Government Exam Prep

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How New York Executive Law Section 130 grants the Secretary of State discretion to suspend or remove a notary for misconduct. - Why statutory due process requires serving written charges and providing a hearing before removing a notary from office. - The exam trap of trying to alter journal entries or rewrite c...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * Foreign-language advertising disclosure requirements under New York Executive Law Section 135-b. * Why foreign-language terms may not imply United States attorney qualifications. * Possible civil penalties and discretionary repeat-violation sanctions with an opportunity to be heard. * Why a disclaimer does not authorize immigration advice or other legal services by a nonlawyer. * How to review a...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The statutory prohibition against non-lawyer notaries practicing law or drafting legal papers in New York. • How to distinguish neutral procedural administrative information from unauthorized legal advice. • Why the stated legal referral and fee-sharing arrangements are prohibited for nonlawyer notaries. • How a neutral suggestion to consult counsel differs from soliciting paid legal referrals. • Why a notar...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • How Executive Law Section 138 permits corporate employees, officers, directors, and stockholders to perform notarial acts for corporate instruments. • The explicit statutory prohibition preventing a notary from notarizing corporate documents if they execute the document individually or as a representative party. • How direct personal pecuniary or beneficial interests create a disqualifying conflict of interes...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - All New York notaries must retain physical and electronic notarial records for at least 10 years under 19 NYCRR 182.9. - Notary record entries must be recorded contemporaneously with the performance of each notarial act. - Electronic records and third-party storage must be safeguarded using passwords or secure authentication controls under the notary's control. ...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Mandatory recordkeeping requirements under 19 NYCRR Section 182.9 for all traditional and electronic New York notaries. - The minimum ten-year record retention rule for all NY notary journal records. - Specific mandatory journal entry fields including date, time, signer details, credential type, and verification procedure. - Why New York rules do not require t...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Statutory fee caps for traditional paper notarizations under NY Executive Law Section 136. - Electronic notarial act fee rules and paper-out certificate fees under 19 NYCRR 182.11 and Executive Law Section 135-c. - Statutory fee prohibitions for official oaths of office under Public Officers Law Section 69. - How to separate administrative state licensing fees f...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The distinction between an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certificate of authentication for non-Hague nations. - Why a New York notary public is strictly prohibited from issuing apostilles or copy-certifying government vital records. - The three-step authentication process involving the notary, the county clerk, and the New York Department o...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How county clerks authenticate a notary public's signature and commission authority under Executive Law Sections 132 and 133. - The optional process and purpose of filing a Certificate of Official Character in additional New York counties. - Why county clerk authentication verifies official character rather than the truth or legal sufficiency of document c...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why an acknowledgment certificate cannot serve as a substitute for statutory witness attestation on a last will and testament. - How a nonlawyer notary avoids the unauthorized practice of law when presented with a draft will or execution request. - The distinction between a standard acknowledgment and a notary's role in e...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to determine the correct venue statement on a New York notarial certificate based on physical location. - Why a notary must refuse false certificate facts and pause over unexplained material blanks. - How to handle missing material terms versus reserved official fields on documents. - Acceptable methods of establishing signer i...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The statutory basis for proof by a subscribing witness under New York Real Property Law Section 304. • The mandatory requirements for sworn testimony, including residence details with street and house number for city residents. • Key distinctions between a subscribing witness proving execution and a credible witness proving identity. • How to properly identify a subscribi...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • Mandatory requirements for representative capacity notarizations under 19 NYCRR 182.3. • Why personal identity verification alone is insufficient without record evidence of authority. • The mandatory duty to refuse notarization when representative capacity is not satisfactorily evidenced. • Record retention duties, including the 10-year recordkeeping requirement for all New York notaries. • Compliant identity verification alternatives under current New York No...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * Key differences in signature timing between an acknowledgment and a jurat * Oath and affirmation requirements for jurats on sworn statements and affidavits * Shared personal appearance and identity verification standards under New York law * Why non-lawyer notaries cannot select notary certificates for signers * Practical steps to take when a document lacks pre-printed notary w...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How New York law defines an acknowledgment and its core legal purpose. - How prior signing differs from required personal appearance for a traditional acknowledgment. - Acceptable identity verification methods under 19 NYCRR 182.5(b). - The crucial legal distinction between an acknowledgment and a sworn oath. - Why all traditional and electronic n...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The legal definition of an affidavit as a sworn written statement made by an affiant. - The three essential elements certified by a notary jurat during notarization. - Why a notary cannot substitute an acknowledgment certificate for a required jurat. - The ten-year journal record retention requirement under 19 NYCRR 182 for New Y...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Distinction between a religious oath and a secular affirmation under New York law - Legal requirement for a present affirmative act during administration - Why a signature and stamp alone cannot replace an actual oath or affirmation - Recordkeeping standards under 19 NYCRR Part 182 for all New York notaries - Present Obligation, A...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The five statutory pathways for establishing satisfactory evidence of identity under 19 NYCRR 182.5(b). • The strict New York rules governing single-witness versus two-witness identity verification. • Why an unknown single witness with identification does not satisfy the single-witness pathway. • Mandatory 10-year notary recordkeeping requirements for traditional and electronic acts. • A simple decision rule for choosing th...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * Physical appearance requirements for traditional in-person notarizations in New York. * How Executive Law Section 135-c and 19 NYCRR Part 182 govern electronic notarizations. * Why Remote Ink Notarization ended in January 2023 and is no longer authorized. * Physical location rules requiring the electronic notary to be inside New York State. * Journal recordkeeping rules requiring 10-year retention f...