UT Notary study guide
UT Notary · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Utah Notary Public commission is a state credential issued through the Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Notary Office. It authorizes a commissioned individual to perform notarial acts for the public, and it is intended for people who need signing authority in real estate, lending, legal, healthcare, HR, and small-business settings, as well as anyone who wants to serve neighbors and clients as a registered notary. The UT Notary study guide has 4 sections and about 1,356 words.
01Notarial Acts and Authorized Duties
A Utah notary public is an impartial public officer whose commission authorizes a defined list of acts - not general authority over documents. The core authorized acts are: taking acknowledgments; administering oaths and affirmations; taking a verification on oath or affirmation (the jurat attached to an affidavit); witnessing a signature; and, within limits, certifying copies of documents.
333 words, about 2 min02Qualifications, Bond, and Oath of Office
An applicant must be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the United States, and have the Utah connection the statute requires (residency or a qualifying place of employment or practice - confirm the current rule). The application is filed with the Lieutenant Governor, who administers notary commissions.
353 words, about 2 min03Notarial Certificate Wording and Completion
The notarial certificate is the notary's own statement of what occurred, and it is what a court or recorder will read years later. A complete Utah certificate identifies the venue (State of Utah, County of where the act is performed), the date, the principal, and the act performed, and it carries the notary's signature plus a legible stamp showing the notary's name, the words 'Notary Public,' 'State of Utah,' and the commission expiration date.
322 words, about 2 min04Prohibited Acts, Conflicts of Interest, and Liability
A notary may not perform any notarial act when the signer is not physically present; may not notarize the notary's own signature; may not act on a document in which the notary is a party or holds a direct beneficial interest; may not act after the commission has expired, been suspended, or been revoked; may not certify copies of public records or vital records; may not charge more than the statutory fee cap; may not give legal advice or draft documents for another; and, unless licensed to practice law, may not advertise or hold out as a 'notario' or 'notario publico.' Refusing service unlawfully or performing acts outside the commission are also violations. Watch for family relationships, employment pressure (an employer directing how an act is performed), and any financial stake in the transaction.
348 words, about 2 min