Identification Requirements – What to Bring ?
As required by law, a notary public must certify to the identity of the signer of a document for notarization.
(Civil Code sections 1185(a), 1189, Government Code section 8202)
Acceptable documentation of identity must be current or have been issued within the last five (5) years.
All identification cards must contain a photo, physical description, signature and serial number.
Please have one of the following legally acceptable documents readily available at the time of your signing:
• California Driver License or Commercial Driver License
• ID Card – Senior Identification Card, Under 18 Identification Card, California Identification Card
• Driver’s license or I.D. card issued by an American state other than California
• Driver’s license issued by an authorized Canadian or Mexican public agency
• A US passport
• Foreign Passport stamped by the United States Citizen & Immigration Service (USCIS)
• Identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States
• An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or by any agency or office of a city or county in this state
These documents are not acceptable forms of identification:
• International Driver’s License
• Social Security Cards
• Credit Cards
‘Credible Witness’ as an Althernative Identification:
If the signer does not possess any of the legally acceptable documents for identification, he may provide two (2) credible witnesses who can attest to his identity and who also can prove their identity to the notary with documentation.
Credible Witnesses:
• may not be named within the signing document, or
• may not bear financial interest in the signing document.
What do we NOT notarize ?
• Incomplete documents
• Copies of Birth, Death or Marriage records. (We are allowed to notarize Affidavit of Birth, Marriage, Death).
• Documents signed outside of our presence.
