What Will You Need for General Notarizations?
Identity shall be ascertained by examination of one or more of the following nine (9) unexpired documents:
- State Issued Driver’s License
- State-Issued Identification Card
- United States military card
- United States Passport
- United States Passport Card
- Certificate of United States Citizenship
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Foreign Passport
- Alien Registration Card with Photograph
Unaccepted forms of identification may include the following:
Every signer must show a valid (not expired) photo identification. All identification must contain a photo, a physical description, and a signature.
Every signer must demonstrate a willingness to sign the documents without coercion. He/she must also be aware of what they are signing and understand the significance of the transaction. Documents cannot be notarized if there is any cognitive impairment.
Checking and verifying the signer’s identify is a critical step in performing a notarial service. Some people may view it as a nuisance, but it’s performed to safeguard against fraud. So the next time you need a document notarized, remember to bring one of the accepted forms of identification mentioned above.
A Virginia Notary may REFUSE to notarize a document for any reason.