NM Notary Identification and Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under New Mexico's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), an expired driver's license may still be used as identification if it expired no more than how long ago?
- Three years (Correct answer)
- One year
- Six months
- Five years
Correct answer: Three years
RULONA allows a government-issued ID that is current or expired not more than three years before the notarial act.
Question 2: A signer presents a foreign passport as identification for an acknowledgment in New Mexico. What is required for the notary to accept it?
- It must be a passport issued by a foreign government and be current or expired no more than three years (Correct answer)
- It must be stamped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- It must be accompanied by a U.S. visa
- Foreign passports can never be accepted
Correct answer: It must be a passport issued by a foreign government and be current or expired no more than three years
A passport issued by a foreign government is acceptable if current or expired no more than three years, without requiring a visa or entry stamp.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT one of the three ways a New Mexico notary may identify a signer?
- Accepting the signer's sworn statement about their own identity (Correct answer)
- Personal knowledge of the individual
- Satisfactory evidence via an acceptable identification document
- Verification on oath of a credible witness
Correct answer: Accepting the signer's sworn statement about their own identity
A signer cannot self-certify identity; identification requires personal knowledge, an acceptable ID document, or a credible witness.
Question 4: To identify a signer through 'personal knowledge,' the New Mexico notary must:
- Know the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity (Correct answer)
- Have met the individual at least once before
- Be related to the individual by blood or marriage
- Have seen the individual's photo ID at some point in the past
Correct answer: Know the individual through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity
Personal knowledge means familiarity through dealings sufficient to give the notary reasonable certainty the person has the claimed identity.
Question 5: A credible witness is being used to identify a signer. Which statement about the credible witness is correct?
- The witness must take an oath or affirmation before verifying the signer's identity (Correct answer)
- The witness may simply sign the journal without swearing
- The witness must be an attorney or law enforcement officer
- The witness must present two forms of ID
Correct answer: The witness must take an oath or affirmation before verifying the signer's identity
The credible witness must make the identity verification under oath or affirmation administered by the notary.
Question 6: Which document generally qualifies as satisfactory evidence of identity under New Mexico law?
- A U.S. military identification card (Correct answer)
- A private gym membership card with a photo
- A business card with a photo
- A birth certificate
Correct answer: A U.S. military identification card
A U.S. military ID is government-issued and contains the required signature or photograph, unlike private cards or a birth certificate.
Question 7: A signer's driver's license photo looks noticeably different from the person standing before the notary, and the notary is unsure it is the same person. What should the notary do?
- Refuse to proceed unless identity can be established another lawful way (Correct answer)
- Proceed since the license is unexpired
- Ask the signer to explain the difference and proceed
- Photocopy the license and proceed
Correct answer: Refuse to proceed unless identity can be established another lawful way
A notary may refuse to act if not satisfied the individual is who they claim to be, so identity must be established by another lawful method first.
NM Notary Identification and Verification 2
Under New Mexico's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), an expired driver's license may still be used as identification if it expired no more than how long ago?