Which two issues are described as the most common reasons for administrative penalties?

• A. Overcharging and violating civil code
• B. No personal appearance of the signer and failure to get proper ID
• C. Loss of professional license and unauthorized certified copies
• D. Failure to keep a journal and overcharging

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that notaries must verify the signer in person and confirm the signer’s identity with acceptable ID. If the signer doesn’t appear in person, there’s no authentic notarization to attest to, and if proper identification isn’t obtained, the notary cannot reliably verify who signed the document. These two requirements—personal appearance and proper ID—are foundational safeguards against fraud, so violations here are the most common triggers for administrative penalties.

Other issues mentioned—such as charging too much or keeping a journal—are still important duties, but they’re less frequently the primary, everyday causes for administrative penalties compared to failure of personal appearance and failure to obtain proper ID.