Notarial Practice case studies
Notarial Practice · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Notarial Practice examination assesses whether a candidate understands the duties, limits, and everyday judgment of a notary public. It is typically taken by people seeking a commission or registration as a notary, and by commissioned notaries, paralegals, legal assistants, and staff in banks, title companies, law firms, and government offices who want formal recognition of their knowledge. The Notarial Practice case studies are 5 cases and about 2,468 words.
1The Mobile Signing With a Missing Witness and a Looming Deadline
A notary in a state that permits notarization of real estate documents without witnesses is asked by a title company to notarize a deed of trust at a hospital. The signer, recovering from surgery, is alert and oriented but has a cast on her dominant hand.
560 words, about 3 min2The Interested Notary and the Family Transfer
A notary is asked by her brother to notarize a quitclaim deed transferring their mother's house into the brother's name. The mother, 84, lives with the brother and has mild cognitive impairment noted in medical records the notary has seen.
500 words, about 3 min3The Jurat Without the Oath
A paralegal brings an affidavit to a notary and asks for a 'stamp and signature' because the affiant 'already swore to it at the lawyer's office.' The affiant is present, holding the affidavit, and says, 'Yes, I swear it's true.' The document already bears a jurat form with a blank date and the notary's name typed in. The notary is also asked to backdate the jurat to the previous Friday to match the filing deadline.
493 words, about 2 min4The Remote Signing With a Faded Camera and a Proxy Signer
A notary authorized for remote online notarization connects to a signing for a power of attorney. The principal appears on video but the camera is poor; the notary can see a face but cannot clearly match it to the ID image.
472 words, about 2 min5The Refused Affirmation and the Unregistered Journal
A notary is asked to notarize an affidavit for a person whose religion forbids swearing oaths. The notary's employer's policy says 'all affidavits require an oath; affirmations are not accepted.' The affiant offers to affirm instead.
443 words, about 2 min