Comments on: Identification requirements for being notarized

By: Molly Goodyear

Molly Goodyear — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 00:52:35 +0000

what if you can’t get something notarized because your ID has expired and you can’t get something notarized to get your birth certificate because you have no id that’s good. What do you do then?

By: fuzzy1955

fuzzy1955 — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:36:52 +0000

Video presence is valid in at least one state, Virginia.

By: DL

DL — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:00:29 +0000

The claim that the signature on the ID must match the signature on the document is wrong. For example, if the signature on the ID was made with an electronic signature capture pad and the signature on the document is with a real pen, they may look different. Or the signature on the document may be a variation of the signature on the ID, such as one saying William and the other saying Bill.

There is no rule that says “Your name on the document must match the name on the identification. However, if your name on the document is shorter than the name on the identification, that is fine. If your ID says John J Smith, and on the document, you are named as John Smith, you are okay. If the name on the document is longer than the name in the identification, the notary can not legally notarize that longer name variation.” This is a myth perpetuated by (a) certain brain-dead notary testing/training organization(s) and has been discussed on internet forums for years. No one has ever found any law or rule containing this so-called requirement.

The blog entry also neglects to mention that except in California, you don’t need any ID if the notary knows you well.

By: Kenneth A Edelstein

Kenneth A Edelstein — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:27:20 +0000

And, of course, you must meet with the notary in person. It is not permitted, even if you signed in advance; to send someone else with your ID. Notarization always requires the person whose signature is to be notarized to meet personally with the notary. Picture phone calls are not “face to face” for notarization.