AK Notary Document and Identification Verification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Two credible identifying witnesses are used to identify a signer who has no acceptable ID. What must each credible witness provide to the notary?
- Their own satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)
- A written sworn statement mailed to the Secretary of State
- A personal guarantee of financial liability if fraud occurs
- Only a verbal confirmation of their personal relationship with the signer
Correct answer: Their own satisfactory evidence of identity
Each credible witness must themselves present satisfactory evidence of their own identity to the notary before vouching for the signer.
Question 2: An Alaska notary receives a document for notarization that appears to have been altered — some text looks erased and rewritten. What is the proper action?
- Proceed with notarization and note the alteration in the journal
- Refuse to notarize the document and advise the signer to have a new document prepared (Correct answer)
- Notarize only the unaltered portions of the document
- Ask the signer to initial next to all alterations and then notarize
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize the document and advise the signer to have a new document prepared
A notary should refuse to notarize a document that shows signs of tampering or alteration, as it may be fraudulent.
Question 3: What is the minimum age for a person to serve as a credible identifying witness for an Alaska notarization?
- 16 years old
- 18 years old (Correct answer)
- 21 years old
- There is no minimum age specified
Correct answer: 18 years old
Credible witnesses must be adults, meaning at least 18 years of age, and must personally know the signer.
Question 4: A notary suspects the identification card presented is counterfeit. The signer insists it is genuine. What should the notary do?
- Notarize and document the suspicion in the journal
- Call local law enforcement and detain the signer until they arrive
- Refuse to notarize and, at their discretion, may alert authorities (Correct answer)
- Accept the ID if the signer signs an affidavit of authenticity
Correct answer: Refuse to notarize and, at their discretion, may alert authorities
A notary should decline to notarize when they have reasonable suspicion the ID is fraudulent and may, but are not required to, report the incident to authorities.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'satisfactory evidence of identity' standard in Alaska notarial law?
- Any document bearing the signer's name
- An ID issued by a federal or state government agency that contains a photo, physical description, signature, and is current (Correct answer)
- A utility bill with the signer's current address
- A bank statement with the signer's name and account number
Correct answer: An ID issued by a federal or state government agency that contains a photo, physical description, signature, and is current
Satisfactory evidence requires a government-issued photo ID with physical description, signature, and a current expiration date.
Question 6: A signer wants a notary to notarize a document but refuses to show identification, claiming it is unnecessary because the notary has met them before at a community event. How should the notary respond?
- Notarize if the notary has a reasonable belief they know the person
- Require satisfactory evidence of identity or credible witnesses unless the notary has genuine personal knowledge of the signer (Correct answer)
- Decline entirely since meeting at a community event is insufficient personal knowledge
- Notarize and note in the journal that the signer refused to show ID
Correct answer: Require satisfactory evidence of identity or credible witnesses unless the notary has genuine personal knowledge of the signer
Casual acquaintance from a community event may not meet the 'personal knowledge' standard; the notary must exercise judgment and may require formal ID if personal knowledge is insufficient.
Question 7: A signer presents a valid foreign passport as their only form of identification. May an Alaska notary accept this as satisfactory evidence of identity?
- No, only U.S.-issued documents are acceptable in Alaska
- Yes, a current foreign passport is generally acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)
- Yes, but only if accompanied by a U.S. visa
- No, foreign passports must first be verified by the U.S. State Department
Correct answer: Yes, a current foreign passport is generally acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity
A current foreign passport that contains a photo, physical description, and signature meets the requirements for satisfactory evidence of identity.
AK Notary Document and Identification Verification 3
Two credible identifying witnesses are used to identify a signer who has no acceptable ID.
What must each credible witness provide to the notary?