25 questions from the Connecticut Notary Public Manual. Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1. If a signer is located outside of Connecticut during a remote notarization, what condition must the document meet?
Answer: The document must be intended for presentation to a Connecticut court. The handbook lists specific conditions for out-of-state signers, including that the document is intended for presentation to a Connecticut court.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 27: “Specifically, if the signer is located outside of Connecticut, the document must be: 1. intended for presentation to a Connecticut court;”
2. What is the consequence if a Connecticut notary public fails to record a replacement certificate of appointment with the town clerk after a change of address or name?
Answer: Any notarial act performed by the notary remains valid. The handbook states that failing to record the replacement certificate does not invalidate the notary's acts.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 40: “The failure of a notary to so record such replacement certificate shall not invalidate any notarial act performed by the notary.”
3. What is the rule regarding a notary's signature when performing a notarial act?
Answer: The notary must sign their name exactly as it appears on their certificate of appointment and notary seal. The handbook specifies that the signature must match the name on the official certificate and seal exactly, not necessarily other ID documents.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 19: “It is important for the notary to remember that he/ she must sign his/her name exactly as it appears on his/her certificate of appointment and notary seal.”
4. How is 'Satisfactory evidence of identity' defined for a notary public verifying a signer?
Answer: Identification based on at least two current documents, one government-issued with photo/signature and another with signature, or the oath of a credible witness. The definition requires either two specific types of documents or the credible witness method, rejecting single-ID reliance or undocumented personal knowledge as sufficient on their own.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 37: ““Satisfactory evidence of identity” means identification of an individual based on (A) at least two current documents, one issued by a federal or state government and containing the individual's signature and either a photograph or physical description, and the other by an institution, business entity or state government or the federal government and containing at least the individual's signature, or (B) the oath or affirmation of a credible person who is personally known to the notary public and who personally knows the individual.”
5. Which entity has the authority over notaries public in the State of Connecticut?
Answer: The Office of the Secretary of the State. The handbook identifies the Secretary of the State as the appointing agent with authority over notaries.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 44: “As the appointing agent, the Secretary of the State has authority over notaries public in the State of Connecticut.”
6. What is the nonrefundable fee required when a notary files a notice of change of name with the Secretary?
Answer: Fifteen dollars. The handbook specifies that a nonrefundable fee of fifteen dollars must accompany the notice of name change.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 40: “The notice shall state the notary's old and new names and the effective date of the new name, include such proof of the change of name as the Secretary shall require, be signed by the notary and be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of fifteen dollars.”
7. Under Section 1-60, which of the following is a valid reason for accepting a certificate of acknowledgment form in Connecticut?
Answer: The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken. The handbook lists forms prescribed by the laws applicable in the place where the acknowledgment is taken as an acceptable format.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 34: “The form of a certificate of acknowledgment used by a person whose authority is recognized under section 1-57 shall be accepted in this state if: (1) The certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations of this state; (2) the certificate is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the acknowledgment is taken; or (3) the certificate contains the words “acknowledged before me”, or their substantial equivalent.”
8. If a notary's commission expires before a new certificate is issued, when is the notary permitted to resume performing notarial acts?
Answer: After receiving the new Certificate of Appointment and taking the oath of office. The rules require the notary to wait until they have both received the new certificate and taken the oath of office before performing acts.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 8: “If a notary's commission expires prior to a new certificate having been issued and received, the notary must cease performing notarial acts until he/she has received the new Certificate of Appointment and has taken an oath of office for the new term.”
9. Which of the following documents is listed in subsection (i) as eligible for remote acknowledgment?
Answer: A living will. The handbook specifically enumerates a living will among the documents permitted for remote acknowledgment, while the other options are not listed in the handbook.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 43: “(5) the execution of a living will, as defined in section 19a570,”
10. According to section 4.11.1, who is responsible for signing the written statement when using the attestation procedure as an alternative to copy certification?
Answer: The person presenting the document. The handbook specifies that the requesting party (the person presenting the document) must sign the statement in the presence of the notary.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 18: “The requesting party signs the statement in the notary’s presence.”
11. Under Section 1-23, what phrase replaces "swear" when administering a solemn affirmation?
Answer: "solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare". The handbook specifies the exact wording required to replace "swear" in a solemn affirmation.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 29: “instead of the word “swear” the words “solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare” shall be used”
12. What is the required response from the person to whom an oath is administered during the ceremony?
Answer: Answer "I do.". The handbook specifies that the person taking the oath is expected to respond with the phrase "I do" during the administration of the oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 15: “The person to whom an oath is administered should answer "I do."”
13. What specific characteristic must a credible witness possess in relation to the notary public?
Answer: The witness must be personally known by the notary. The handbook mandates that the credible witness must be personally known to the notary, distinguishing this requirement from other potential relationships.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 12: “It is essential that the credible witness be “personally known” to the notary.”
14. Before adopting regulations for remote notarial acts, what factors must the Secretary of the State consider?
Answer: National standards, practices of other jurisdictions, and views of interested persons. The handbook lists three specific categories of considerations: national standards/recommendations, other jurisdictions' practices, and views of officials/persons.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 43: “Prior to adopting or amending regulations governing the performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual, the Secretary of the State shall consider: (1) The most recent standards regarding the performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual promulgated by national standard-setting organizations and the recommendations of the National Association of Secretaries of State; (2) Standards, practices and customs of other jurisdictions that have laws substantially similar to this section; and (3) The views of governmental officials and entities and other interested persons.”
15. What is the correct procedure for a Connecticut notary public regarding the title used to describe their office?
Answer: Use the title 'Notary Public' without foreign language terms. The handbook instructs Connecticut notaries to avoid foreign language terms like 'notario publico' to prevent misleading clients about their authority.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 23: “Notaries public appointed by the State of Connecticut should never use a foreign language term to describe their office.”
16. Within what timeframe must a newly appointed notary record their appointment and oath of office with the town clerk?
Answer: Within thirty (30) days of receiving the Certificate of Appointment. The handbook mandates that the recording process be completed within 30 days of receiving the certificate.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 7: “The appointment and oath of office must be recorded within thirty (30) days of having received the Certificate of Appointment with the town clerk in the town in which the notary resides.”
17. According to Section 1-33, how should the acknowledgment of a married woman be handled?
Answer: It may be made in the same form as though she were unmarried. The statute states that married women use the same acknowledgment form as unmarried individuals.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 31: “An acknowledgment of a married woman may be made in the same form as though she were unmarried.”
18. What is the nonrefundable application fee for a notary public seeking reappointment?
Answer: Sixty dollars. The handbook specifies that the fee for reappointment is sixty dollars, distinct from the initial application fee.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 38: “A notary public may apply for reappointment on a form prescribed and provided by the Secretary, accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of sixty dollars”
19. Under section 1-24 of the General Statutes, in which of the following scenarios is a notary authorized to administer an oath?
Answer: When the signer must swear to the truth of a document or other writing. The handbook lists swearing to the truth of a document as one of the two specific circumstances for administering an oath.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 14: “Typically, a notary is called to administer an oath under two circumstances: (1) when the signer must swear to the truth of a document or other writing or (2) when a person is assuming a public office that requires an oath.”
20. In the 'Sample Certified Copy Statement (Long Form)', what condition must the notary attest to regarding the nature of the copied document?
Answer: The document is neither a public record, vital record, nor publicly recordable document. The long form statement specifically requires the notary to confirm the document is not a public, vital, or publicly recordable record.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 17: “to the best of my knowledge, the photocopied document is neither a public record or vital record, not a publicly recordable document, certified copies of which are available from an official source other than a notary.”
21. According to Section 1-38, what is the minimum rank required for a commissioned officer in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps to take an acknowledgment for a person serving in the armed forces?
Answer: Second lieutenant. The statute sets the minimum rank threshold for Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers at second lieutenant.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 33: “persons serving in or with the armed forces of the United States or their dependents, wherever located, may acknowledge the same before any commissioned officer in active service of the armed forces of the United States with the rank of second lieutenant or higher in the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps”
22. Who is responsible for notifying all town clerks within the state after a notary's certificate of appointment is resigned, revoked, or suspended?
Answer: The Secretary of the State. The handbook assigns the duty of notifying all town clerks specifically to the Secretary.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 40: “Within thirty days after the resignation, revocation or suspension of a notary's certificate of appointment, the Secretary shall notify all town clerks within the state, in such manner as the Secretary shall determine, of such resignation, revocation or suspension.”
23. What is the primary criterion a Connecticut notary must assess regarding a signer's competence before performing a notarial act?
Answer: Whether the signer understands the meaning of their actions. The handbook defines competence specifically as the individual's understanding of the meaning of their actions, which is required for voluntary signing.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 12: “Competence simply means that the individual understands the meaning of his/her actions.”
24. When a person signs by mark due to illiteracy or handicap, what action must one of the witnesses take regarding the signer's name?
Answer: Write the name of the person who signs by mark near the mark. The procedure requires a witness to manually write the signer's name near the mark, rather than signing for them or using other verification methods.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 13: “The name of the person who signs by mark should be written near the mark by one of the witnesses.”
25. How should a notary position the impression of their seal relative to their signature?
Answer: Near, but not over, the notary's signature. The instructions clearly direct that the seal impression be placed near the signature but not over it.
Connecticut Notary Public Manual, page 19: “When using the seal, the impression should be affixed near, but not over, the notary's signature.”