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. So, what forms of identification can be used for primary identification? Under Michigan Notary Public Act 238 of 2003, MCL 55,285, Section 25(6)(c) ”Identified on the basis of a current license, ID card, or record issued by a federal or state government that includes the person`s photo and signature.” [2] In simple terms, you can use the following forms of identification: driver`s license, ID card, passport, U.S. alien registration card. In some cases, I have seen the acceptance of a military ID card on the US Patriot Act. The main purpose of primary identification is to have a photo of the signer and their signature. 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. 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. What happens if you don`t have acceptable IDENTIFICATION? A document signer can bring two credible witnesses unknown to the notary, or one credible witness if the notary knows them. Witnesses must present the notary with a valid piece of identification, know the signatory of the deed and have no interest in the document being signed. But it is not always easy to have 2 witnesses. It is best to have valid identification available at all times.

I recently encountered a situation where the signer presented his professional identity card and birth certificate and was told by the securities company that these documents would be sufficient for proper identification. To the dismay of the securities company, I could not and would not accept these two documents as the primary form of identification. Secondary, yes, but not primary. This task was eventually entrusted to another notary who was willing to exhibit the statues of the state of Michigan and the oath they took.” to uphold the Constitution and to perform your duties with due diligence.” [1] But assertiveness can require extreme tact and professionalism when dealing with 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, e.B. 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. One of the main functions of a notary is to identify a person who signs a document. In all States, there are clear guidelines on how this identification can be confirmed. A notary should carefully examine the ID for signs such as wear, scratches, obvious deletions, traces of liquid correction fluid, and raised edges on the card. If the date of issue is old but the card looks new, the ID card may be fraudulent. The main task of a notary is to verify the identity of each signatory on a document. This is done to protect against fraudulent acts that could otherwise invalidate the notarized document. The notary usually asks each signatory to present an identity document that confirms their identity. If the client does not provide an acceptable form of identification, the notary is legally obliged to refuse the service. So, what is considered an ”acceptable” form of identification when using the services of a notary? Here are the only acceptable identification documents that a California notary can use: California driver`s license or non-driver`s license issued by the DMV CA, U.S.

passport book or card, foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, driver`s license or non-driver`s license issued by another U.S. state, driver`s license issued by Mexico or Canada, Employee card, issued by an agency in the state of California or a city or within the state, a U.S. military ID card (but not a CAC card), an inmate ID card issued by the CALIFORNIA Department of Corrections (if the person is in custody), and a U.S. ID issued by THE USCIS. A notary cannot use a copy of a driver`s license to confirm the identity of a signer in order to notarize a document. A copy of a driver`s license is not the original driver`s license issued by the state. Therefore, such a copy is not sufficient to meet the ”state or federal government issued” identification standard. The identification required for notarial services is the same for all 50 states, which allows the use of driver`s licenses, state id cards, etc., but prohibits the use of school ID cards, birth certificates, and similar forms of identification.

Clients using notarized services must bring at least one accepted piece of identification. 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. 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. 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. If you need to have a notarized document, the process is quite simple and easy to navigate. There are a few different things you need to bring with you in order for your document to be notarized, and these elements vary slightly depending on what the document is. If you need notarization services for official documents or other services, be sure to call a certified notary like Sidhu & Associates` to gather the information you need on your specific request and make an appointment. A government-issued ID is almost always required every time you visit a notary. You need to check if you are who you claim to be. Most people use their driver`s license or passport, but other government ID cards work as long as they include a photo of you, your name, the issuing authority, and a description of yourself.

The verification and verification of the identity of the signatory is a crucial step in the realization of a notarized service. Some people may consider it a nuisance, but it`s done to protect themselves from scams. So the next time you need a notarized document, don`t forget to bring one of the accepted forms of identity mentioned above. 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. .