Untitled Quiz

Application and Commissioning

• Applicants must submit their application within three months of taking the notary class.
• After receiving the Oath Notification Letter, appointees have 45 days to appear before the Register of Deeds.
• If notification of commission issuance isn't received within two weeks, contact Customer Service at 919-807-2219.
• Notaries can start the reappointment process 10 weeks before their commission expires.

Changes and Notifications

• Notaries must inform the Department of any personal changes (name, residence, addresses, phone number) within 45 days.
• Upon resignation, revocation, or termination, the notary must send their seal or stamp to the Department by certified mail.
• Lost or stolen seals or stamps must be reported within 10 days to the sheriff's office, Register of Deeds, and the employer.

Educational Requirements

• Minimum educational hours for applicants is six, with a shift toward seven hours.
• Applicants for recommissioning can take an online exam if their previous commission expired within the last year.
• Candidates must be at least 18 years old or legally emancipated.
• Residency in or regular work in NC is required.
• Candidates must be able to communicate in English and hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

Notarial Acts and Responsibilities

• The passing grade for the notary test is 80%.
• A notary public holds a public office and must protect public interest to prevent fraud and forgery.
• Journal entries must include date, names/signatures of signers, ID type used, and the document notarized.
• Journals should be bound to prevent page removal.

Key Terms and Definitions

• Acknowledgment: A notarial act confirming an individual appeared in person, was identified, and signed in the notary's presence.
• Affirmation: Legally equivalent to an oath, without invoking a deity.
• Attestation: Completion of a certificate by a notary after a notarial act.
• Commission: Written authority empowering an individual to perform notarial acts.
• Credible Witness: An individual known personally to the notary who is honest, reliable, and not involved in the transaction.
• Jurat: Certificate evidencing the administration of an oath or affirmation by the notary.
• Notarial Certificates: Completed portion of a notarized record by the notary.

Legal Prohibitions and Conduct

• Prohibitions for becoming a notary include felony convictions in NC or other states, conviction of corruption or malpractice, and removal from office by impeachment.
• Official Misconduct: Occurs when a notary performs prohibited acts or fails to comply with mandated actions.
• Familiarity with an individual must eliminate all reasonable doubt to establish personal knowledge.

Seal and Stamps

• A notary's seal must include the notary's name and the words "Notary Public," along with other required information from GS 10B.

Additional Concepts

• Personal Appearance: Close proximity for effective communication between the individual and the notary.
• Revocation: Cancellation of a notary's commission.
• Satisfactory Evidence: Identification through current documents or a credible witness' affirmation.
• Subscribing Witness: A person who witnesses and signs an instrument's execution.