New York Notary Public Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   What ink color must you use for the information printed under your signature?

   • ABlue
   • BGreen
   • CBlack
   • DRed
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Black

   Executive Law section 137 requires the notary's details to be printed, typed or stamped in black ink beneath the signature.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which words must appear under a New York notary's signature?

   • ACertified Legal Officer
   • BLicensed Document Agent
   • CCommissioner of the Court of New York
   • DNotary Public State of New York
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Notary Public State of New York

   Executive Law section 137 requires the words Notary Public State of New York with the notary's name, county and expiration date.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which county must you show under your signature?

   • AThe county where the signer lives
   • BThe county where you originally qualified
   • CThe county where the document will be filed
   • DThe county where you were born
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The county where you originally qualified

   Executive Law section 137 requires the county in which the notary originally qualified to appear under the signature.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What else must a notary state on the certificate, besides their own details?

   • AThe signer's income
   • BThe venue where the act took place
   • CThe sale price of the property in the document
   • DThe signer's date of birth
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The venue where the act took place

   Executive Law section 137 requires the notary to include the venue, which shows the state and county where the act was done.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Under the Department of State rules, what must every notary add to each instrument that requires an oath or affirmation?

   • ATheir official number
   • BTheir home address
   • CThe signer's phone number
   • DTheir date of birth
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Their official number

   Rule 182.3 requires every notary, whatever their county of qualification, to put their official number on each instrument that requires an oath or affirmation.

6. Question 6 of 25

   A notary forgets to write the commission expiration date under their signature. What is the effect on the act?

   • AThe notary's commission ends that day and must be renewed
   • BThe signer must pay a penalty to the county clerk
   • CThe document is void and must be signed again
   • DThe act stands, but the notary may be disciplined
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The act stands, but the notary may be disciplined

   Under Executive Law section 137, failing to follow the stamp rules does not void the act, but willful failure can lead to discipline.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What may an attorney who is a notary write instead of the words Notary Public?

   • ALegal Officer of the State
   • BEsquire Notary
   • CAttorney and Counselor at Law
   • DLicensed Advocate
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Attorney and Counselor at Law

   Executive Law section 137 lets an attorney use the words Attorney and Counselor at Law in place of Notary Public.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Before taking an acknowledgment, what must the notary have?

   • AKnowledge of the signer or satisfactory proof of identity
   • BA letter from the signer's bank confirming the account
   • CA copy of the signer's most recent tax return
   • DWritten proof from a lawyer that the document is legal and fair
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Knowledge of the signer or satisfactory proof of identity

   Real Property Law section 303 says an acknowledgment must not be taken unless the officer knows the signer or has satisfactory evidence of identity.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which is acceptable evidence of identity for an in-person notarization?

   • AA store loyalty card
   • BA business card
   • CA handwritten note from a friend
   • DA valid government ID with a photo and a signature
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A valid government ID with a photo and a signature

   Rule 182.5 accepts a valid government ID with a photo and signature, checked on the front and back, among other methods.

10. Question 10 of 25

    The signer has no photo ID. Which other method does rule 182.5 allow?

    • AA selfie on the signer's phone
    • BThe signer's word alone
    • CA phone call to the signer's employer
    • DTwo current documents that bear the signer's signature
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Two current documents that bear the signer's signature

    Rule 182.5 also allows two current documents bearing the signer's signature, personal knowledge, or sworn statements of witnesses.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Someone calls and asks you to take their acknowledgment by phone. What should you do?

    • AAccept it if they email you the signed document first
    • BAccept it for a higher fee
    • CRefuse, because personal appearance is required
    • DAccept it if you know their voice
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Refuse, because personal appearance is required

    The booklet says taking an acknowledgment or affidavit by telephone without personal appearance is illegal, except for registered electronic acts.

12. Question 12 of 25

    For a traditional notarization, who must appear before the notary?

    • AOnly the first person who signs the document
    • BNo one, if the signatures match the ones on their ID
    • CAll parties to the transaction, for the whole act
    • DOnly the person who is paying the notary's fee
    Show answer

    Answer: C. All parties to the transaction, for the whole act

    Rule 182.3 requires the personal appearance of all parties for the entire transaction, except for authorized electronic acts.

13. Question 13 of 25

    A subscribing witness appears to prove a deed. What must be true before the notary takes the proof?

