Free New York Notary Timed Practice Exam (40 Questions)

40 questions, 60-minute countdown. Our own format: the New York Department of State allows 1 hour but does not publish a question count. The timer starts on your first answer. No signup. Why 40 and 60?

1. What must the remote online notarial certificate state? (Electronic notarization) The signer's IP address The platform's name The signer's GPS coordinates That the person appeared through use of communication technology

2. Does Exec. Law 135-b (advertising) apply to New York attorneys? (Restrictions, practice of law & penalties) No Yes Only for immigration ads Only online

3. A notary forgets the Section 137 statement on a certificate. Is the notarial act invalid? (Powers, duties & fees) Only if the notary is outside NYC No, though willful failure can lead to discipline Yes, always Yes, if the document is a deed

4. A nonresident notary stops having an office or place of business in New York. What happens? (Appointment & qualifications) Nothing, if they renew on time They become an electronic notary only They must file a new oath They vacate the office of notary public

5. Is a fee required for a name change that results from a change in marital status? (Appointment & qualifications) Yes, $60 Yes, $15 No Yes, $10

6. In what ink color must the Section 137 statement of authority appear? (Powers, duties & fees) Black Red Blue Any dark color

7. How long are New York notary exam results valid? (Appointment & qualifications) Two years Six months One year Four years

8. Under CPLR 2309(b), how must an oath or affirmation be administered? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) Only in writing In a form calculated to awaken the conscience and impress the mind of the person, per their religious or ethical beliefs Only with a religious text Using the exact words of the statute

9. What is “laches”? (Definitions & terms) Delay or negligence in asserting one's legal rights A type of deed A will modification Unlawful constraint

10. Who is eligible to be a notary public under the Election Law? (Appointment & qualifications) Only election lawyers A commissioner of elections or inspector of elections Only poll clerks No election officials

11. How long must an electronic notary keep the audio-video recording of a remote notarization? (Electronic notarization) At least four years At least five years Until the commission ends At least ten years

12. Is a county clerk's authentication still required to record or use in evidence in New York an instrument acknowledged before a notary? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) Only in New York City Only for mortgages Yes, always No; that requirement was abolished, though it may be needed outside the state

13. A notary knowingly makes a false certificate that a deed was acknowledged. What crime is this? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) A violation Perjury in the third degree Forgery in the second degree Official misconduct only

14. How much time do candidates get for the New York notary written exam? (Appointment & qualifications) 2 hours 45 minutes 90 minutes 1 hour

15. Under RPL 290, which is NOT a “conveyance”? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) An assignment of a mortgage A lease for a term not exceeding three years A deed A mortgage

16. What does the Secretary of State charge for each certificate of official character it issues? (Appointment & qualifications) $5 $3 $1 $10

17. Which applicant may be appointed a New York notary without taking the exam? (Appointment & qualifications) A bank officer An attorney admitted to practice in New York A paralegal with five years' experience A former notary from another state

18. What is the most a notary may charge for protesting a note or bill for non-payment, including the seal? (Powers, duties & fees) 75 cents for the protest plus 10 cents for each notice, up to five notices $2 $5 $25

19. May a notary charge for administering the oath of office to a public officer or public employee? (Powers, duties & fees) Yes, $2 Yes, $5 No Only for legislators

20. A notary asks a person only, “Is this your signature?” on an affidavit. Is that sufficient? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) Yes Yes, if the person is known Yes, for business affidavits No; an oath must be administered

21. What is a “chattel”? (Definitions & terms) Personal property, such as household goods Real estate A lease A mortgage

22. An officer authorized to administer oaths refuses to do so when properly requested. Per the booklet, this is: (Restrictions, practice of law & penalties) A misdemeanor Lawful refusal A violation only A felony

23. A person conscientiously objects to taking an oath. What should the notary do? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) Administer an affirmation, which is legally equivalent and equally binding Refuse to notarize Have them sign a waiver Use an acknowledgment instead

24. A notary takes an acknowledgment over the telephone. What is this? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) Allowed with a video call recording Allowed for out-of-state signers Allowed if the notary knows the caller Illegal; the notary is guilty of a misdemeanor

25. A notary qualified in a New York City county must also affix what to each instrument? (Powers, duties & fees) Their official number(s) in black ink The county clerk's signature Their thumbprint An embossed seal

