CT Notary Signer Identification Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A woman presents an ID in her maiden name, but the document to be notarized uses her married name. The best practice for the Connecticut notary is to:
- Notarize because the photo matches
- Require additional proof linking both names before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Cross out the married name on the document
- Notarize using only the maiden name in the certificate
Correct answer: Require additional proof linking both names before proceeding
When the ID name and document name differ, the notary should require supporting evidence connecting the two names.
Question 2: Which foreign document is most widely acceptable as identification for notarization?
- A foreign library card
- A current foreign passport with photograph and signature (Correct answer)
- A foreign birth certificate
- A handwritten foreign affidavit
Correct answer: A current foreign passport with photograph and signature
A current foreign passport contains a photograph and signature and is issued by a government, making it reliable identification.
Question 3: A signer's brother offers to vouch for the signer's identity, but the notary has never met the brother. May the brother serve as a credible witness?
- Yes, family members are automatically credible
- No, because the witness is not personally known to the notary (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the brother shows his own ID and swears an oath
- No, because relatives can never be witnesses in Connecticut
Correct answer: No, because the witness is not personally known to the notary
A credible witness must be personally known to the notary, so a stranger cannot serve regardless of the relationship to the signer.
Question 4: When examining an ID card, which feature is LEAST important for verifying the person standing before the notary?
- The photograph
- The physical description
- The signature
- The card's issue date font style (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The card's issue date font style
Photograph, description, and signature directly confirm identity, while font styling of the issue date does not identify the person.
Question 5: A regular client the notary has notarized for twice before arrives without ID. The notary knows her only from those two brief visits. The notary should:
- Rely on personal knowledge and proceed
- Require ID or a credible witness because casual acquaintance is not personal knowledge (Correct answer)
- Proceed if she can recite her address
- Proceed but charge a higher fee
Correct answer: Require ID or a credible witness because casual acquaintance is not personal knowledge
Personal knowledge requires familiarity over time sufficient to eliminate reasonable doubt, which brief business encounters do not establish.
Question 6: Why should a Connecticut notary compare the signature on the document with the signature on the presented ID?
- It is required to calculate the fee
- It helps confirm the ID belongs to the person signing (Correct answer)
- It determines the document's legal validity
- It replaces the need to check the photo
Correct answer: It helps confirm the ID belongs to the person signing
Comparing signatures is an additional check that the ID actually belongs to the person appearing before the notary.
Question 7: A signer presents a laminated photocopy of a passport page. The notary should:
- Accept it since passports are strong ID
- Reject it because copies of identification documents are not acceptable (Correct answer)
- Accept it if the copy is in color
- Accept it with a credible witness's silent approval
Correct answer: Reject it because copies of identification documents are not acceptable
Only original, current identification documents are acceptable; photocopies can be easily altered.
CT Notary Signer Identification Methods 3
A woman presents an ID in her maiden name, but the document to be notarized uses her married name.
The best practice for the Connecticut notary is to: