ND Notary Identification and Record Keeping — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What forms of identification are acceptable for notaization in North Dakota?
- A current government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport (Correct answer)
- A library card
- A student ID from any institution
- A credit card with the signer's name
Correct answer: A current government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport
North Dakota requires satisfactory evidence of identity, which typically means a current, government-issued identification document containing a photograph and signature.
Question 2: What information must be recorded in a North Dakota notary's journal for each notarial act?
- Date, type of act, signer's name, type of ID used, and description of the document (Correct answer)
- Only the date and signer's name
- Only the type of document
- Only the notary's fee charged
Correct answer: Date, type of act, signer's name, type of ID used, and description of the document
The journal must include the date of the notarial act, the type of act performed, the signer's name and address, the identification method used, the type of document, and the fee charged.
Question 3: How long must a North Dakota notary retain their journal after their commission expires?
- 10 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 3 years
- Indefinitely
Correct answer: 10 years
North Dakota requires notaries to retain their journal records for at least 10 years after the notarial act was performed, even after the commission expires.
Question 4: If a signer cannot provide acceptable ID, what alternative may a North Dakota notary use?
- A credible witness who personally knows the signer and can be identified by the notary (Correct answer)
- The notary can accept the signer's verbal assurance
- Any form of identification is acceptable
- The signer can provide a utility bill
Correct answer: A credible witness who personally knows the signer and can be identified by the notary
When acceptable ID is unavailable, a credible witness who personally knows the signer and who can themselves be identified by the notary may vouch for the signer's identity.
Question 5: What must a North Dakota notary do with their seal and journal when their commission ends?
- Destroy or deface the seal and deliver the journal to the Secretary of State or retain it securely (Correct answer)
- Throw everything away
- Give them to another notary
- Continue using them until reappointed
Correct answer: Destroy or deface the seal and deliver the journal to the Secretary of State or retain it securely
When a commission ends, the notary must destroy or deface the seal to prevent unauthorized use and must either securely store or deliver the journal to the Secretary of State.
Question 6: Can a North Dakota notary identify a signer based solely on personal knowledge?
- Yes, personal knowledge of the signer is an acceptable form of identification (Correct answer)
- No, a government-issued ID is always required
- Only if the notary has known the person for more than 5 years
- Only for family members
Correct answer: Yes, personal knowledge of the signer is an acceptable form of identification
Personal knowledge of the signer is one of the acceptable methods of identification for notarial acts in North Dakota, alongside satisfactory evidence such as photo ID.
ND Notary Identification and Record Keeping
What forms of identification are acceptable for notaization in North Dakota?