Yes. To establish the identity of a document signer, a notary can use a ”green card” issued by U.S. citizenship and immigration authorities to provide notarial services as long as it is up to date and includes a photo and signature of the signer. The notary can use either a credible witness or personal knowledge to identify a signatory. No. A notary cannot use a social security card to establish the identity of a signatory document for notarial services. A social security card does not contain critical identifiers such as a current date, an accurate physical description of the holder, a photo of the holder or the signature of the holder. Yes. A notary cannot certify a document if he cannot establish the identity of the main signatory by the legal requirements of the state for satisfactory proof.
The document requiring notarization must contain the name of the signatory in conjunction with the name on the state or federal identity card so that the notary can positively verify the identity of the signatory. Yes. A notary who suspects that a driver`s license is a forgery must refuse notarization. One of the tasks of the notary is to establish the identity of a signatory by satisfactory evidence. A prudent notary should carefully examine a driver`s license to determine if it contains dubious basic information or visible fraudulent features. In case of doubt, it is better to refuse notarization. The notary must consult an up-to-date identity document in order to notarize your documents. Some types of IDs are acceptable: No. If state notarial laws require that the identity card issued by the state or federal government be ”up to date,” notaries must comply with their legally satisfactory proof of identity.
A married signer who always uses a driver`s license with her maiden name does not use a ”current” driver`s license, and the notary must refuse notarization. In California, for example, the Secretary of State publishes a very strict and specific list of authorized forms of identification. Included are the standard forms known to most people, such as driver`s licenses, state ID cards or U.S. passports, but there are also some that are less obvious. An inmate ID issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation when the inmate is in custody, or an employee ID issued by an agency or office of the State of California or an agency or office of a city, county or city and county in California. These are less used and seen, but are still acceptable. But what if a person shows a social security card issued by the Social Security Administration or a credit card from a trusted financial institution with a recent photo? Although both appear to be a reasonable form of identification, neither can be used by a notary in the state. No.
In most states, a notary can only confirm the identity of a notary service signer through a state or federal id card issued by a U.S. government office. A notary cannot use an identity document issued by a government agency in a foreign country to establish the identity of a signatory for the notarization of a document. My mother asked me to notarize her signature; So I asked to see his driver`s license. She was surprised that I couldn`t certify her signature because I knew her. California does not allow ”personal knowledge” as an acceptable form of identification. So I had to see his current ID to notarize his signature. Each signer must be identified by one of the forms of identification listed in California Code 1185[b]: these are acceptable forms of identification, regardless of the state in which you are. There are other types of identifications that your notary does NOT accept, including: Yes. A notary must insist that a person`s signature match the name printed on the person`s state or federal identity card and the name printed on the notarized certification document. There are too many situations where someone needs a notary service but does not have a valid ID. If you are not a notary, you might think that your temporary driver`s license, health insurance card, or Mexican consular card is acceptable for notarial services.
Expired driver`s licenses, photo credit cards, social security cards, Costco cards, and library cards for notarial services are presented to the notary. People will show many different types of what they consider legitimate forms of identity, but knowing what is and isn`t acceptable for a notarial certification can make the difference between a legal act or a fraudulent act, which can be punished with fines or the revocation of a notarial order. Signers can become very intrusive if they don`t get what they want. Hostility and rudeness often come to the forefront of an institution when it comes to someone trying to use an inappropriate PIECE of identification. Simply telling a signer that an ID is not acceptable is not enough. Having a state manual available with current laws is sometimes the only way to convince an uninformed signatory that the ID card they are trying to use is not valid for notarization. Whatever the circumstances, it is up to the notary to assert himself and not to give in to the demands of a signatory. A notary can be the last line of defense against fraud and must strictly adhere to the law to avoid illegal or potentially harmful activities to another person. No. A notary cannot use an expired driver`s license to establish the identity of a signatory for the provision of notarial services.
The state-issued driver`s license must be up-to-date and include a photo and signature of the signatory. A notary who verifies the identity of a signatory through an expired driver`s license can be held liable under civil and criminal law. Just because you present one of these documents to a notary does not mean that they are acceptable. It must be up to date or have been issued within the last 5 years. This means that an expired driver`s license does not work because it expires 5 years after it is issued. In addition, the name on the ID must match how the person will sign. This is fine if there are second and old names on the ID card that don`t appear on the document, but a notary can`t stamp a notary`s seal on a document that contains names that aren`t on the ID. But asserting oneself can require extreme tact and professionalism when it comes to a combative signatory. If a signer becomes hostile, if an ID is refused, be respectful and always try to be helpful. Observe acceptable identification and offer to return it at a later date.
If no other form is available or the signer is pressed for time, offer another option, para. B example a credible identification witness if your state allows it. Offering to contact one of the national organizations for notaries or government agencies for which their document is intended may be helpful. Remember that a notary, as a civil servant, is a servant of the state and must do everything in his power to help. If you are unable to obtain acceptable identification, you may be able to verify your ID with the notary through a credible witness. A credible witness is a person who knows the signatory of the document and can vouch for his identity. It is important to note that not all States allow the use of credible witnesses to verify the identity of a signatory. No. A notary can use any state or federal ID card issued by a government office in the United States.
A notary can also verify the identity of the signatory by: 1) personal knowledge; or (2) on the oath of a credible witness. Check your state`s notarial laws or consult a lawyer for legal advice. The job of a notary may seem quite simple, but he is responsible for performing several important tasks to ensure that the execution of the document is carried out correctly and in accordance with federal and state laws. These tasks include verifying the identity of the signer and ensuring that the document is signed without coercion. Personal knowledge is always the best form of identification, but can only be used if the notary personally knows the signatory. The notary may not hear the words of a friend, family member or employee about the identity of a signatory unless that person presents himself or herself as a credible witness and takes an oath to the identity of the signatory. DO NOT MARK a certificate as ”personally known” unless you know with great certainty who the signer is. .
