RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Signer Identity Verification Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A signer appears before a Rhode Island notary but has recently lost their wallet and has no form of identification. The signer's old college roommate is with them and is willing to vouch for their identity. Under what condition may the notary use this person as a credible witness?
- The roommate must be personally known to the notary.
- The notary must identify the roommate using a current, acceptable form of ID, and the roommate must take an oath. (Correct answer)
- The roommate must sign an affidavit confirming the signer's identity.
- The roommate must have known the signer for at least five years.
Correct answer: The notary must identify the roommate using a current, acceptable form of ID, and the roommate must take an oath.
According to Rhode Island notary law, if a signer lacks acceptable ID, a credible witness can be used. The notary must properly identify the credible witness using an acceptable form of identification, and the witness must be placed under oath to swear to the signer's identity. The witness must also be personally known to the signer and be an unbiased third party.
Question 2: Which of the following is an acceptable form of identification for a notarial act in Rhode Island?
- A valid U.S. Passport Card.
- A student ID card from a Rhode Island university with a photo.
- A corporate ID badge with a photo and signature.
- A valid passport issued by a foreign government. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A valid passport issued by a foreign government.
Rhode Island law specifies several acceptable forms of ID, including a valid passport issued by a foreign government. Other acceptable forms include a driver's license or ID card from a U.S. state, Canada, or Mexico, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID. Student and corporate IDs are not on the approved list.
Question 3: A Rhode Island notary is asked to notarize a document for a long-time neighbor. The notary has known the neighbor for years and is certain of their identity. This method of identification is known as:
- Satisfactory Evidence
- Credible Witness Attestation
- Personal Knowledge (Correct answer)
- Familiar Acquaintance
Correct answer: Personal Knowledge
Rhode Island law allows a notary to identify a signer through "personal knowledge." This is defined as having familiarity with an individual from interactions over time sufficient to eliminate any reasonable doubt about the person's identity. Specifically, it means the notary has successfully identified them using an acceptable ID at some point in their relationship.
Question 4: When examining a signer's identification document, what is the maximum period it can be expired and still be considered acceptable by a Rhode Island notary?
- It cannot be expired.
- Not more than one year.
- Not more than three years. (Correct answer)
- Not more than five years.
Correct answer: Not more than three years.
The Rhode Island Notary Public Manual and state law specify that an acceptable form of identification must be current or have expired not more than three years before the notarial act.
Question 5: A person presents a Mexican driver's license (Licencia de Conducir) as identification for a notarization in Rhode Island. The license is current and contains a photo and signature. What should the notary do?
- Reject the ID as it is from a foreign country.
- Accept the ID as it is a valid form of identification. (Correct answer)
- Require a second form of ID to supplement the foreign license.
- Only accept it if the document being notarized is written in Spanish.
Correct answer: Accept the ID as it is a valid form of identification.
Rhode Island notary guidelines explicitly state that a driver's license issued by Mexico is an acceptable form of identification, provided it is current or not expired by more than three years.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a required step when using a credible witness to identify a signer in Rhode Island?
- The notary must identify the credible witness with satisfactory evidence.
- The credible witness must sign the notary's journal. (Correct answer)
- The credible witness must be placed under oath by the notary.
- The credible witness must be personally known to the signer.
Correct answer: The credible witness must sign the notary's journal.
While keeping a notary journal is strongly recommended and the credible witness's signature should be recorded if a journal is used, it is not a legal requirement for the credible witness to sign it because the journal itself is not mandated by law in Rhode Island. The other three options—identifying the witness, placing them under oath, and ensuring they know the signer—are all mandatory steps.
RI Notary - Rhode Island Notary Signer Identity Verification Questions and Answers 1
A signer appears before a Rhode Island notary but has recently lost their wallet and has no form of identification.
The signer's old college roommate is with them and is willing to vouch for their identity.
Under what condition may the notary use this person as a credible witness?