New York Notary Public Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   Who may require you to produce your notarial records?

   • AA competitor notary
   • BAny business that asks
   • CNo one at all
   • DThe Secretary of State
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The Secretary of State

   Rule 182.9 requires notaries to keep their records and make them available to the Secretary of State when requested.

2. Question 2 of 25

   You change your email address. How soon must you tell the Secretary of State?

   • AOnly at renewal
   • BWithin five days
   • CThere is no rule
   • DWithin 90 days
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Within five days

   Rule 182.3 requires a notary to notify the Secretary of State within five days of a change of name, address or email address.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Before performing any electronic notarial act, what must a notary do?

   • ABuy a new paper seal
   • BGet approval from the county judge
   • CRegister the capability with the Secretary of State
   • DTake a second written exam
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Register the capability with the Secretary of State

   Executive Law section 135-c requires a notary to register with the Secretary of State before performing electronic notarial acts.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Where must the electronic notary be during a remote notarization?

   • AIn the same county as the signer
   • BAnywhere in the United States
   • CPhysically in New York State
   • DAnywhere in the world
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Physically in New York State

   The Department of State says the notary must be physically located within New York at the time of the electronic notarization.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What kind of communication technology is required for a remote electronic notarization?

   • AA recorded voicemail
   • BText messages
   • CLive, real-time audio and video for the whole act
   • DEmail only
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Live, real-time audio and video for the whole act

   Rule 182.8 requires technology that allows live, real-time audio-video transmission for the entire notarial act with a secure signal.

6. Question 6 of 25

   How long must an electronic notary keep the audio-video recording of a remote act?

   • AAt least 10 years
   • BOne year
   • CUntil the signer deletes it
   • D30 days
   Show answer

   Answer: A. At least 10 years

   Executive Law section 135-c and the rules require the recording to be kept for at least ten years from the transaction.

7. Question 7 of 25

   How does an electronic notary verify a remote signer they do not personally know?

   • ABy the signer's email address
   • BBy asking the signer to hold up a business card
   • CCredential analysis and identity proofing by a third party
   • DBy the signer's voice alone
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Credential analysis and identity proofing by a third party

   The rules require credential analysis and third-party identity proofing to an IAL2 standard unless the notary personally knows the signer.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which is a rule for a notary's electronic signature?

   • AIt must be changed every day
   • BIt may be a typed name anyone can use
   • CIt can be shared with a co-worker
   • DIt must be unique to the notary and under their sole control
   Show answer

   Answer: D. It must be unique to the notary and under their sole control

   Rule 182.4 says the electronic signature must be unique, verifiable, under the notary's sole control and linked to the record.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What must the certificate for a remote electronic act state?

   • AThat the signer was in the same room
   • BThat the document was not read
   • CThat the signer appeared using communication technology
   • DThat no identification was checked
   Show answer

   Answer: C. That the signer appeared using communication technology

   Rule 182.4 requires the certificate to state that the person appeared before the notary using communication technology.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Can a notary insist that every customer use electronic notarization?

    • AYes, for a higher fee
    • BYes, after the first year
    • CNo, a notary cannot require all transactions to be electronic
    • DYes, if they are registered
    Show answer

    Answer: C. No, a notary cannot require all transactions to be electronic

    The electronic notary rules say a notary may not require that all of their notarial transactions be performed electronically.

11. Question 11 of 25

    When a notary registers to perform electronic notarial acts, what must they provide?

    • AAn exemplar of their electronic signature
    • BA recorded video tour of their home office setup
    • CA copy of their exam answer sheet
    • DTheir personal bank account number
    Show answer

    Answer: A. An exemplar of their electronic signature

    Executive Law section 135-c and rule 182.10 require the registration to include an exemplar of the notary's electronic signature with any needed instructions or techniques.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A customer asks a non-attorney notary to draw up a will. What should the notary do?

    • ADraft it if it is short
    • BDraft it for a small fee
    • CDraft it if a witness is present
    • DRefuse, because drafting a will is the practice of law
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Refuse, because drafting a will is the practice of law

    The booklet says a non-attorney notary may not give legal advice or draw legal papers such as wills, deeds or contracts.

13. Question 13 of 25

    A lawyer offers to pay you for sending clients their way. What does the law say?

    • AIt is allowed if the lawyer is a relative
    • BIt is allowed for real estate only
    • CIt is allowed if you tell the client
    • DA notary may not solicit legal business for a lawyer for pay or split fees
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A notary may not solicit legal business for a lawyer for pay or split fees

    The booklet says notaries must not solicit business for attorneys for payment or share in a lawyer's fees.

