AR Notary Identification and Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Arkansas law, which of the following is generally acceptable as satisfactory evidence of a signer's identity?
- A current, unexpired government-issued ID with photo, signature, and physical description (Correct answer)
- A business card with the signer's name and title
- A utility bill showing the signer's name and address
- A social media profile matching the signer's name
Correct answer: A current, unexpired government-issued ID with photo, signature, and physical description
Satisfactory evidence requires a current government-issued identification document bearing a photograph, signature, and physical description.
Question 2: A signer presents an Arkansas driver's license that expired two years ago. What should the notary do?
- Refuse to rely on it and request a current, valid form of identification (Correct answer)
- Accept it because the photo still resembles the signer
- Accept it if the signer also shows a credit card
- Notarize anyway and note the expiration in the certificate
Correct answer: Refuse to rely on it and request a current, valid form of identification
An expired identification document is not acceptable, so the notary must ask for a current, valid ID.
Question 3: Which method of identification relies on a third party who knows the signer and is known to the notary?
- Identification by a credible witness (Correct answer)
- Personal knowledge of the signer
- Verification by document comparison
- Biometric authentication
Correct answer: Identification by a credible witness
A credible witness is a person known to the notary who swears to the identity of a signer lacking acceptable ID.
Question 4: What does "personal knowledge" of a signer's identity mean for an Arkansas notary?
- Familiarity with the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity (Correct answer)
- Having met the person once at a public event
- Recognizing the person from a photograph online
- Knowing the person's name from mutual friends
Correct answer: Familiarity with the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity
Personal knowledge means familiarity arising from repeated dealings that gives the notary reasonable certainty the person is who they claim to be.
Question 5: A signer's name on the document reads "Jonathan A. Smith," but his ID reads "John Smith." What is the notary's best course of action?
- Ask for additional identification or evidence linking the signer to the name on the document (Correct answer)
- Refuse service permanently
- Cross out the document name and write the ID name
- Notarize without concern since the surnames match
Correct answer: Ask for additional identification or evidence linking the signer to the name on the document
When names differ, the notary should seek supplemental evidence reasonably establishing the signer is the person named in the document.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable form of identification for notarization in Arkansas?
- A laminated employee badge issued by a private company (Correct answer)
- A current U.S. passport
- A current state-issued driver's license
- A current U.S. military ID card
Correct answer: A laminated employee badge issued by a private company
Private employer badges are not government-issued and therefore do not qualify as satisfactory evidence of identity.
Question 7: Why must a notary verify identity before every notarization rather than relying on the document itself?
- Because the notary's core duty is preventing fraud by confirming the signer is who they claim to be (Correct answer)
- Because documents are usually forged
- Because state law requires photocopying all IDs
- Because verification speeds up the notarization process
Correct answer: Because the notary's core duty is preventing fraud by confirming the signer is who they claim to be
Identity verification is the notary's fundamental safeguard against fraud and impersonation.
AR Notary Identification and Verification 2
Under Arkansas law, which of the following is generally acceptable as satisfactory evidence of a signer's identity?