HI Notary - Hawaii Notary Identifying Signers Questions and Answers

Question 1

A signer appears before a Hawaii notary but has no acceptable identification. The signer is accompanied by a friend, whom the notary personally knows. To properly identify the signer through this credible witness, the notary must:

Accepted Answer

D. Administer an oath or affirmation to the credible witness, who then vouches for the signer's identity.

Answer

According to Hawaii law, a notary can identify a signer through a credible witness who is personally known to the notary. The core requirement for this process is that the credible witness must swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the person appearing is the individual they claim to be.

Question 2

A visitor from Japan needs a document notarized in Hawaii. Which of the following forms of identification would be considered "satisfactory evidence" of identity for the notary to accept?

Accepted Answer

A. A valid, unexpired passport issued by the Japanese government.

Answer

Hawaii law permits notaries to accept a current identification card or document issued by a national government that contains the bearer's photograph and signature. A valid foreign passport meets these criteria.

Question 3

Under Hawaii Revised Statutes, the method of identifying a signer as being "personally known" to the notary requires:

Accepted Answer

C. An acquaintance derived from association sufficient to establish identity with reasonable certainty.

Answer

Hawaii law defines "personally knowing" as having an acquaintance, derived from association with the individual, which establishes the individual's identity with at least a reasonable certainty. This implies a higher standard than a single meeting, public recognition, or a third-party referral.

Question 4

A signer presents a valid State of Hawaii driver's license as identification. The physical description on the license is accurate, but the signature on the ID looks noticeably different from the signature the person provides on the document. What is the most appropriate action for the notary to take?

Accepted Answer

B. Refuse to notarize the document due to the discrepancy.

Answer

A notary's primary duty is to prevent fraud by confirming the identity of the signer. A significant discrepancy between the signature on the identification and the one being provided raises a red flag. The notary cannot be certain of the signer's identity and should therefore refuse to proceed until the identity can be satisfactorily proven.

Question 5

When a Hawaii notary identifies a signer using an identification document, which of the following is NOT a required characteristic of that document?

Accepted Answer

C. It must contain a serial or identification number.

Answer

Hawaii law requires that acceptable identification documents must be current, be issued by the United States, a state, or a national government, and contain both the bearer's photograph and signature. While most government-issued IDs have a serial number, it is not a specifically mandated element for notarial identification purposes.

(HI Notary) Hawaii Notary Exam Practice Test

(HI Notary) Hawaii Notary Exam Practice Test

HI Notary - Hawaii Notary Identifying Signers Questions and Answers