MS Notary Signer Identification Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A signer presents a Mississippi driver's license with a photo that clearly does not resemble them. What should the notary do?
- Refuse to proceed until identity can be reasonably established (Correct answer)
- Accept it because the license is government-issued
- Ask the signer to explain and then proceed
- Notarize but keep a copy of the license
Correct answer: Refuse to proceed until identity can be reasonably established
A notary must be reasonably certain of identity and should refuse when the document does not appear to match the person.
Question 2: Which of the following would NOT qualify as satisfactory evidence of identity in Mississippi?
- A Costco membership card with a photo (Correct answer)
- An unexpired U.S. passport
- A current Mississippi driver's license
- A government-issued military ID with photograph
Correct answer: A Costco membership card with a photo
A private membership card is not a government-issued identification document and cannot serve as satisfactory evidence.
Question 3: Your neighbor of fifteen years asks you to notarize her signature but has no ID with her. As a Mississippi notary, may you proceed?
- Yes, personal knowledge from long acquaintance satisfies the identification requirement (Correct answer)
- No, a physical ID document is always mandatory
- Yes, but only if she returns with ID within 30 days
- No, neighbors are disqualified signers
Correct answer: Yes, personal knowledge from long acquaintance satisfies the identification requirement
Long-standing dealings that give reasonable certainty of identity qualify as personal knowledge, so no document is needed.
Question 4: A credible witness is best described as someone who is:
- Personally known to the notary or properly identified, and who knows the signer (Correct answer)
- Any adult who happens to be present at the signing
- A relative of the notary who trusts the signer
- An attorney who drafted the document
Correct answer: Personally known to the notary or properly identified, and who knows the signer
A credible witness must themselves be identifiable to the notary and have personal knowledge of the signer's identity.
Question 5: A signer offers a foreign passport as identification for a notarization in Mississippi. Is this generally acceptable?
- Yes, a passport issued by a foreign government can be acceptable identification (Correct answer)
- No, only U.S.-issued documents are permitted
- Yes, but only for real estate documents
- No, foreign nationals cannot have documents notarized
Correct answer: Yes, a passport issued by a foreign government can be acceptable identification
A passport, including one issued by a foreign government, can serve as an acceptable identity document under Mississippi's notary law.
Question 6: During a notarization, the person presenting an ID appears to be under duress and confused about the document. What should the Mississippi notary do?
- Decline to notarize, since willingness and awareness are required in addition to identity (Correct answer)
- Proceed because the ID is valid
- Have a family member sign instead
- Notarize but write 'under protest' on the certificate
Correct answer: Decline to notarize, since willingness and awareness are required in addition to identity
Even with valid identification, a notary should refuse if the signer does not appear to act willingly and knowingly.
Question 7: Which detail on an ID should a Mississippi notary compare against the document being notarized?
- The name on the ID matching the name signed on the document (Correct answer)
- The ID number matching the document's page count
- The issue date of the ID matching the document date
- The signer's height listed on the ID
Correct answer: The name on the ID matching the name signed on the document
The notary should confirm the name on the identification reasonably matches the name being signed and notarized.
MS Notary Signer Identification Methods 3
A signer presents a Mississippi driver's license with a photo that clearly does not resemble them.
What should the notary do?