Notary Public Notary Public Signature & Identity Verification 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document is generally considered the most reliable primary identification for a notarization?
- Social Security card
- State-issued driver's license or ID card with photo (Correct answer)
- A credit card bearing the signer's signature
- A utility bill showing the signer's current address
Correct answer: State-issued driver's license or ID card with photo
A state-issued driver's license or ID card is considered primary identification because it contains a photo, signature, and physical description issued by a government authority.
Question 2: What is a 'credible witness' in the context of notarial identity verification?
- An expert witness called in a legal proceeding
- A person who vouches under oath for a signer's identity when the signer lacks acceptable ID (Correct answer)
- A notary's personal character reference
- A professional document authenticator
Correct answer: A person who vouches under oath for a signer's identity when the signer lacks acceptable ID
A credible witness is a person known to the notary or who presents their own ID, who swears under oath to the identity of a signer who lacks acceptable identification.
Question 3: What should a notary do if a signer's current appearance differs significantly from their ID photo?
- Accept the ID and proceed if the name matches
- Refuse to notarize or request additional identification to confirm identity (Correct answer)
- Ask the signer to provide a written explanation of the difference
- Contact the issuing agency to verify the ID
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize or request additional identification to confirm identity
If the signer's appearance significantly differs from their ID photo, the notary should refuse to notarize or request additional identification to satisfactorily confirm identity.
Question 4: Which of the following is generally NOT acceptable as sole identification for notarization?
- U.S. passport
- State-issued driver's license
- Social Security card (Correct answer)
- Military ID card
Correct answer: Social Security card
A Social Security card is generally not acceptable as sole identification because it lacks a photograph and physical description needed to verify identity.
Question 5: What does 'satisfactory evidence of identity' mean for a notary?
- Any document bearing the signer's printed name
- Reliable identification that reasonably confirms the signer is who they claim to be (Correct answer)
- A sworn written statement submitted by the signer
- A recent background check report
Correct answer: Reliable identification that reasonably confirms the signer is who they claim to be
Satisfactory evidence of identity means reliable documentation or sworn testimony that gives the notary reasonable certainty about the signer's true identity.
Question 6: How many credible witnesses are typically required under most state laws to identify a signer who has no acceptable ID?
- One witness personally known to both the signer and the notary
- Either one witness personally known to the notary, or two witnesses who identify themselves with acceptable ID (Correct answer)
- Three witnesses each presenting government-issued ID
- No witnesses — the notary's personal assessment alone is sufficient
Correct answer: Either one witness personally known to the notary, or two witnesses who identify themselves with acceptable ID
Most states allow either one credible witness personally known to the notary, or two credible witnesses who present their own acceptable identification.
Notary Public Notary Public Signature & Identity Verification 1
Which document is generally considered the most reliable primary identification for a notarization?