Free Legal/Notary Practice Questions

Notary exam difficulty varies by state. States like California and New York have more rigorous exams with 30-40 questions and 70-80% passing scores. Many states have open-book exams, while others are closed-book. The key topics are notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths), signer identification, journal keeping, and state-specific laws. With proper preparation using practice questions, most candidates pass on the first attempt.

Notary exams typically cover: notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths/affirmations, copy certifications), signer identification requirements, journal/record keeping, notary commission and seal requirements, fees and prohibited acts, conflicts of interest, certificate completion, and Remote Online Notarization (RON) procedures. State-specific laws and procedures are also heavily tested.

Requirements vary by state but generally include: being at least 18 years old, being a legal resident of your commissioning state, having no disqualifying criminal history, completing required education (4-6 hours in most states), passing the state exam, purchasing a surety bond ($5,000-$25,000 depending on state), and obtaining your notary seal/stamp. The total process takes 2-6 weeks.

Notary income varies widely based on specialization. Traditional notaries earn $10-$25 per notarization (fees are state-regulated). Notary Signing Agents (NSAs) who handle mortgage closings earn $75-$200 per signing, with experienced agents completing 10-20 signings per month ($750-$4,000/month). Remote Online Notarization (RON) platforms pay $5-$25 per session. Full-time mobile notaries can earn $40,000-$80,000+ annually.

RON allows notaries to perform notarial acts using audio-video technology without the signer being physically present. As of 2026, over 45 states have enacted RON legislation. RON requires identity verification through knowledge-based authentication (KBA) and credential analysis. Notaries must use an approved technology platform and maintain electronic journal records. RON has grown significantly since 2020.

According to the National Notary Association (NNA), there are approximately 4.4 million commissioned notaries public in the United States. California has the most notaries with over 400,000. Commission terms range from 4 years (California, New York) to 10 years (Florida). About 800,000 new notary commissions are issued each year.