Arizona Notary Cheat Sheet

Commission + Application

Not published of exam
Exam Numbers Eligibility Application Bond vs E&O Core Numbers

Notarial Acts

Not published of exam
Notarial Acts Act Signals Act Picker Acknowledgment vs Jurat Oath vs Affirmation

Identity + Screening

Not published of exam
Identity Evidence Signer Screening Identity Picker ID vs Witness Refusal Triggers

Records + Seal

Not published of exam
Journal Seal Certificates Journal vs Certificate Public Records

Fees + RON

Not published of exam
Fees + Penalties RON Basics Compliance Picker RON vs In-Person Fee Cap

Quick Facts

Exam AZ Notary
Owner Arizona SOS
Questions 45
Time 60 min
Pass 80%
Correct 36 of 45
Exam fee $35; verify booking
App fee $43
Bond $5,000
Term 4 years
Book Digital manual
Provider Pearson AZ Notary
Remote exam Check OnVUE availability

Core Numbers CO

45, 60, 80, 36, 10
45 questions 60 minutes 80% pass $10/unit

Bond vs E&O CO

Bond

Protects public
Required
$5,000

E&O

Protects notary
Optional
Defense costs
Public vs you

Exam Numbers CO

Requirement New and renewing
Questions 45 multiple-choice
Time 60 minutes
Pass 80%
Correct 36 of 45
Exam fee $35 (SOS Pearson notice)
Retake Confirm current Pearson terms
Score life 90 days
Third fail 30 days (Pearson notice)
Remote exam Verify OnVUE appointment availability

Eligibility CO

Age 18 or older
Residency AZ tax + primary residence
Status Citizen or LPR
English Read, write, understand
Exam Pass if required
Manual Keep approved reference
Disqualified 41-271 bar
Oath Before commission

Application CO

First step Register exam
Candidate ID Before application
Bond $5,000
Filing fee $43
Term 4 years
Processing About 4 weeks
Renewal Up to 2 months
NSF $25 fee

Six Acts AC

AOVWCP: Acknowledge, Oath, Verify, Witness, Copy, Protest
Acknowledge Oath Verify Witness Copy Protest

Acknowledgment vs Jurat AC

Acknowledgment

Signer acknowledges
No oath
Prior signature OK

Jurat

Signer swears
Oath required
Sign before notary
Willingness vs truth

Act Picker AC

Signed voluntarily → Acknowledgment ( No oath )
Sworn document → Jurat ( Sign here )
Oral truth promise → Oath/Affirmation ( No document )
Need true copy → Copy cert ( Compare original )
Need witnessed signature → Witness/attest ( Signer appears )
Protest requested → Note protest ( Negotiable instrument )
Deposition oath requested → Oath/Affirmation ( Reporting credentials separate )
Legal advice asked → Refuse ( Attorney only )
Birth certificate copy → Refuse ( Issuing agency )
Blank document → Refuse ( Incomplete )

Notarial Acts AC

Acknowledgment Signed willingly
Jurat Signed and sworn
Oath Truth promise
Affirmation Secular oath
Copy cert True copy
Signature witness Witness or attest signature
Protest Negotiable instrument
Deposition oath Oath authority; reporting credentials separate
Impartiality No stake
Certificate Act evidence

Oath vs Affirmation AC

Oath

Invokes deity
Truth pledge
Perjury risk

Affirmation

Secular pledge
Same legal force
Signer choice
Religious vs secular

Act Signals AC

Acknowledged Acknowledgment clue
Subscribed Signed before notary
Sworn Oath required
Already signed Acknowledgment OK
Truthfulness Jurat or oath
Copy matches Copy certification
No document Oath possible
Signer choice Oath or affirmation

ID Categories ID

Passport, state, military, other, inmate
Unexpired listed IDs Other: signature OR photo+description Inmate custody

ID vs Witness ID

ID

Listed category
Check conditions
Unexpired where required

Witness

Knows signer
Takes oath
Identified by notary
Document vs person

Identity Picker ID

Listed current credential → Check category ( § 41-255 )
No qualifying ID → Knowledge or witness ( Statutory paths )
Expired listed ID → Use other path ( Do not use ID )
Signer coerced → Stop act ( Voluntary required )
Signer absent → Refuse ( Personal appearance )
Personal knowledge → Journal entry ( Or document copy )

Identity Evidence ID

Personal knowledge Prior dealings; reasonable certainty
US passport Unexpired
State DL/ID Unexpired
Military ID Unexpired
Other gov ID Signature OR photo + description
DOC/BOP ID In custody
Sheriff ID County custody
Credible witness Oath; known or identified

