Proper Signer Identification Flashcards

A signer becomes angry and pressures the notary to skip the ID check because 'everyone in town knows me.' The notary does not know the signer. What should the notary do?

Answer: Politely insist on satisfactory evidence of identity before proceeding

Reputation in the community is not personal knowledge by the notary, so satisfactory identification is still required.

A U.S. passport card (not the passport book) is presented as identification. How should the Nevada notary treat it?

Answer: Accept it, since a current passport issued by the U.S. government is acceptable identification

Current U.S. passport credentials are government-issued photo identification acceptable for notarization.

Twin siblings arrive, and one attempts to sign using the other's ID as a prank. The notary is suspicious the presenter is not the person on the ID. What is the correct action?

Answer: Refuse the notarization until the notary is genuinely satisfied of the presenter's identity

The notary must refuse whenever there is reasonable doubt that the person appearing is the person named in the identification and document.

Which statement about using two credible witnesses who do not know the notary is most accurate for identification practice?

Answer: Witnesses unknown to the notary must themselves present satisfactory identification before their oaths can be relied upon

A credible witness not personally known to the notary must be identified through satisfactory documentary evidence before the witness's oath can establish the signer's identity.

A signer's ID shows a former legal name, and she explains she recently married and the document uses her new married name. What is the prudent approach?

Answer: Require identification or lawful proof reasonably connecting her to the name on the document before notarizing

The notary must be satisfied the signer is the person named in the document, which may require updated ID or acceptable supporting evidence linking the names.

What is the primary purpose of the signer identification requirement in notarial law?

Answer: To prevent fraud by ensuring the person signing is truly the person named in the document

Identification requirements exist to deter and detect impostors, protecting the integrity of documents and the public.

A signer presents an ID that appears altered, with the lamination peeling around the birth date. What should the Nevada notary do?

Answer: Decline to accept the ID and refuse to notarize unless another lawful method of identification is available

An apparently altered or tampered document is not reliable evidence of identity, so the notary should refuse it and seek a lawful alternative.