MS Notary Signer Identification Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Mississippi's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which of the following is an acceptable way for a notary to identify a signer?
- Personal knowledge of the individual (Correct answer)
- A verbal statement of identity from the signer alone
- A business card with the signer's name
- A utility bill addressed to the signer
Correct answer: Personal knowledge of the individual
Mississippi law allows identification by personal knowledge, satisfactory evidence via an identity document, or verification by a credible witness.
Question 2: A signer presents a passport that expired two years ago. Under Mississippi law, may the notary accept it as identification?
- Yes, because a passport may be current or expired within the last three years (Correct answer)
- No, all identification must be currently valid
- Yes, but only if a credible witness also vouches for the signer
- No, passports are never acceptable for notarization
Correct answer: Yes, because a passport may be current or expired within the last three years
Mississippi permits a passport, driver's license, or government-issued ID that is current or expired no more than three years before the notarial act.
Question 3: What does 'personal knowledge' of a signer's identity mean for a Mississippi notary?
- The individual is known through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity (Correct answer)
- The notary has met the signer at least once before
- The notary recognizes the signer's name from public records
- A mutual friend introduced the signer to the notary
Correct answer: The individual is known through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity
Personal knowledge requires dealings sufficient to give the notary reasonable certainty that the individual has the claimed identity.
Question 4: Which characteristic must an identity document generally have to serve as satisfactory evidence for a Mississippi notary?
- It must contain the signature or photograph of the individual (Correct answer)
- It must be issued by the State of Mississippi only
- It must list the individual's home address
- It must be laminated and wallet-sized
Correct answer: It must contain the signature or photograph of the individual
An acceptable identity document must contain the individual's signature or photograph and be issued by a government authority.
Question 5: A credible witness verifying a signer's identity before a Mississippi notary must first do what?
- Take an oath or affirmation regarding the signer's identity (Correct answer)
- Pay a witness fee to the notary
- Present the signer's birth certificate
- Sign the document being notarized
Correct answer: Take an oath or affirmation regarding the signer's identity
A credible witness must verify the signer's identity under oath or affirmation administered by the notary.
Question 6: If a Mississippi notary is not fully satisfied with the identification presented, what may the notary do?
- Require additional information or credentials to assure identity (Correct answer)
- Notarize anyway and note the doubt in the certificate
- Ask the signer to sign an extra copy as proof
- Accept a photocopy of any document the signer offers
Correct answer: Require additional information or credentials to assure identity
Mississippi law allows a notary to require additional information or identification credentials needed to assure the signer's identity.
Question 7: Why is proper signer identification considered the core duty of a notary public?
- It protects against fraud and forgery by linking the signature to a verified person (Correct answer)
- It allows the notary to charge a higher fee
- It guarantees the document's contents are true
- It makes the document automatically recordable
Correct answer: It protects against fraud and forgery by linking the signature to a verified person
Verifying identity prevents impostors from executing documents, which is the primary anti-fraud purpose of notarization.
MS Notary Signer Identification Methods 2
Under Mississippi's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which of the following is an acceptable way for a notary to identify a signer?