Identifying the Signer

The first and most important duty of a notary is to confirm that the signer is who they claim to be.

Acceptable forms of identification:

• U.S. passport
• State-issued driver's license
• State ID card
• Military ID

The ID must be:

• Valid and current — not expired
• Government-issued — with a photo and signature
• A match — the photo and details must clearly match the person present

Never accept: photocopies of an ID, expired IDs, or any ID that does not clearly match the signer in front of you.