All document signers must present one of the following government issued forms of identification listed below. The ID must be current or issued within 5 years.
- ID card or driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles or by another state.
- Canadian or Mexican driver's license issued by a public agency authorized to issue driver's licenses.
A driver's license issued from a country other than Canada or Mexico cannot be accepted.
- United States passport
- Passport issued by a foreign government, provided it has been stamped by the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service or U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services.
- U.S. Military ID card containing the following required information: photograph, description of the
person, signature of the person and identifying number. Some military ID's do not have all the required information.
- An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections, if the inmate is in custody. ID wristbands are not acceptable.
The following items cannot be accepted as a form of identification:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage license
- Business license or other career license
- Work ID badge
- School ID card
- Medical or dental card
- Social Security card
- Credit/debit card
- Club card such as Costco or Sam's Club
- Membership/discount card such as Blockbuster or grocery stores
- Gym membership card
- Auto club card
- Check cashing card
If the document signer does not have a form of ID listed above, they can use two credible witnesses - two people, age 18 or older, who know the signer and each present an accepted form of ID listed above. They will attest to the identity of the signer, take a verbal oath to such and will sign the Notary's journal. The credible witnesses cannot be named in the document, nor can they have a financial interest in the document. This includes direct beneficiaries and heirs.
A Notary Public cannot provide assistance in the preparation or completion of forms or letters and cannot give legal advice. Consult an attorney or trusted advisor with questions about any document.
Back
|