IA Notary - Iowa Notary Identifying Signers Questions and Answers

Question 1

An Iowa notary is asked to notarize a document for a signer who presents a driver's license that expired two years ago. According to Iowa law, which of the following is the most appropriate action for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

Accept the ID as valid proof of identity and proceed with the notarization.

Answer

Iowa Code Section 9B.7 specifies that a driver's license or government-issued nondriver identification card is acceptable if it is current or expired not more than three years before the notarial act. Since the license expired only two years ago, it is still a valid form of identification for notarization purposes.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a method for an Iowa notary public to identify a signer?

Accepted Answer

Viewing a photocopy of the signer's U.S. Passport.

Answer

An Iowa notary must identify a signer through personal knowledge, satisfactory evidence of an original identification document, or a credible witness. A photocopy of an ID is not acceptable; the notary must inspect the original document. The other options are all legally permitted methods of identification in Iowa.

Question 3

A person appears before an Iowa notary with a document to be signed. The notary does not know the person, and the signer does not have an acceptable form of identification. The signer's friend, who is present, offers to vouch for the signer's identity. What condition must be met for the notary to use the friend as a credible witness?

Accepted Answer

The notary must personally know the credible witness or identify them through an acceptable ID.

Answer

According to Iowa law (Code Section 9B.7), a notary can rely on a credible witness if the witness personally appears and is either personally known to the notary or is identified by the notary on the basis of a passport, driver's license, or other government-issued ID.

Question 4

Under Iowa law, 'personal knowledge' for identifying a signer is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Knowing the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of their identity.

Answer

Iowa Code Section 9B.7(1) defines personal knowledge as knowing the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the identity claimed. A brief or casual acquaintance is not sufficient.

Question 5

A signer presents a valid, unexpired U.S. military ID card to an Iowa notary. The card has a photograph of the signer but no physical description or signature. What should the notary do?

Accepted Answer

Accept the ID because it is a current government-issued card with a photograph.

Answer

Iowa law allows for a government identification issued to an individual that is current, contains the signature OR a photograph of the individual, and is satisfactory to the notarial officer. Since the military ID is government-issued and has a photograph, it is an acceptable form of identification.

IA Notary - Iowa Notary Exam Practice Test

IA Notary - Iowa Notary Exam Practice Test

IA Notary - Iowa Notary Identifying Signers Questions and Answers