Notary Practice Test

Notary Ethics & Prohibited Acts Practice Questions

Ethics & Prohibited Acts makes up 10 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest Notary practice test. Here are 10 of the 40 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Practice draws on model notary concepts. Model laws are not a substitute for your state’s enacted rules, official handbook or exam requirements.

1. 1. A notary is selling her car and needs her own signature on the title transfer notarized. She should:

   • A.Notarize it herself and record it in her journal
   • B.Have a different notary perform the notarization
   • C.Notarize it herself since title forms are routine
   • D.Notarize it herself if a coworker watches her sign

   Answer: B. A notary may never notarize their own signature, so another notary must do it. Having a witness or a journal entry does not cure the conflict.

2. 2. A notary's aunt is signing a deed that names the notary as the grantee receiving the property. May he notarize it?

   • A.Yes, if the aunt shows valid photo identification
   • B.Yes, because relatives may always notarize for family
   • C.Yes, as long as he charges no fee for it
   • D.No, because he is a party to the deed

   Answer: D. A notary who is a party to the transaction has a direct interest and must not notarize it. Good ID or a waived fee does not remove that interest.

3. 3. A notary who is also a real estate agent will earn a commission when a sale closes. The seller asks the agent to notarize the deed. She should:

   • A.Decline and refer the seller to a disinterested notary
   • B.Notarize it, since the brokerage actually pays the commission
   • C.Notarize it if the buyer consents in writing
   • D.Notarize it but waive her usual notary fee

   Answer: A. A commission that depends on the deal closing is a direct financial interest, so the agent should not notarize. Waiving the notary fee does not change her stake in the sale.

4. 4. A bank teller who is a notary receives a regular salary and notarizes loan papers for bank customers. Does the salary disqualify her?

   • A.Yes, unless the bank charges customers no fee
   • B.Only when the loan exceeds a state-set amount
   • C.No, a salary is not a disqualifying interest
   • D.Yes, any employer connection creates a conflict

   Answer: C. Receiving an ordinary salary from an employer is not a direct financial interest in the customer's transaction. The notary would be disqualified only if she personally stood to gain from the loan, such as being a party to it.

5. 5. A signer worries that because the notary is charging the maximum fee set by state law, the notary is an interested party. In fact, that fee:

   • A.Makes the notary an interested party in every case
   • B.Creates an interest unless the notary waives it
   • C.Gives the notary no interest in the deal
   • D.Creates an interest only when paid in cash

   Answer: C. Being paid the standard notarial fee allowed by law is not a financial or beneficial interest in the document. An interest arises from a stake in the transaction itself, not from the fee for the notarial act.

6. 6. A notary's adult son asks her to notarize his signature on a car loan in which she has no stake. What is the correct approach?

   • A.Check her state's law, which may forbid notarizing for relatives
   • B.Notarize it, because knowing her son proves his identity
   • C.Refuse, because relatives may never sign notarized documents
   • D.Notarize it, because every state allows notarizing for relatives

   Answer: A. Rules on notarizing for a spouse, parent or child vary by state, and many states prohibit it or treat it as a conflict. Personal knowledge proves identity but does not answer the conflict question.

7. 7. A client asks a notary to notarize a trust amendment, and the notary notices she is named as a beneficiary. She should:

   • A.Notarize it if a second notary also signs
   • B.Notarize it, since trusts are not recorded publicly
   • C.Notarize it if she avoids reading the rest
   • D.Decline, due to her beneficial interest

   Answer: D. A notary who would benefit under the document has a beneficial interest and must not notarize it. Whether the document is recorded or how much she reads does not matter.

8. 8. Which of these creates a disqualifying conflict of interest for a notary?

   • A.Earning a regular salary from the signer's bank
   • B.Being named as a grantee in the deed
   • C.Knowing the signer personally from church activities
   • D.Receiving the standard notary fee from the signer

   Answer: B. Being a party to the transaction, such as a grantee, is a direct interest that disqualifies the notary. Fees, salary and personal acquaintance are not interests in the transaction.

9. 9. A signer asks a notary, who is not an attorney, whether a quitclaim deed or a warranty deed would better protect her. The notary should:

   • A.Pick whichever deed is most often recorded locally
   • B.Suggest she ask an attorney
   • C.Recommend the warranty deed as the safer choice
   • D.Explain the differences and let her decide

   Answer: B. Advising which deed to use or explaining the legal differences is the practice of law. Even explaining the options without picking one crosses into legal advice for a non-attorney notary.

10. 10. A customer asks the notary to pick a power of attorney form for him and fill it in. The non-attorney notary should:

    • A.Prepare it for an added document preparation fee
    • B.Choose a form from a reputable website for him
    • C.Fill it in if the customer signs it later
    • D.Decline; that would be practicing law

    Answer: D. Selecting or preparing a legal document for someone else is unauthorized practice of law for a notary who is not an attorney. Charging a separate fee only makes the violation clearer.