Need Documents Notarized, But Don’t Have An ID?

If you are in need of a notarization, but you don’t have an acceptable form of ID; don’t worry, The Bay Area Notary has you covered!

In this brief article, The Bay Area Notary explains how a signer can still move forward with having their documents notarized despite not having any physical state or government issued ID through a process called: Identity Verification by Oath of Credible Witness(es).

Verifying the identity of document signers is undoubtedly the absolute most important part of the notarization process as a whole. In fact, a notary public’s sole role is to verify the identity of signers in an effort to deter fraudulence throughout the facilitation of business and other important matters. The most common way in which notary public’s verify the identity of the signers that appear before them, is by assessing the signer’s state or government issued ID. Although the vast majority of signers present the same forms of ID - state issued driver license or a government issued passport - there is actually a long list of acceptable forms of identification that singers may present to the notary public. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• State Issued Driver License

• A Nondriver’s ID

• Canadian or Mexican Drivers License

• U.S. Military ID

• A Valid Foreign Passport,

• An Employee ID (issued by an agency or office of a California city, county, or city and county)

• An ID Card issued by a Federally Recognized Tribal Government

• An Inmate Identification Card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation if the inmate is in prison or any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility

• A Valid Consular Identification Document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship that meets certain requirements

Although their are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to a signer proving their identity by providing some form of ID, a California notary public can also verify the identity of a signer who has absolutely no form of physical ID; it’s called Identity Verification by Oath of Credible Witness(es). If an individual is in need of a notarization, but they do not have any form of acceptable physical ID, the signer can arrange for a credible witness, or credible witnesses, to appear before the notary public and verify the signer’s identity. If the witness is known by the notary public, then only one witness is required; however, two credible witnesses are required if they are not known by the notary public. The witness(es) must be able to present some form of acceptable ID, and they must also carry out an oath before the notary public.

In conclusion, there are plenty of ways a notary public can verify the identity a signer. Whether it be a quick scan of their driver license , or confirming a signer’s ID via credible witnesses, all of which suffice.