14. Question 14 of 25

    A friend asks you to supervise the signing of their will. What does the booklet say?

    • AIt is required for all wills
    • BIt is allowed if you use your seal
    • CNotaries should not supervise the execution of wills
    • DIt is a normal notary duty
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Notaries should not supervise the execution of wills

    The booklet says a notary supervising the signing of a will is strongly condemned, and drafting wills is the practice of law.

15. Question 15 of 25

    A non-attorney notary advertises in Spanish. Which word must they never use to describe themselves?

    • AHorario
    • BAbogado
    • CAbierto
    • DBienvenidos
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Abogado

    Rule 182.1 bars non-attorneys from using terms such as abogado that suggest they are a licensed attorney.

16. Question 16 of 25

    A non-attorney notary advertises in a language other than English. What must the ad include?

    • AThe notary's home address
    • BThe exam date they passed
    • CA list of past clients
    • DA statement that the notary is not a licensed attorney
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A statement that the notary is not a licensed attorney

    Executive Law section 135-b and rule 182.1 require ads in other languages to say that the notary is not a licensed attorney.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which law sets the fees a New York notary may charge?

    • AThe federal Fair Labor Standards Act
    • BExecutive Law section 136
    • CEach county's sales tax law
    • DThe notary's employer
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Executive Law section 136

    Executive Law section 136 sets the maximum fees for oaths, acknowledgments and proofs, unless another statute sets a different fee.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What does Public Officers Law section 67 say about a public officer's duties?

    • AFees must always be paid in cash before the service
    • BDuties are done without a fee unless the law allows one
    • CFees may be doubled on weekends and public holidays
    • DAny fee is allowed if the customer agrees to it in writing
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Duties are done without a fee unless the law allows one

    Public Officers Law section 67 says a public officer must perform their duties without fee or reward unless a fee is expressly allowed by law.

19. Question 19 of 25

    A person who is not a notary signs documents as a notary. What is this under Executive Law section 135-a?

    • AA simple mistake with no penalty
    • BA misdemeanor
    • CAllowed in an emergency
    • DA civil matter only
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A misdemeanor

    Executive Law section 135-a makes it a misdemeanor to act as a notary without being appointed or to use fraud or deceit in office.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A notary knowingly signs a false certificate. Which crime can this be under the Penal Law?

    • AA parking offense
    • BA traffic violation
    • CIssuing a false certificate, a class E felony
    • DA small claims matter
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Issuing a false certificate, a class E felony

    Penal Law section 175.40 makes issuing a false certificate a class E felony for a public servant such as a notary.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Under Penal Law section 195.00, what class of crime is official misconduct?

    • AA class B felony
    • BA class A misdemeanor
    • CA class A felony
    • DA violation
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A class A misdemeanor

    Penal Law section 195.00 defines official misconduct by a public servant, and it is a class A misdemeanor.

22. Question 22 of 25

    How can the Secretary of State remove a notary for misconduct?

    • AOnly by a vote of the county
    • BBy a phone call with no reason given
    • CAfter serving charges and giving the notary a chance to be heard
    • DOnly after a jury trial
    Show answer

    Answer: C. After serving charges and giving the notary a chance to be heard

    The Notary Public License Law lets the Secretary of State suspend or remove a notary for misconduct after charges and a chance to be heard.

23. Question 23 of 25

    A notary's term had expired, but the signer did not know. What does Executive Law section 142-a generally say about the act?

    • AThe signer must pay a penalty
    • BIt is not invalid just because of that defect
    • CThe county clerk must redo it
    • DIt is always void
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It is not invalid just because of that defect

    Executive Law section 142-a protects acts from certain defects, such as an expired term, unless the person knew of the defect.

24. Question 24 of 25

    A deed written in Spanish will be recorded in New York. What does Real Property Law section 333 require?

    • AA second notary seal
    • BA certified English translation attached
    • CNothing extra
    • DA copy in three languages
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A certified English translation attached

    Real Property Law section 333 bars recording a conveyance unless it is in English or has a certified English translation attached.

25. Question 25 of 25

    How does New York law describe a notary public?

    • AAs a private contractor
    • BAs a bank employee
    • CAs a public officer
    • DAs an officer of the court
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As a public officer

    The booklet states that a notary public is a public officer, which is why duties such as oaths must be done properly.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: Pass or fail only. The Department of State does not publish a numerical pass mark or give a score.