storage permits both alteration of entries and disclosure of signer information. Secure custody of the journal and seal is a core duty, and the same control obligation applies to an electronic journal through access credentials.62. A signer asks a Pennsylvania notary to notarize a signature on a document the signer will sign later that day at home. What is the correct response?
- A. Decline, because the signer must appear before the notary at the time of the act
- B. Proceed and postdate the certificate to the expected signing time
- C. Proceed if the signer confirms by telephone afterward
- D. Proceed if the signer leaves identification with the notary
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Every notarial act is anchored to the moment the signer appears, so certifying a future signing asserts an observation that has not occurred. Postdating compounds the problem by falsifying the date, and telephone confirmation or surrendered identification cannot substitute for appearance at the time of the act.63. A Pennsylvania notary completes an act for a signer who is blind. What additional step is appropriate?
- A. Read the document to the signer, or confirm it has been read to them, so the signer knows what they are signing
- B. Decline, since a blind signer cannot execute a document
- C. Have a family member sign on the signer's behalf
- D. Proceed without any additional step
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
A blind signer has full legal capacity, and the notary's concern is that the signing is knowing and voluntary, which is addressed by reading the document aloud or confirming it was read. Having another person sign in their place is not a solution, since the signer can execute the document themselves or by mark.64. A Pennsylvania notary is asked whether the notarization makes the document legally binding. How should the notary answer?
- A. Explain that a notarization authenticates the signature and does not validate the document's content or make it enforceable
- B. Confirm that notarization makes any document legally binding
- C. Decline to answer any question about the notarization
- D. Explain the document's enforceability in detail
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A
Explaining what a notarial act is and is not falls within the notary's role, unlike explaining a document's legal effect. A notarization speaks to identity and the circumstances of signing, and a document can be fully notarized and still be unenforceable for reasons having nothing to do with the signature.65. A Pennsylvania notary retires and later receives a request to verify a notarization performed six years earlier. What determines whether the notary can respond?
- A. Nothing, since a retired notary may not respond at all
- B. Whether the requester was a party to the document
- C. Whether the notary remembers the transaction
- D. Whether the journal was retained as required, since the record rather than memory answers the question
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
The journal is the durable answer to questions arising years later, which is why the retention obligation extends beyond the commission. Memory is not a substitute and would carry little evidentiary weight. A former notary may respond from the retained record, subject to any applicable process for accessing entries.66. A Pennsylvania notary is asked to perform an act on a Sunday at a hospital. Is there any restriction?
- A. Hospital notarizations require court approval
- B. Notarial acts may not be performed on Sundays
- C. Acts may be performed only at the notary's registered office
- D. No restriction on the day or location, provided the notary is within the commonwealth and the requirements of the act are satisfied
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D
Notarial authority extends throughout the commonwealth on any day, so the practical questions at a hospital are the substantive ones: whether the signer can be identified, appears aware and willing, and can sign or make a mark. Those conditions, not the setting or the calendar, determine whether the act may proceed.
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Key facts: Pennsylvania Notary exam
The Pennsylvania Notary is administered by Pennsylvania Department of State.
This free Pennsylvania Notary practice test has 66 original questions written to Pennsylvania Department of State's official content outline, last checked against it on July 18, 2026. Every question shows a worked explanation, and nothing here requires a signup.
As of 2026, the Pennsylvania Notary exam fee is $65 (Pearson VUE exam fee).
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Official sources
Primary documents used to verify the exam details shown on this page.
- Notary Examination RequirementPennsylvania Department of Statepa.gov
- Notaries — Application InformationPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislationpa.gov
- Pennsylvania Notary — OnVUE Online TestingPearson VUEpearsonvue.com
- Pennsylvania Notary Exam — Scheduling and RegistrationPearson VUEpearsonvue.com
- Notaries — Mandatory Education RequirementPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislationpa.gov
- Notaries — Examination RequirementPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislationpa.gov
Last verified against the official exam content outline:
Frequently asked questions
Do these practice questions match what's on the real PA notary exam?
They cover the same subject matter the Pennsylvania exam draws from: notarial acts like acknowledgments and jurats, signer identification, prohibited acts, and journal and seal duties. The wording will not be identical to the live test, since actual exam questions are confidential, but the concepts being tested are the same. If you can answer these reliably, the real questions should feel familiar.
Are the PA notary practice questions really free?
Yes, every practice question here is free and requires no signup, email address, or credit card. You can start a practice session immediately and repeat sets as many times as you like. The goal is to let you gauge your readiness before deciding whether you need any paid study materials at all.
How many practice questions should I do before test day?
Work through enough questions that you have seen every topic area at least twice, then keep drilling the areas where you miss questions. Because you have six months from authorization to pass the exam, a steady schedule of short sessions several times a week beats one long cram. Most candidates benefit from a final full run-through in the last few days before their appointment.
How should I use the answer explanations?
Read the explanation on every question, including the ones you get right. The explanations tell you why the correct answer follows from notary law and why the tempting wrong answers fail, which is exactly the distinction the exam tests. When you miss a question, note the underlying rule, then retry that topic a day or two later to confirm the fix stuck.
How do I know when I'm ready for the real exam?
You are ready when you consistently score well across all topic areas without guessing, and you can explain why each answer is right. A good self-check: can you state when a notary must refuse a notarization, such as when the signer appears coerced, does not understand the transaction, or cannot be properly identified, without looking it up? If rules like that come to you instantly, schedule your test rather than over-studying.