What is required for a Notary to properly verify a signer’s identity?

To properly verify a signer’s identity, a Notary must obtain government-issued identification. This identification typically includes documents such as a driver’s license or passport, which provide a reliable and official method for confirming the individual’s identity. Such documents typically contain essential details, such as the signer’s full name, photograph, and signature, which are crucial for the Notary to ensure that they are dealing with the correct individual.

Using government-issued identification serves as a standard practice in notary procedures because it offers a level of security and authenticity that informal methods, such as personal inquiries or social media accounts, cannot provide. Additionally, these forms of ID are universally accepted and are less susceptible to forgery compared to other forms of identification. Scrutinizing credit histories, while helpful in some contexts, is not relevant or appropriate in the notary practice and adds more complexity than necessary to the identity verification process. Thus, the requirement for a Notary to verify a signer’s identity fundamentally rests on the acquisition of a valid government-issued identification.