NY Notary Prep / Free NYS notary exam practice test

Free NYS notary exam practice test

Updated October 2026 · Based on the NY Department of State Notary Public License Law

Twenty questions in the style of the New York notary exam. Pick an answer and you will instantly see whether you were right, and why. Each explanation names the rule it comes from.

How to use it Answer without looking anything up: the real exam allows no notes. Count a question as wrong if you guessed. If you score under 80%, review the explanations, then the cheat sheet, and try again tomorrow.

Kevin arrives at a walk-in exam site in Albany with his driver's license and the exam fee. What else must he bring? A blue or black ink pen A copy of the Notary Public License Law booklet Two #2 pencils, because pencils are not provided at the exam site A calculator and a dictionary

Answer C. Candidates must bring two #2 pencils; the site does not provide them. Books, dictionaries and other reference materials are not allowed.

Which notarial act may NOT be performed on a Sunday? Administering an oath Taking an acknowledgment of a deed Taking a deposition in a civil proceeding Taking an affidavit

Answer C. A deposition cannot be taken on Sunday in a civil proceeding. Oaths, affidavits and acknowledgments may be taken on Sunday (CPLR Rule 3113, as summarized in the DOS booklet).

Dmitri passed the notary exam on March 3, 2026. How long are his passing results valid for applying for a commission? 6 months from the date of the exam 1 year from the date of the exam 2 years from the date of the exam 4 years, the same as a commission term

Answer C. Exam results are valid for 2 years from the date of the examination.

A customer shows you his original diploma and a photocopy, and asks you to certify the photocopy as a true copy. What should you do? Certify it after comparing it with the original. Decline, because a notary has no authority to issue certified copies. Certify it only if the original was issued in New York. Certify it and add the name of your county.

Answer B. A New York notary public has no authority to issue certified copies (DOS booklet, Powers and Limitations).

Grace, a notary living in Albany, retires and moves to Florida. She keeps no office or place of business in New York. What is the effect on her commission? Nothing, because a commission runs for its full 4-year term She may keep notarizing until she files a change of address Her commission is converted to an electronic-only commission She vacates her office as a notary public

Answer D. A resident who moves out of New York without keeping an office or place of business in the state vacates the office of notary public.

A client signed a deed at home last week and now brings it to you for an acknowledgment. Which statement is correct? You must refuse, because the deed was not signed in your presence. You may take the acknowledgment by phone since the signature already exists. You may take the acknowledgment if the signer personally appears before you, even though he did not sign in your presence. You must have him sign again over the old signature.

Answer C. For an acknowledgment, the signer need not sign in the notary's presence but must personally appear before the notary (DOS booklet, Definitions).

Maria is commissioned as a notary in Erie County. A client asks her to notarize a document at a meeting in Suffolk County. May she do so? No, a notary may act only in the county where commissioned Only if she first files a certificate of official character in Suffolk County Yes, because a notary's jurisdiction covers the entire state Only if the document will be recorded in Erie County

Answer C. A notary's jurisdiction is co-extensive with the boundaries of the state, so a notary may act anywhere in New York.

A signer tells you she conscientiously declines to take an oath. What should you do? Refuse to complete the notarial act. Administer the oath anyway, since it is required. Note her refusal in the jurat and proceed with no declaration at all. Administer an affirmation, which is equivalent to an oath and equally binding.

Answer D. An affirmation is a solemn declaration for persons who conscientiously decline an oath. It is equivalent to an oath and just as binding (DOS booklet, Definitions).

Helen, a notary, moves to a new home address. Within how many days must she notify the Secretary of State? 10 days 30 days 90 days 5 days

Answer D. Part 182 requires a notary to send notice to the Secretary of State within 5 days after a change of name, address or e-mail address.

Which statement about a jurat is correct? The jurat is the affidavit itself. The jurat is the part of an affidavit where the officer certifies that it was sworn before him. The jurat is the subscribing witness's statement of residence. A jurat is used only on deeds.

Answer B. The jurat is the officer's certification that the affidavit was sworn before him, typically "Sworn to before me this ___ day of ___, 20__". It is not the affidavit (DOS booklet, Definitions).

What is the maximum fee a notary may charge for administering an oath or affirmation and certifying it? $2 $1 $5 $25

Answer A. A notary may charge no more than $2 for administering an oath or affirmation and certifying it.

A client asks you to take an acknowledgment of the execution of his will so it can stand in for the witnesses' attestation clause. Which statement is correct? Take it; a notarial acknowledgment replaces an attestation clause. Take it, but only if two witnesses are also present. Take it, and also sign as an attesting witness. A notary should not take an acknowledgment of the execution of a will; it is not equivalent to an attestation clause.

