WV Notary Signer Identification Methods 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: "Personal knowledge" of a signer means the notary knows the individual through:
- At least one prior meeting
- Recognizing the person from social media
- Dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity (Correct answer)
- A mutual friend's introduction that day
Correct answer: Dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty of identity
Personal knowledge requires dealings sufficient to give the notary reasonable certainty the individual has the claimed identity.
Question 2: A neighbor the notary met last week asks for a notarization without ID, saying "you know me." What should the notary do?
- Decline to rely on personal knowledge and require satisfactory evidence (Correct answer)
- Have the neighbor sign an affidavit of identity
- Proceed since they have met before
- Notarize but charge a higher fee
Correct answer: Decline to rely on personal knowledge and require satisfactory evidence
A single recent meeting does not establish the reasonable certainty required for personal knowledge, so ID or a credible witness is needed.
Question 3: Which combination correctly lists the three ways a WV notary may identify a signer?
- ID documents, biometric scan, or employer letter
- Credible witness, co-signer vouching, or notarized photo
- Personal knowledge, satisfactory ID documents, or a credible witness under oath (Correct answer)
- Personal knowledge, a signed affidavit, or a phone verification
Correct answer: Personal knowledge, satisfactory ID documents, or a credible witness under oath
WV Code 39-4-7 permits personal knowledge, qualifying identification documents, or verification on oath of a credible witness.
Question 4: A government-issued ID other than a passport, driver's license, or nondriver card may be accepted in West Virginia if it:
- Was issued within the last twelve months
- Is laminated and lists a home address
- Is accompanied by a utility bill
- Contains the signature or photograph of the individual and is current or expired no more than three years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Contains the signature or photograph of the individual and is current or expired no more than three years
Other government IDs qualify if current or expired not more than three years and bearing the individual's signature or photograph.
Question 5: A signer offers a driver's license that expired four years ago. The notary should:
- Accept it with a credible witness's photocopy
- Accept it if the photo still looks like the signer
- Accept it because it is a government document
- Reject it and request another acceptable form of identification (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reject it and request another acceptable form of identification
A license expired more than three years falls outside West Virginia's acceptable window for identification documents.
Question 6: Why should a credible witness have no financial interest in the document being notarized?
- The document would need two notaries
- State law caps witness earnings
- An interested witness's impartiality and credibility are compromised (Correct answer)
- Interested witnesses must pay a bond
Correct answer: An interested witness's impartiality and credibility are compromised
A witness who benefits from the transaction cannot be considered a reliable, disinterested source of identity verification.
Question 7: A signer's ID shows a maiden name but the document uses a married name. What is the notary's best course of action?
- Cross out the document name and write the ID name
- Refuse service permanently
- Notarize using the ID name only without question
- Require additional evidence linking the two names before proceeding (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Require additional evidence linking the two names before proceeding
The notary should be reasonably certain the signer is the person named in the document, which may require supplemental proof of the name change.
WV Notary Signer Identification Methods 3
"Personal knowledge" of a signer means the notary knows the individual through: