Document and Identification Verification Flashcards

An Alaska notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in Spanish. What should the notary do?

Answer: Notarize the document even without understanding its content, since the notary's role is to identify the signer not review the document

A notary's duty is to verify the identity of the signer and witness the signing, not to understand or approve the document's content, so a foreign-language document may be notarized.

Which of the following documents is generally NOT acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity for a notarization in Alaska?

Answer: A Social Security card

A Social Security card does not contain a photograph or physical description and is therefore not acceptable as a primary identity document for notarization purposes.

A signer presents an Alaska driver's license that expired six months ago. What is the correct course of action for the notary?

Answer: Reject it and request a current, valid government-issued ID

Alaska notaries must require current, valid identification; an expired license does not constitute satisfactory evidence of identity.

A notary is presented with a document that has blank spaces within the body of the text before being signed. What should the notary do?

Answer: Refuse to notarize until all blanks are filled in or crossed out

Notarizing a document with blank spaces leaves it open to fraudulent alteration; the notary should refuse until blanks are properly completed or voided.

When verifying a tribal ID card for notarization in Alaska, a notary should ensure the ID contains which essential elements?

Answer: A photo, physical description or biometric data, and a signature

A tribal ID is acceptable if it contains a photograph, a signature, and a physical description or biometric data sufficient to identify the bearer.

A notary's journal entry for a notarization should include which of the following pieces of information about the identification presented?

Answer: The type of ID, the issuing agency, the ID number, and expiration date

Recording the type, issuer, number, and expiration of the ID in the journal creates a verifiable audit trail of how identity was established.

If a signer is personally known to the notary, what must the notary still do before proceeding with the notarization?

Answer: Confirm the signer's identity through personal knowledge and record this in the journal

Personal knowledge is a valid basis for identification in Alaska, but the notary must still document it properly in the notarial journal.