A subscribing witness must state his place of residence but does not have to state that he knew or had satisfactory evidence of the identity of the person described in and how executed the instrument

The NYS Notary Exam is a 40-question, multiple-choice test (1-hour time limit) requiring a 70% passing score (28 correct) to test knowledge of New York notary laws, legal terms, and procedures. Key topics include notary misconduct, acknowledgments, jurat/affidavits, definitions, electronic notarization, and fees.  Key Question Topics & Content Areas Definitions: Legal terms such as Affiant, Attest, Deponent, Jurat, Locus Sigilli, and Statute of Limitations. Notary Acts & Procedures: Understanding the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat, how to handle affidavits, and... Show more

The NYS Notary Exam is a 40-question, multiple-choice test (1-hour time limit) requiring a 70% passing score (28 correct) to test knowledge of New York notary laws, legal terms, and procedures. Key topics include notary misconduct, acknowledgments, jurat/affidavits, definitions, electronic notarization, and fees. 

Key Question Topics & Content Areas
Definitions: Legal terms such as Affiant, Attest, Deponent, Jurat, Locus Sigilli, and Statute of Limitations.
Notary Acts & Procedures: Understanding the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat, how to handle affidavits, and requirements for taking oaths.
Official Misconduct: Legal penalties, limitations on acting (e.g., cannot give legal advice, cannot notarize own signature), and conflict of interest rules.
Electronic Notarization: Requirements for remote online notarization, which is heavily featured on the exam.
Fees: Proper fees for notary services, such as oaths, affirmations, and protests.
Real Property Law: Rules regarding instruments affecting real estate. 

Common Trick Questions & Tips
Maximum Fee: A notary can charge $2 for most acts ($1 for some, such as taking an oath), but this does not include travel fees (requires agreement).
Misconduct: Misconduct includes acting after a commission expires, charging illegal fees, or failing to properly identify a signer.
Invalid Acts: Willful fraud by a notary renders an act invalid.
Preparation: The exam has a roughly 60% failure rate; studying the official NYS Notary Public License Law handbook is crucial. 

Sample Question Types:
What is the maximum fee for a protest?
What must a notary do if the signer is not known to them?
Can a notary refuse to act?
Definition of a "Jurat"?

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