    • AThe witness has a law degree or is a licensed paralegal
    • BThe witness is related to the notary by blood or marriage
    • CThe notary knows the witness or has proof of who they are
    • DThe witness owns the property described in the deed
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The notary knows the witness or has proof of who they are

    Real Property Law section 304 says the proof must not be taken unless the officer knows the witness or has satisfactory evidence of identity.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Which is a proper way to give an oath for an affidavit?

    • AAsk if they solemnly swear the affidavit is true
    • BAsk the person to confirm their home address
    • CAsk the person whether they agree to pay the fee
    • DAsk the person if they have read the document before
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Ask if they solemnly swear the affidavit is true

    The booklet gives a simple lawful oath in which the person swears that the contents of the affidavit they signed are true.

15. Question 15 of 25

    A person does not wish to swear an oath. What can you give instead?

    • AAn affirmation
    • BNothing, the affidavit cannot proceed
    • CA handshake
    • DA blessing
    Show answer

    Answer: A. An affirmation

    The booklet gives an affirmation form in which the person solemnly, sincerely and truly declares and affirms that the statements are true.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Where must the person be when you give them an oath?

    • AAnywhere, by text message
    • BIn your presence
    • CAt home, by mail
    • DIn another room with the door closed
    Show answer

    Answer: B. In your presence

    An oath or affirmation must be an unequivocal and present act of the person, taken in the presence of the officer.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is perjury?

    • AKnowingly making a false material statement under oath
    • BMaking a spelling mistake in an affidavit
    • CForgetting to sign a document
    • DSigning in pencil
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Knowingly making a false material statement under oath

    The booklet describes perjury as swearing falsely and intentionally to a material statement that the person knows is not true.

18. Question 18 of 25

    When must a New York notary disqualify themselves?

    • AWhen the document is written only in English
    • BWhen the signer pays the fee by personal check
    • CWhen the signer is a stranger they have never met before
    • DWhen they are a party or have a financial interest
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When they are a party or have a financial interest

    Rule 182.3 requires a notary to step aside when they are a party to the transaction or are directly and pecuniarily interested in it.

19. Question 19 of 25

    You are a notary and an employee of a company. Can you notarize a document for the company?

    • ANo, a notary may never notarize for their own employer
    • BYes, unless you are a party executing the document
    • COnly on weekends
    • DOnly if you own no shares of the company's stock
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Yes, unless you are a party executing the document

    Executive Law section 138 lets a notary who is an employee, officer or stockholder act for the company unless they are a party executing the instrument.

20. Question 20 of 25

    You are selling your own house. Can you take the acknowledgment of your own signature on the deed?

    • AYes, if a family member watches
    • BYes, if the buyer agrees
    • CYes, if you use your official stamp and keep a record of it
    • DNo, a notary cannot take their own acknowledgment
    Show answer

    Answer: D. No, a notary cannot take their own acknowledgment

    The booklet says a notary who is the grantor of a deed cannot take their own acknowledgment.

21. Question 21 of 25

    The signer seems confused and you doubt they understand what they are signing. What may you do?

    • AAsk a relative to sign for them
    • BRefuse to perform the notarial act
    • CNotarize it if they nod
    • DNotarize it and add a note
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Refuse to perform the notarial act

    Rule 182.3 allows a notary to refuse if they are not satisfied that the signer is competent or is signing willingly.

22. Question 22 of 25

    A signer cannot show that they have authority to sign for a company. What should you do?

    • ASign for the company yourself
    • BNotarize it anyway
    • CRefuse, because the rules have not been met
    • DAsk the signer to guess
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Refuse, because the rules have not been met

    Rule 182.3 says a notary must refuse to act when the requirements of Part 182 are not met, including proof of a representative's capacity.

23. Question 23 of 25

    How long must a New York notary keep records of notarial acts?

    • AThree years
    • BOne year
    • CUntil the commission ends
    • DAt least 10 years
    Show answer

    Answer: D. At least 10 years

    The Department of State requires notaries to keep a journal of all notarial acts and keep the records for at least 10 years.

24. Question 24 of 25

    When must you make the record of a notarial act?

    • AAt the end of each month
    • BWhen your commission is renewed
    • COnly if the signer asks
    • DAt the time of the act
    Show answer

    Answer: D. At the time of the act

    Rule 182.9 requires notarial records to be made at the time the act is performed.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Which item must your notarial record include?

    • AThe signer's political party
    • BThe signer's religion
    • CThe type of identification used to verify the signer
    • DThe signer's salary
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The type of identification used to verify the signer

    Rule 182.9 requires the date, time, type of act, names and addresses, type of credential used and the method of verifying identity.

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.