26. What is “escrow”? (Definitions & terms) Placing an instrument with a depository who delivers it to a third person on a designated event A notary's fee account A court order A type of mortgage

27. May an attorney-notary take the acknowledgment of their own client in a matter they're handling? (Powers, duties & fees) Yes, in the attorney's discretion Only with court permission No, never Only for real estate

28. What is a jurat? (Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates) The part of an affidavit where the officer certifies it was sworn to before them The affidavit itself A certificate of acknowledgment A county clerk's authentication

29. An electronic notary's signature must be attached using a digital certificate based on what? (Electronic notarization) A handwritten scan A scanned image Public key infrastructure A password only

30. Does Section 142-a relieve a notary of criminal liability for their act? (Powers, duties & fees) Only for misdemeanors Only after six months No Yes

31. Within how many days after changing their e-mail address must an electronic notary notify the Secretary of State? (Electronic notarization) Thirty days Ten days Five days Ninety days

32. Under 19 NYCRR 182.9, how long must a notary retain the records required by Part 182? (Powers, duties & fees) Until the commission ends At least ten years At least four years At least seven years

33. May a business that employs notaries in New York require all notarial transactions to be electronic? (Electronic notarization) Yes Only with customer consent Only for banks No

34. Which is a stated ground for removing a notary from office? (Restrictions, practice of law & penalties) Notarizing on Sunday Charging less than the maximum fee A material misstatement in the application Declining an electronic notarization

35. Which item must a notary's records under 19 NYCRR 182.9 include? (Powers, duties & fees) The date, approximate time, and type of notarial acts performed The signer's Social Security number A photocopy of every document The signer's thumbprint

36. Which item must a walk-in exam candidate bring? (Appointment & qualifications) The License Law booklet Current government-issued photo ID with signature, the $15 fee, and two #2 pencils A notarized application A calculator and notes

37. What is the maximum jail term for a class A misdemeanor? (Restrictions, practice of law & penalties) Six months One year Four years Two years

38. Which term may a non-attorney New York notary NOT use in advertising? (Restrictions, practice of law & penalties) “Notary Public” “Abogado” “Commissioned in New York” Their own name

39. What is a lien? (Definitions & terms) A deposition A legal right or claim on specific property until a debt is paid A will A lease

40. A person who was removed from office knowingly signs a document as a notary anyway. This is: (Appointment & qualifications) A class D felony A violation Not an offense A misdemeanor

60:000/40 answered

About this timed practice exam

The New York Department of State allows 1 hour for the written exam but does not publish how many questions it has. The 40 questions here are our choice, so treat this as timed practice, not a copy of the real exam. The state publishes no topic weights either, so topics are mixed roughly in proportion to our 205-question New York bank. Here: Appointment & qualifications 9, Powers, duties & fees 9, Acknowledgments, oaths & certificates 8, Electronic notarization 5, Restrictions, practice of law & penalties 5, Definitions & terms 4.

“Applicants will be allowed 1 hour to complete the exam.”

Source: NY Department of State: July-December 2026 notary written exam information and schedule

“All exam results are reported as either passed or failed; you will not get a numerical score.”

Source: NY Department of State: July-December 2026 notary written exam information and schedule

Is this the same as the real New York notary exam?

No. It is timed practice. The Department of State allows 1 hour but does not publish a question count, so the 40 questions here are our choice. The questions are original, not from the official exam.

What score do I need to pass the New York notary exam?

The Department of State reports results only as passed or failed, with no numerical score, and does not publish a passing mark. This page shows a plain practice percentage and does not predict your official result.

Does it repeat the free 20-question test?

No. These 40 questions do not overlap with the free 20-question New York sample. The full bank has 205 questions.

Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any state agency, exam vendor or course provider. All questions are original practice questions written from official public sources; they are not actual exam questions. Laws and fees change, so confirm details with the official source before you rely on them. Official sources: NY DOS: Become a notary public, Notary Public License Law (study booklet).

Last verified: October 5, 2026.

Free New York Notary Timed Practice Exam (40 Questions)

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About this timed practice exam

Is this the same as the real New York notary exam?

What score do I need to pass the New York notary exam?

Does it repeat the free 20-question test?