Important information
ID Requirements for Proper Notarizations
In order for me to successfully notarize your documents, it is required to have one of the following forms of ID as Satisfactory Evidence of Identity Pursuant to the Arizona Secretary of State:
1. PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL BY THE NOTARY
Requirements: A notary can use personal knowledge of the signer if the notary has known the individual for a sufficient length of time and the notary is assured that the signer has the identity claimed. In such instances, the notary does not need to request other forms of identification from the individual.
2. DRIVER LICENSE OR NONOPERATING IDENTIFICATION LICENSE
Requirements: Unexpired
Issued by: A state or territory of the United States.
3. U.S. PASSPORT
Requirements: Unexpired.
Issued by: The United States Department of State
4. ARMED FORCES IDENTIFICATION CARD
Requirements: Unexpired
Issued by: Any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
5. INMATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OR ANY FORM OF INMATE IDENTIFICATION
Requirements: Inmate must be in custody of State Department of Corrections or County Sheriff’s Dept. Issued by: Arizona Department of Corrections or County Sheriff’s Department
6. OTHER GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Requirements: Unexpired; contains the customer’s photograph, signature and physical description
including: height, weight, eye color, and hair color.
Issued by: The United States government; a state or U.S. territory, or tribal government.
7. CREDIBLE PERSON
If a notary does not know the signer personally and the signer does not have valid ID the notary can use a credible person to identify the signer.
A credible person must be someone who knows the signer personally. Some state’s refer to a credible person as a credible witness [A.R.S. § 41-311(11)(A)(vii) and (viii)].
There are two types of credible persons:
1. The first is someone whom the notary knows and who knows the signer. Satisfactory evidence of identity of the credible person in this case is personal knowledge. The credible person is then placed under oath to swear or affirm that the signer has the identity claimed.
2. The second is someone whom the notary does not know personally but who personally knows the signer. The credible person must present the notary with an ID card that meets the requirements listed on page 18.
RECORD THE TRANSACTION: The notary must list in the journal the type of satisfactory evidence of identity used for the credible person, and obtain the credible person’s full name, signature and address, as well as all necessary journal elements for the signer
Note that in both cases the credible person must always know the signer.
Credible Person Documentation
RECORD THE TRANSACTION: If a notary public uses a credible person as satisfactory evidence of identity the credible person must:
Be placed under oath to affirm that the signer has the identity claimed.
AND
Sign the notary public’s journal
The signer must also:
Sign the notary public’s journal
I do not give out legal advice.
