WI Notary Signer Identification Requirements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Wisconsin notary law, which of the following constitutes 'satisfactory evidence of identity' for a document signer?
- Personal knowledge of the signer by the notary
- A valid government-issued photo ID with signature
- Two credible witnesses who can verify the signer's identity
- Any of the above methods (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Any of the above methods
Wisconsin law recognizes personal knowledge, valid government-issued photo ID, and credible witnesses as each independently constituting satisfactory evidence of identity.
Question 2: Which of the following documents is specifically acceptable as identification for a document signer under Wisconsin notary law?
- Library card with name and photo
- Student ID from a private university
- U.S. passport (Correct answer)
- Utility bill with name and address
Correct answer: U.S. passport
A U.S. passport is a government-issued photo ID with a signature and is explicitly acceptable under Wisconsin's identification standards.
Question 3: When the Wisconsin notary does not personally know the signer AND does not personally know any witness, how many credible witnesses are required to identify the signer?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
When the notary is not personally acquainted with any available witness, two credible witnesses who can identify the signer are required.
Question 4: When only ONE credible witness is used to identify a signer in Wisconsin, that witness must be:
- Known only to the document signer
- Personally known to the notary (Correct answer)
- A licensed attorney or notary public
- A family member of the document signer
Correct answer: Personally known to the notary
When relying on a single credible witness, Wisconsin law requires that witness to be personally known to the notary performing the notarial act.
Question 5: Under Wisconsin law, a government-issued ID used for signer identification may be expired by no more than how long before the notarial act?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
Wisconsin's Uniform Notarial Acts allow IDs that are current or expired not more than 3 years before the date of the notarial act.
Question 6: Which of the following would NOT qualify as acceptable identification for a signer under Wisconsin notary law?
- Current U.S. military ID card
- Valid Wisconsin driver's license
- Social Security card (Correct answer)
- Current U.S. passport
Correct answer: Social Security card
A Social Security card does not contain a photograph and therefore does not meet Wisconsin's requirement for photo identification.
Question 7: If a Wisconsin notary personally knows the document signer, what additional identification must the signer provide?
- At least one government-issued photo ID
- Two credible witnesses
- A sworn written statement of identity
- No additional identification is required (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No additional identification is required
Personal knowledge of the signer is itself sufficient evidence of identity under Wisconsin law, and no additional identification is needed.
WI Notary Signer Identification Requirements 1
Under Wisconsin notary law, which of the following constitutes 'satisfactory evidence of identity' for a document signer?