GA Notary - Georgia Notary Verifying Signer Identity Questions and Answers

Question 1

A signer appears before a Georgia notary, but they do not have an acceptable form of identification.
The notary has known the signer for over ten years through a local community organization.
Under Georgia law, how may the notary proceed?

Accepted Answer

Proceed with the notarization based on personal knowledge of the signer's identity.

Answer

Refuse to notarize the document until the signer presents a valid government-issued photo ID.

Answer

Allow the signer's spouse to vouch for their identity.

Answer

Accept a signed affidavit from the signer attesting to their own identity.

Question 2

Which of the following is an unacceptable document for verifying a signer's identity for a notarial act in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

A student ID card from a private university.

Answer

A valid Georgia driver's license.

Answer

A U.S. military identification card.

Answer

A Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Question 3

A Georgia notary is asked to notarize a document for an individual they have never met. The signer presents a valid, unexpired passport from the United Kingdom. According to Georgia law, what should the notary do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse the notarization because a foreign passport is not explicitly listed as acceptable.

Answer

Accept the passport as it is a valid government-issued photo ID.

Answer

Proceed with the notarization but make a note in the journal about the foreign ID.

Answer

Ask the signer to provide a secondary form of identification, such as a credit card.

Question 4

Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-17-8), a notary must confirm the identity of a document signer. Which of the following methods replaced the vague 'satisfactory evidence' standard?

Accepted Answer

Verification of a government-issued photo identification document.

Answer

Verification through two credible witnesses.

Answer

Confirmation via a live video conference.

Answer

Acceptance of a sworn statement from the signer.

Question 5

A man requires a document notarized for a real estate transaction. He presents an expired Georgia driver's license to the notary. The picture is clearly him, and all information is legible. What is the appropriate action for the Georgia notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Reject the expired license and request a current, valid form of identification.

Answer

Accept the license since the photo is a clear match.

Answer

Ask for a second, non-photo ID to supplement the expired license.

Answer

Proceed, but only if the signer is also personally known to the notary.

Question 6

When must a Georgia notary primarily rely on verifying a government-issued photo ID for identification?

Accepted Answer

When the notary does not have personal knowledge of the signer's identity.

Answer

Only when the signer is acting as a 'self-filer' in a real estate transaction.

Answer

For every notarial act, without exception.

Answer

Only when the document is being sent out of state.

A signer appears before a Georgia notary, but they do not have an acceptable form of identification.The notary has known the signer for over ten years through a local community organization.Under Georgia law, how may the notary proceed?

A signer appears before a Georgia notary, but they do not have an acceptable form of identification.
The notary has known the signer for over ten years through a local community organization.
Under Georgia law, how may the notary proceed?