WA Notary Identification and Credible Witnesses 3

Question 1

A signer presents a Washington State ID card (non-driver) to a notary. Is this acceptable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a state-issued ID card is satisfactory evidence of identity

Answer

A state-issued ID card is a government-issued photo ID and constitutes satisfactory evidence of identity for Washington notarizations.

Question 2

What standard of care applies when a Washington notary reviews a signer's identification?

Accepted Answer

The notary must exercise reasonable care in reviewing the identification

Answer

Washington notaries are held to a reasonable care standard when reviewing identification — they are not expected to be document forensic experts.

Question 3

Can a Washington notary use two credible witnesses instead of one to identify a signer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, two credible witnesses may be used if neither knows both the signer and the notary

Answer

Washington allows two credible witnesses who personally know the signer but are not necessarily known to the notary as an alternative identification method.

Question 4

What information should a Washington notary record about the signer's ID in the notary journal?

Accepted Answer

The type of ID, the ID number, and the expiration date

Answer

Best practice and some state requirements call for recording the type of ID, its number, and expiration date to create a complete audit trail.

Question 5

If a signer's name on their ID does not exactly match the name on the document, what should a Washington notary do?

Accepted Answer

Use judgment to determine if the difference is minor and explainable, then proceed with a notation if appropriate

Answer

Minor name discrepancies (e.g., middle name versus middle initial) can be addressed with careful judgment and a notation; significant differences may require the document to be corrected.

WA Notary - Washington Notary Exam Practice Test

WA Notary - Washington Notary Exam Practice Test

WA Notary Identification and Credible Witnesses 3