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • Why a New York notary public cannot notarize their own signature or act as a direct party to an instrument. • How direct pecuniary or financial interest legally disqualifies a notary public in New York. • Why family relationships alone do not create an automatic notarization ban under New York law. • How corporate employees can lawfu...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Executive Law 137 requirements for a New York notary's official signature and required identifying information. - Why New York law requires specific identifying information in black ink rather than a mandatory physical stamp or embossed seal. - How required details like county of qualification, commission expiration date, and official registration numbers must a...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How New York notary public authority extends statewide across all New York counties regardless of county of qualification. - The strict physical presence requirement holding that a New York notary must be physically located inside New York State during any notarization. - The nonresident qualification rule requiring a New York office o...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The four-year commission term length for New York notaries public. - The ninety-day pre-expiration window for submitting renewal applications. - Why notarizing during a commission lapse is strictly illegal. - The mandatory five-day Department of State notification rule for name, address, or email changes under 19 NYCRR 182. - The distinction between marital n...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The required administrative path from passing the written examination to official appointment. • How the Oath of Office must be executed before an authorized officer before application submission. • The online application submission process managed via New York Business Express. • The role of the Secretary of State in issuing commissions and forwarding official records to county...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The age-eighteen application requirement and statutory New York residence or business-office and character qualifications. - Specific examination exemptions granted to NYS Bar members and court clerks appointed via Civil Service promotional exams. - Why an examination exemption is distinct from oath requirements and a separate statutory fee exception. - How executive p...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Essential New York notary vocabulary including commissioned public officer, principal, affiant, and venue. - The distinct legal requirements and procedures separating an acknowledgment from a jurat. - How a document workflow separates identity verification from sworn truthfulness. - Identity verification rules under 19 NYCRR 182.5 involving single and dual credible witnesses. - New Y...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to structure an effective study plan using official NY DOS Notary Public License Law resources. - Key legal distinctions between an acknowledgment and a jurat or affidavit in practical scenarios. - Identity verification rules, including credible witness alternatives under New York law. - Mandatory journal record-keeping rules requiring ten-year retention f...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That as of 2026, California notaries are NOT authorized to perform remote online notarizations (RON). - The key deadline for full RON implementation in California is January 1, 2030, pending technology completion by the Secretary of State. - How to distinguish between the current law recognizing out-of-state RONs versus the future authority for California n...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The notary's role under CA Gov Code 27201.1 is to perform a jurat on a disinterested custodian's signature, not to certify the copy's content. - A 'disinterested custodian' is a neutral third party with no financial or beneficial interest in the transaction related to the electronic record. - This procedure is specifically d...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A California Notary's role in a deposition is limited to administering the oath and issuing a certificate. - The maximum fee for deposition services is $30, plus an additional $7 for the oath and $7 for the certificate. - Protesting a negotiable instrument is a formal declaration of non-payment for an instrument like a c...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why a standard notary commission is insufficient for issuing confidential marriage licenses and what special authorization is required. - The key eligibility requirement that a couple must sign an affidavit stating they are living together as spouses. - The 90-day validity period for the license and the 10-day deadline to return i...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A journal thumbprint is mandatory in California for all power of attorney notarizations. - California notaries are uniquely authorized to certify copies of power of attorney documents. - Assessing a signer's willingness and awareness is a critical duty, especially when notarizing for elderly or vulnerable adults. - You must refuse to n...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The crucial difference between a willful act leading to a misdemeanor and a negligent act resulting in a civil penalty. - Why willfully destroying, concealing, or failing to secure your notary journal and seal is a criminal offense. - The specific advertising rules related to immigration services that are a major e...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A California Notary is personally liable for all damages caused by their official misconduct, which can far exceed the bond amount. - The required $15,000 surety bond protects the public, not the notary; the notary must reimburse the surety for any claims paid. - Employers can be held liable for a notary's o...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The California Secretary of State has the exclusive authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a notary commission based on state law. - A felony conviction or a crime involving moral turpitude is a primary cause for mandatory commission revocation or application denial. - Common grounds for discipline include overcharging fees, failing t...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to assess a signer's awareness and willingness without making a medical judgment. - The absolute duty to refuse notarization when you suspect coercion or lack of capacity. - Why you must record every refusal as a complete entry in your California notary journal under Government Code § 8206. - How to distinguish a...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Knowingly completing a false notarial certificate, such as stating an absent person appeared, is a serious offense with severe penalties. - Personal appearance by the signer before the notary at the time of the notarization is a non-negotiable requirement in California. - The date on the notarial certificate must be the a...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why the literal translation of "Notary Public" to "notario publico" is strictly prohibited in California under Government Code section 8219.5. - The specific penalties for improperly using the term "notario publico," including a commission suspension of at least one year for a first offense and permanent revocation for a second. - The r...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why California law strictly prohibits non-attorney notaries from using the term 'notario público' in advertisements. - The exact wording of the mandatory disclosure required for all foreign-language advertising. - The requirement to list specific, statutory fees for notarial acts, such as the $15 per-signature fee, in advertisements. - The severe penalties fo...

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A non-attorney California notary is strictly prohibited from selecting the type of notarial certificate (e.g., Acknowledgment vs. Jurat) for a signer. - Explaining the legal effects or consequences of a document, such as a power of attorney, constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. - Using the term "notario publico" in a...