California Notary Public ExamNotary Public Duties and AuthorityEasy
A Notary Public is presented with a document that requires a jurat. The signer takes the oath or affirmation, and the Notary completes the certificate. Before the signer leaves, they ask the Notary to make a photocopy of the document for their records. What should the Notary Public do?
- ARefuse to make the photocopy, as it is not an authorized notarial act.
- BMake the photocopy only if the document is a public record.
- CMake the photocopy for the signer, as it is a common courtesy.
- DMake the photocopy and charge a separate fee for the service.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Refuse to make the photocopy, as it is not an authorized notarial act.
Making photocopies of documents is not an authorized notarial act. A Notary Public's duties are limited to those specifically granted by law, such as taking acknowledgments, administering oaths/affirmations, and certifying jurats. Providing photocopy services is outside their official capacity.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. The Notary's authority does not extend to making copies of any document, public or private.
- C. While it might seem like a courtesy, performing non-notarial services under the guise of a Notary's duties is inappropriate.
- D. Charging a fee for a non-notarial service as a Notary is improper and outside their scope.
Scope of Notarial Acts
A Notary Public is authorized to perform only specific notarial acts as defined by law, such as acknowledgments, jurats, and oaths/affirmations. Providing other services, like photocopying, is outside their official duties.
- Notaries have limited, defined duties.
- Photocopying is not a notarial act.
- Do not perform non-notarial services in official capacity.
Memory trick: Only Stamp and Swear, No Copies to Bear.