North Carolina notary exam practice questions

New to the process? Start with how to become a notary in North Carolina.

1. What is the minimum age to be commissioned as a North Carolina notary?

   1. 21, or 18 with a sponsor
   2. 16 with a parent's consent
   3. 18, or legally emancipated
   4. 19, with no exceptions
   Show the answer

   C. 18, or legally emancipated

   G.S. 10B-5(b)(1): at least 18, or legally emancipated under Article 35 of Chapter 7B.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-5 (ncleg.gov)

2. Which residence requirement must an applicant meet?

   1. Own real property in North Carolina and pay county property tax
   2. Reside, or have a regular place of work or business, in North Carolina
   3. Have lived in North Carolina for at least 2 years before the application date
   4. Be registered to vote in the North Carolina county of residence
   Show the answer

   B. Reside, or have a regular place of work or business, in North Carolina

   G.S. 10B-5(b)(2).

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-5 (ncleg.gov)

3. How long is a North Carolina notary commission?

   1. 4 years
   2. 2 years
   3. 5 years
   4. 10 years
   Show the answer

   C. 5 years

   G.S. 10B-9.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-9 (ncleg.gov)

4. Where may a North Carolina notary perform notarial acts?

   1. Anywhere in North Carolina
   2. Only in the county of commissioning
   3. Only in counties next to the home county
   4. Anywhere in the United States
   Show the answer

   A. Anywhere in North Carolina

   G.S. 10B-9: the commission authorizes acts anywhere in the State.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-9 (ncleg.gov)

5. Which is NOT a notarial act a North Carolina notary is empowered to perform under G.S. 10B-3?

   1. Taking an acknowledgment
   2. Taking a verification or proof
   3. Administering an oath or affirmation
   4. Certifying a copy of a document
   Show the answer

   D. Certifying a copy of a document

   G.S. 10B-3 defines a notarial act as an acknowledgment, a verification or proof, or an oath or affirmation.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-3 (ncleg.gov)

6. What separates an affirmation from an oath?

   1. An affirmation is only for corporations and other entities, not for individuals
   2. An affirmation is not made under penalty of perjury, so false statements carry no penalty
   3. An affirmation needs a credible witness present to confirm the signer's sincerity
   4. An affirmation is a vow on personal honor, without invoking a deity or the word 'swear'
   Show the answer

   D. An affirmation is a vow on personal honor, without invoking a deity or the word 'swear'

   G.S. 10B-3: the two are legally equivalent; only the form differs.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-3 (ncleg.gov)

7. Which document is satisfactory evidence of identity?

   1. A passport that expired within the last five years, if the photograph still matches
   2. A major credit card or debit card bearing the person's signature and printed name
   3. A current utility bill or bank statement showing the person's full name and street address
   4. A current government-issued ID with the person's photo and a signature or physical description
   Show the answer

   D. A current government-issued ID with the person's photo and a signature or physical description

   G.S. 10B-3: issued by a federal, state, or federal- or state-recognized tribal government agency.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-3 (ncleg.gov)

8. How many credible witnesses can establish a principal's identity?

   1. None; a photo ID is always required
   2. Three credible witnesses who know the person
   3. Two credible witnesses, each showing a current government photo ID
   4. One credible witness who personally knows the person
   Show the answer

   D. One credible witness who personally knows the person

   G.S. 10B-3 definition of satisfactory evidence.

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-3 (ncleg.gov)

9. A notary is the grantee on a deed. May the notary take the grantor's acknowledgment?

   1. Yes, if no notary fee is charged
   2. No, the notary is a party to the record
   3. Yes, if the deed is recorded later
   4. Yes, with a credible witness present at the signing
   Show the answer

   B. No, the notary is a party to the record

   G.S. 10B-20(c)(5).

   Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-20 (ncleg.gov)

10. A notary named only as trustee in a deed of trust (and not a party in any other capacity) may:

    1. Never notarize it
    2. Notarize it only with the Secretary's approval
    3. Notarize it only electronically
    4. Notarize the deed of trust
    Show the answer

    D. Notarize the deed of trust

    G.S. 10B-20(c)(5)a lists this exception.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-20 (ncleg.gov)

11. Which item must a sufficient acknowledgment certificate include if it does not follow the statutory form?

    1. The principal's ID number
    2. The principal's name
    3. The principal's home address
    4. The notary's home address
    Show the answer

    B. The principal's name

    G.S. 10B-40(b) lists state and county, principal's name, appearance and acknowledgment, date, signature and seal, and expiration date.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-40 (ncleg.gov)

12. By making a certificate for an acknowledgment or oath, the notary also certifies that the principal:

    1. Did not appear incompetent, involuntary, or under duress or undue influence
    2. Is a North Carolina resident or has a regular place of business there
    3. Has consulted an attorney about the record's legal effect and meaning
    4. Read the whole record and understood every page before signing it
    Show the answer

    A. Did not appear incompetent, involuntary, or under duress or undue influence

    G.S. 10B-40.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-40 (ncleg.gov)

13. How must the notary's official signature be made?

    1. With a facsimile stamp
    2. With initials only
    3. By hand, in ink
    4. With any electronic signature
    Show the answer

    C. By hand, in ink

    G.S. 10B-35.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-35 (ncleg.gov)

14. When may the notary sign and seal the certificate?

    1. Only after the notarial act is performed
    2. Before the principal arrives, to save time
    3. Any time that same day, before or after
    4. Only after the record has been recorded
    Show the answer

    A. Only after the notarial act is performed

    G.S. 10B-35 and 10B-36.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-35 (ncleg.gov)

15. What is the maximum fee for an acknowledgment, jurat, verification or proof?

    1. $25 per signer, plus travel
    2. $10 per notarized principal signature
    3. $5 per document, regardless of signers
    4. $15 per page of the record
    Show the answer

    B. $10 per notarized principal signature

    G.S. 10B-31(1).

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-31 (ncleg.gov)

16. What is the maximum fee for an oath or affirmation without a signature?

    1. $5 per person
    2. $10 per person
    3. $2 per person
    4. $15 per person
    Show the answer

    B. $10 per person

    G.S. 10B-31(2).

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-31 (ncleg.gov)

17. Within how many days must a notary notify the Secretary of a change of address or phone number?

    1. 10 days
    2. 90 days
    3. 45 days
    4. 30 days
    Show the answer

    C. 45 days

    G.S. 10B-50.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-50 (ncleg.gov)

18. A non-attorney notary advertises in a language other than English. The ad must include the notice that begins:

    1. "NOTARIO PUBLICO AUTORIZADO EN EL ESTADO DE CAROLINA DEL NORTE"
    2. "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA"
    3. "STATE APPROVED NOTARY FOR ALL LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION MATTERS"
    4. "LICENSED LEGAL CONSULTANT APPROVED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR ALL MATTERS"
    Show the answer

    B. "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA"

    G.S. 10B-20(i).

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-20 (ncleg.gov)

19. To register as an electronic notary, a notary must complete a course of at least:

    1. 4 hours
    2. 2 hours
    3. 8 hours
    4. 6 hours
    Show the answer

    A. 4 hours

    G.S. 10B-107, in addition to Article 1 education.

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-107 (ncleg.gov)

20. Holding oneself out as a notary without a commission is a:

    1. Class I felony
    2. Civil infraction only
    3. Class 1 misdemeanor
    4. Class G felony
    Show the answer

    C. Class 1 misdemeanor

    G.S. 10B-60(b)(1).

    Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-60 (ncleg.gov)

Unofficial practice questions written from the public sources named under each answer. They are not the state's exam, are not affiliated with the State of North Carolina, and are not legal advice. Rules change, so check the commissioning office's current materials.