Which of the following is a duty of a Washington Notary Public when notarizing a document?
Please select 2 correct answers
A Washington notary must verify the identity of the signer using valid identification and administer oaths or affirmations when required. Notaries are prohibited from providing legal advice (unless they are licensed attorneys) or signing documents on behalf of signers.
Which of the following acts can a Washington Notary Public perform?
Notaries can perform acknowledgments, where they certify that the signer personally appeared before them and acknowledged signing the document willingly. However, notaries cannot certify copies of public records (e.g., birth certificates), perform wedding ceremonies (unless they are legally authorized), or notarize documents in which they have a direct financial interest.
Which of the following are acceptable forms of identification for a Washington Notary to verify the identity of a signer?
A current passport is a valid form of identification for notarization purposes. The driver's license, although issued a long time ago, would also be acceptable if it hasn’t expired. An employee badge and personal acquaintance without proper ID are not acceptable forms of identification for notarization in Washington.
When must a Washington notary public refuse to perform a notarial act?
Please select 2 correct answers
A notary must refuse to perform a notarial act if the signer appears to be under duress, or if the signer’s identification is expired and no other valid ID is available. While notarizing a document in a foreign language is acceptable as long as the notary understands the act they are performing, notarizing for close family members is often discouraged but not outright prohibited by Washington law unless there is a financial interest involved.
What must a Washington notary include in their journal for each notarization?
Please select 2 correct answers
Washington requires notaries to record the date and time of the notarization, as well as the type of notarial act (e.g., acknowledgment, jurat). The notary’s signature is not typically required in the journal entry itself, and the signer’s phone number is not a required detail.