Proper Signer Identification Flashcards

A signer appears before a Kansas notary with a Kansas driver's license that expired two years ago. According to Kansas law, what is the appropriate action for the notary to take?

Answer: Accept the ID as it is not expired by more than three years.

Kansas law (K.S.A. 53-5a07) permits a notary to accept a government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license, that is expired, provided it has not been expired for more than three years prior to the notarial act.

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method for a Kansas notary to verify the identity of a signer?

Answer: Accepting a sworn statement from a credible witness known to the signer but not the notary.

A credible witness must be personally known to the notary, or the notary must be able to identify the witness through a passport, driver's license, or other government-issued ID. A witness only known to the signer is not sufficient.

A man requires a notarization but has recently lost his wallet and has no identification. He is a regular customer at the bank where you are a notary, and you have assisted him with transactions for several years. How should you proceed?

Answer: Identify him based on your personal knowledge.

Kansas statute K.S.A. 53-5a07(a) allows a notarial officer to identify an individual based on personal knowledge, defined as being personally known through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty that the individual has the identity claimed.

When identifying a signer using a credible witness, what is a key requirement for the witness according to Kansas notary law?

Answer: The witness must be personally known to the notary or be identifiable through satisfactory evidence.

According to K.S.A. 53-5a07, a credible witness must personally appear before the notary and either be known to the notary or be identified by the notary on the basis of a passport, driver's license, or other qualifying government-issued ID.

A Kansas notary is presented with a valid, unexpired Canadian driver's license as proof of identity. What should the notary do?

Answer: Reject it because it is not issued by a U.S. government entity.

Kansas law specifies acceptable identification as a passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver identification card. While not explicitly prohibiting foreign licenses, the Kansas Secretary of State's guidance generally points to U.S.-issued government IDs. The safest and most compliant course of action is to rely on the specifically mentioned forms of U.S. or state government-issued ID.

Under Kansas law, what constitutes 'satisfactory evidence' of a signer's identity?

Answer: A government-issued identification card that contains a signature and photograph.

Kansas law defines satisfactory evidence as a passport, driver's license, or government-issued nondriver ID card, or another form of government identification that contains the signature and a photograph of the person and is satisfactory to the notary.