Signer Screening ID

Appearance Required
Identity Required
Willingness Required
Awareness Required
Blank document Refuse
Financial interest Refuse
Coercion Refuse
Legal advice Refuse

Seal Colors RE

Dark ink: black, blue, purple, brown
No red Dark ink Great Seal

Journal vs Certificate RE

Journal

Audit trail
Chronological
Public record

Certificate

Act evidence
On document
Sealed
Record vs evidence

Journal RE

Tangible acts Paper journal
Electronic acts Paper or e-journal
Order Chronological
Date Required
Document Description required
Signer Name and address
ID method Required
Fee charged Required
Deed/POA Right thumb; statutory exceptions
Thumb unavailable Left thumb OR available finger
No print possible Record condition + explanation
Trustee deed Foreclosure exempt from print
Release/reconveyance Exempt from print
PK alternative Document copy OR journal entry
PK print §41-254 still controls deed/POA

Copy Cert vs Vital Record RE

Copy cert

Ordinary copy
Compare original
Separate act

Vital record

Agency copy
Birth/death
Use issuing agency
Copy vs official

Seal RE

Rubber stamp Required
Embosser Extra only
Shape Any shape
Physical maximum 1.5in H x 2.5in W
Ink Dark only
Red ink Not allowed
Great Seal Required
Commission number Required

Certificates RE

Venue State and county
Date Actual date
Notary signature Required
Seal Required
Wrong wording Strike through, correct, initial
White-out Never use
Loose cert Attach securely
RON cert Technology statement

RON Proof CO

Live video plus identity verification plus records
Sight and sound Knowledge, witness, OR proofing Recording retained

RON vs In-Person CO

RON

Audio-video
Statutory identity route
Recording retained

In-person paper

Physical presence
Statutory identity route
Paper journal
Technology vs presence

Compliance Picker CO

Tangible record → Paper journal ( One active )
Electronic record → E-journal ( Allowed )
Address changed → Report SOS ( 30 days )
Seal lost → Report SOS ( 10 days )
Remote signer → RON ( Apply; written SOS authorization first )
Public request → Journal copy ( Written details )
Subpoena received → Comply ( Lawful order )
Employer confidential → Separate journal ( Not public )
Deed or POA → Obtain print ( § 41-254(C) )
RON print exception → Keep AV 7 years ( Credential # )

Fees + Penalties CO

Acknowledgment/jurat $10 per notary public signature
Copy certification $10 per page certified
Oath/affirmation $10 per notarial act
Electronic fee Same unit schedule
RON fee Same unit schedule
Late address May impose $25
Lost seal Report 10 days
Fail to report loss Mandatory $1,000
Resign records 3 months
Records fine $50-$500

Fee vs Bond CO

Fee

Notary-signature/page/act units
$10 each unit
Optional charge

Bond

Filed with SOS
$5,000
Required assurance
Revenue vs assurance

RON Basics CO

Status Active AZ notary
SOS authorization Apply; obtain written approval first
Technology Sight and sound
Identity proofing Knowledge, witness, or proofing
Recording AV 5 years generally
Foreign signer U.S. nexus needed
E-seal Commission number
RON certificate Technology statement
RON deed/POA Credential # + AV 7 years
RON journal Permanent, tamper-evident electronic journal

Common Traps

Acknowledgment Not Jurat

No oath ≠ Oath plus signature

Bond Not Insurance

Public protection ≠ Your protection

Notario Not Attorney

No legal advice ≠ No immigration help

RON Not Phone

Live audio-video ≠ No phone-only act

Fee Units Not Blanket

Signature / page / oath ≠ Up to $10 each unit

Journal Not Private

Usually public ≠ Some exceptions

Copy Cert Not Vital

Not agency record ≠ Use issuing agency

Seal Not Authority

Stamp follows act ≠ Commission grants authority

Last Minute

1. 45 questions, 60 minutes
2. Pass = 80%, 36 correct
3. SOS Pearson notice: $35; confirm booking
4. Application fee = $43
5. Bond = $5,000, four years
6. Fees use act-specific units
7. Six types: AOVWCP
8. Acknowledgment: no oath
9. Jurat: sign plus oath
10. ID categories differ under § 41-255
11. Journal entries are chronological
12. Seal ink must be dark
13. RON uses live audio-video
14. RON AV 5 years; exception 7
15. Lost seal: report 10 days
16. Address change: report 30 days
17. Deed/POA: print unless exempt
18. If right unavailable: left OR finger