MS Notary Document and Identification Verification 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A document presented for notarization is written in a language the notary cannot read. What must the notary still be able to do?
- Communicate directly with the signer and complete a certificate the notary can read (Correct answer)
- Translate the document before notarizing
- Rely on a family member to explain the document
- Refuse all foreign-language documents by law
Correct answer: Communicate directly with the signer and complete a certificate the notary can read
A notary may notarize a foreign-language document if the notary can communicate directly with the signer and the notarial certificate itself is in a language the notary understands.
Question 2: During identity verification, the signer's ID photo looks significantly different from the person present. What should the notary do?
- Ask for additional identification or decline if identity cannot be reasonably established (Correct answer)
- Proceed since the name matches
- Have the signer sign twice to compensate
- Accept the ID if it is unexpired
Correct answer: Ask for additional identification or decline if identity cannot be reasonably established
If the notary cannot reasonably link the ID to the person present, the notary should seek further evidence or refuse the notarization.
Question 3: Which situation would justify a notary refusing to notarize a document?
- The signer cannot produce satisfactory evidence of identity (Correct answer)
- The document is more than ten pages long
- The signer is not a Mississippi resident
- The document was drafted by another attorney
Correct answer: The signer cannot produce satisfactory evidence of identity
A notary must refuse when the signer's identity cannot be satisfactorily established, while document length, residency, and drafting party are not grounds for refusal.
Question 4: A credible witness is being used to identify a signer. What should the notary require of the witness?
- An oath or affirmation that the witness personally knows the signer (Correct answer)
- A notarized letter from the witness's employer
- Payment of a witness fee
- A written biography of the signer
Correct answer: An oath or affirmation that the witness personally knows the signer
The credible witness must swear or affirm under oath that they personally know the signer to be the person named in the document.
Question 5: Which of the following IDs would be LEAST reliable for verifying a signer's identity?
- A laminated employee badge from a private company (Correct answer)
- A current state-issued driver's license
- An unexpired U.S. passport
- A current U.S. military ID
Correct answer: A laminated employee badge from a private company
A private employer badge is not government-issued and lacks the security features and legal standing of official identification.
Question 6: A signer presents an ID with signs of tampering, such as a peeling laminate over the photo. What should the notary do?
- Decline to accept the ID and request alternative satisfactory evidence (Correct answer)
- Accept it if the name matches the document
- Repair the laminate and proceed
- Photocopy the ID and notarize anyway
Correct answer: Decline to accept the ID and request alternative satisfactory evidence
Evidence of tampering makes an ID unreliable, so the notary should request other acceptable identification or refuse to proceed.
Question 7: When verifying identity, the 'reasonable care' standard requires a notary to:
- Act as a reasonably prudent notary would in examining ID and the signer (Correct answer)
- Guarantee absolutely that no fraud can ever occur
- Hire a document examiner for each signing
- Run a background check on every signer
Correct answer: Act as a reasonably prudent notary would in examining ID and the signer
Notaries are held to the standard of reasonable care, meaning the diligence an ordinarily prudent notary would exercise, not absolute fraud prevention.
MS Notary Document and Identification Verification 3
A document presented for notarization is written in a language the notary cannot read.
What must the notary still be able to do?