Answer D. An attestation clause is where witnesses certify a will's execution. The booklet says a notary should not take an acknowledgment of the execution of a will, because it is not equivalent to an attestation clause (DOS booklet, Definitions).

Wei, a notary in Queens, takes the acknowledgment of a deed signed by a husband, a wife and their adult son. What is the most he may charge in total? $6 $2 $4 $25

Answer A. The maximum fee for an acknowledgment is $2 for one person and $2 for each additional person, so three signers allow up to $6.

Linda, a notary, is buying a house. The seller asks Linda to take his acknowledgment on the deed that names Linda as grantee. Which statement is correct? Linda may act, since only the seller is signing. Linda is disqualified as a party with a direct financial interest, and such acknowledgments have been held a nullity. Linda may act if a witness is present. Linda may act if she discloses her interest on the certificate.

Answer B. A notary who is a party to, or directly and pecuniarily interested in, a transaction (such as the grantee) cannot act, and such acknowledgments have been held a nullity (19 NYCRR 182.3(a)(5)).

Does New York law require a notary to use an official seal? Yes, an embossed seal is required on every act No, New York law does not require notaries to use a seal Yes, an inked rubber stamp seal is required on every act Only for acknowledgments of real property deeds

Answer B. New York does not require notaries to use seals. If one is used, the Department of State's view is that only the notary's name and "Notary Public for the State of New York" are needed.

A customer asks a notary who is not a lawyer to draft a simple will for her for a small fee. What should the notary do? Draft it, since wills are standard forms. Draft it but charge nothing. Decline, because a non-lawyer notary may not draw legal papers such as wills or give legal advice. Draft it if an attorney reviews it later.

Answer C. Unless a lawyer, a notary may not give legal advice or draw legal papers such as wills, deeds or contracts. Violations can lead to removal and possible fine or imprisonment (DOS booklet, Prohibited Acts).

How long must a notary keep the records of notarial acts? At least 4 years At least 5 years At least 10 years Until the commission expires

Answer C. Records must be kept for at least 10 years and must be produced to the Secretary of State on request.

A longtime client calls and asks you to take her acknowledgment over the phone, promising to mail you the signed deed. You recognize her voice. Which statement is correct? It is allowed because you recognize her voice. It is illegal; taking an acknowledgment without the person's actual personal appearance is a misdemeanor, and remote acts are lawful only under §135-c. It is allowed if she faxes you a copy of her ID. It is allowed if you write "by telephone" on the certificate.

Answer B. Taking an acknowledgment or affidavit by telephone, without personal appearance, is illegal, and for acknowledgments it is a misdemeanor. Remote acts are lawful only through electronic notarization under Executive Law §135-c (DOS booklet).

Ines, an electronic notary in Syracuse, is on vacation in Vermont. A client in Albany asks her to notarize remotely. May she? No, the notary must be physically located in New York State during the act Yes, an electronic notary may act from anywhere in the United States Yes, as long as the signer is in New York State Yes, if she uses a VPN with a New York address

Answer A. During an electronic notarial act the notary must be physically within New York State, while the signer may be elsewhere. The network must allow the notary's location to be detected.

A notary knowingly completes a false certificate of acknowledgment on a deed. This is: official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year forgery in the second degree, a class D felony punishable by up to 7 years a violation punishable only by a fine not a crime if no one was harmed

Answer B. A knowingly false certificate of acknowledgment is forgery in the second degree, a class D felony with a maximum of 7 years. The conveyance is a forgery and invalid even without criminal intent (Penal Law §§170.10, 70.00).

What these questions test

The real exam covers "license law, general terms and information related to the duties and functions of a notary public", as set out in the official booklet. In practice, that means four families of questions:

Numbers: fees, deadlines, terms and penalties.
Definitions: acknowledgment, proof, jurat, affidavit, oath, affirmation, protest, deposition.
Prohibited acts: legal advice, notarizing with an interest, notarizing by phone, certified copies.
Procedure: identity, records, the signature block, electronic notarization.

These 20 questions sample all four. The full set of 150, with explanations, is in the study guide PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Are these the real NY notary exam questions?

No. The Department of State does not publish its exam questions. These are original practice questions written from the official Notary Public License Law booklet, in the same multiple-choice style.

What score should I aim for?

The state does not publish a passing score and reports results as pass or fail only. Aim for 80% or more on practice questions so you have a margin on exam day.

Is there a NY notary practice test PDF?

Yes. The NY Notary Exam Study Guide 2026 PDF contains 150 practice questions with an answer key that explains every answer, plus the full study material.