Free Notary Public Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Notary Public Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1What is the minimum age for appointment as a Hawaii notary public?

   1. A. 16
   2. B. 18
   3. C. 19
   4. D. 21

   Answer: B

   Explanation: HRS §456-2 requires the person to be "at least eighteen years of age." Therefore, 18 is the minimum.

   Reference: HRS 456 2 — HRS §456-2

2. 2Which Hawaii notary event must be reported to the attorney general within thirty days under HAR §5-11-10?

   1. A. A change of residence
   2. B. A suspension of the commission
   3. C. A resignation of the commission
   4. D. The loss or theft of a journal

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HAR §5-11-10 requires written notice "within thirty days of the change." Residence change is governed by that deadline; suspension, resignation, and loss or theft are separate real reporting events governed by other provisions.

   Reference: HAR Ch 5 11 — HAR §5-11-10(a), p. 10

3. 3Which alteration-related step must a Hawaii notary perform before taking an acknowledgment?

   1. A. Inspect the instrument for interlineations, erasures, or changes
   2. B. Initial each discovered change beside the alteration
   3. C. Describe each discovered change in the acknowledgment certificate
   4. D. Complete the journal entry for the notarial act

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §502-61 requires the officer to "first carefully inspect" the instrument and ascertain whether changes exist. Initialing and describing found changes are real later duties, while the journal entry records the completed act.

   Reference: INTERLINEATIONS, ERASURES, ETC — HRS §502-61

4. 4For commission filing purposes, which island constitutes Hawaii's third judicial circuit?

   1. A. Oahu
   2. B. Maui
   3. C. Hawaii
   4. D. Kauai

   Answer: C

   Explanation: HRS §603-1 states, "The third judicial circuit is the island of Hawaii." Therefore, Hawaii is the correct island.

   Reference: PART I — HRS §603-1(3)

5. 5A witness objects to swearing on religious grounds. Which notarial form may be used instead?

   1. A. Affirmation
   2. B. Acknowledgment
   3. C. Verification on oath
   4. D. Protest

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §621-12 permits the witness to "solemnly swear or affirm." The other options are real notarial forms but do not substitute for the word swear in this circumstance.

   Reference: HRS 621 12 — HRS §621-12

6. 6Which residency condition must an applicant satisfy to be appointed a Hawaii notary public?

   1. A. Reside in Hawaii
   2. B. Own real property in Hawaii
   3. C. Work for a Hawaii corporation
   4. D. Maintain a Hawaii mailing address

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §456-2 says every appointee shall "be a resident of the State." Property, employment, or a mailing address alone does not meet that command.

   Reference: HRS 456 2 — HRS §456-2

7. 7Which action is part of resigning a Hawaii notary commission?

   1. A. Surrender the commission certificate and rubber-stamp seal as prescribed
   2. B. Transfer the commission to another notary
   3. C. Continue notarial services until the journal is deposited
   4. D. Ask the surety to appoint a replacement

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HAR §5-11-16 requires the resigning notary to "Surrender the notary public's commission certificate and rubber stamp notary seal." Surrender is a required resignation step.

   Reference: HAR Ch 5 11 — HAR §5-11-16(a)(1), p. 13

8. 8After finding a change in a Hawaii instrument, which duty comes before taking the acknowledgment?

   1. A. Call the acknowledging person's attention to the change
   2. B. Place the officer's initials beside the change
   3. C. Describe the change in the acknowledgment certificate
   4. D. Enter the act's date and time in the notarial journal

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §502-61 says the officer "shall call the attention thereto of the person offering to acknowledge the instrument." Initialing and certificate description are real duties after the person's adoption of the change; the journal entry is a separate record duty.

   Reference: INTERLINEATIONS, ERASURES, ETC — HRS §502-61

9. 9Which declaration is the subject of Hawaii's statutory witness oath or affirmation?

   1. A. The truth of the testimony the witness is about to give
   2. B. The truth of a statement in a document for a verification
   3. C. The signer's free execution stated in an acknowledgment
   4. D. A corporate officer's authority stated in a corporate acknowledgment

   Answer: A

   Explanation: HRS §621-12 asks whether "the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." The other choices are real declarations addressed by different notarial certificates.

   Reference: HRS 621 12 — HRS §621-12

10. 10Before receiving a Hawaii notary commission, where must the applicant's prescribed oath be filed?

    1. A. With the attorney general
    2. B. With the lieutenant governor
    3. C. With the bureau of conveyances
    4. D. With the county clerk

    Answer: A

    Explanation: HRS §456-2 says the oath "shall be filed in the department of the attorney general." The attorney general's department is therefore the filing recipient.

    Reference: HRS 456 2 — HRS §456-2