AK Notary Document and Identification Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An Alaska notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in Spanish. What should the notary do?
- Refuse because Alaska only allows English documents
- Notarize the document even without understanding its content, since the notary's role is to identify the signer not review the document (Correct answer)
- Notarize only after translating the document themselves
- Refuse unless a certified translator is present to read the document aloud
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which of the following documents is generally NOT acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity for a notarization in Alaska?
- A current U.S. passport
- A valid Alaska driver's license
- A Social Security card (Correct answer)
- A U.S. military ID card
Correct 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.
Question 3: A signer presents an Alaska driver's license that expired six months ago. What is the correct course of action for the notary?
- Accept it because the photo and information are still accurate
- Reject it and request a current, valid government-issued ID (Correct answer)
- Accept it only if the signer provides a secondary document as well
- Accept it if the signer swears the information is still current
Correct 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.
Question 4: 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?
- Complete the blank spaces on behalf of the signer
- Notarize the document and note the blanks in the journal
- Refuse to notarize until all blanks are filled in or crossed out (Correct answer)
- Notarize only the pages that have no blank spaces
Correct 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.
Question 5: When verifying a tribal ID card for notarization in Alaska, a notary should ensure the ID contains which essential elements?
- A photo, physical description or biometric data, and a signature (Correct answer)
- Only a photo and tribal seal
- A photo, tribal seal, and the holder's Social Security number
- Only a signature and physical description
Correct 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.
Question 6: A notary's journal entry for a notarization should include which of the following pieces of information about the identification presented?
- The signer's credit score and address history
- The type of ID, the issuing agency, the ID number, and expiration date (Correct answer)
- Only the signer's name and the date of notarization
- The signer's date of birth and mother's maiden name
Correct 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.
Question 7: If a signer is personally known to the notary, what must the notary still do before proceeding with the notarization?
- Request government-issued ID as a backup even when personally knowing the signer
- Confirm the signer's identity through personal knowledge and record this in the journal (Correct answer)
- Obtain two credible witnesses to supplement personal knowledge
- Decline the notarization to avoid any conflict of interest
Correct 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.
AK Notary Document and Identification Verification 2
An Alaska notary is asked to notarize a document written entirely in Spanish.
What should the notary do?