A Notary will ask for identification documents issued by a state or federal government that contain a photograph, a physical description and the bearer’s signature. These elements provide a basis for comparison with the actual physical appearance and signature of the person requesting the notarization.
Acceptable Forms of Identification for Notary Services
- State-issued driver’s license
State-issued identification card
U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State
U.S. military ID
State, county and local government IDs
Permanent resident card, or “green card,” issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Foreign passport
Driver’s license officially issued in Mexico or Canada
Inmate ID issued by the State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, if the inmate is in state or federal custody
·
What if the signer does not have identification?
In situations where a signer does not have an acceptable ID a credible witness may be used as a means of identification.
The signers identification may be verified through the oath or affirmation of a credible witness who personally appears before the officer and is known to the officer or whom the officer can identify on the basis of a passport, driver’s license, or government-issued nondriver identification card that is current.
What types of ID’s are not acceptable?
Generally speaking, Social Security cards, birth or marriage certificates, credit cards, school IDs, library cards and temporary driver’s licenses are not acceptable forms of ID for notarization purposes.