FL Notary Acceptable Identification for Notarization 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document is considered acceptable identification for a Florida notarization?
- A library card with a photo
- A Florida driver's license (Correct answer)
- A student ID from a private school
- A Medicare card
Correct answer: A Florida driver's license
A Florida driver's license is a government-issued photo ID and is explicitly listed as acceptable identification under Florida notary law.
Question 2: Under Florida law, 'satisfactory evidence of identity' can be established by which alternative when no ID is available?
- The signer's verbal assurance of their identity
- A credible witness personally known to the notary who vouches for the signer (Correct answer)
- A notarized letter from the signer's employer
- The signer's attorney present at the notarization
Correct answer: A credible witness personally known to the notary who vouches for the signer
Florida allows a credible witness who is personally known to the notary (and swears under oath to the signer's identity) to serve as satisfactory evidence of identity.
Question 3: A U.S. passport presented for a Florida notarization that expired 6 months ago — is it acceptable?
- Yes, passports are always acceptable regardless of expiration
- No, the ID must be currently valid and not expired (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the photo still resembles the signer
- Only if accompanied by a second form of expired ID
Correct answer: No, the ID must be currently valid and not expired
Florida requires identification to be currently valid; an expired document does not constitute satisfactory evidence of identity.
Question 4: What is required of identification used for a Florida notarization?
- It must contain the signer's photo, signature, and serial number, and be issued by a government entity (Correct answer)
- It must be issued within the last 5 years
- It must include the signer's Social Security number
- It must be accompanied by a second form of ID
Correct answer: It must contain the signer's photo, signature, and serial number, and be issued by a government entity
Florida requires acceptable ID to be government-issued and to contain the signer's photo, signature, and a serial number or other identifying number.
Question 5: Can a Florida notary accept a foreign passport as identification?
- No, only U.S.-issued documents are acceptable
- Yes, if it is currently valid and contains a photo, signature, and identifying number (Correct answer)
- Only if translated into English by a certified translator
- Only for notarizations of foreign-language documents
Correct answer: Yes, if it is currently valid and contains a photo, signature, and identifying number
Florida law accepts foreign passports as satisfactory identification as long as they are currently valid and contain the required photo, signature, and identifying number.
Question 6: Under Florida law, can personal knowledge of the signer substitute for documentary identification?
- No, documentary ID is always required
- Yes, if the notary personally knows the signer, that constitutes satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)
- Only if the notary has known the signer for at least one year
- Only for acknowledgments, not jurats
Correct answer: Yes, if the notary personally knows the signer, that constitutes satisfactory evidence of identity
Florida law allows the notary's own personal knowledge of the signer to serve as satisfactory evidence of identity without requiring documentary ID.
FL Notary Acceptable Identification for Notarization 1
Which document is considered acceptable identification for a Florida notarization?