California Notary Public ExamJuratsEasy
A Notary Public is presented with a document requiring a jurat. The signer presents a state-issued identification card that expired two days prior to the notarial act. What is the Notary Public's appropriate action regarding identification for the jurat?
- ARefuse to perform the jurat until a current, valid identification is presented.
- BAccept the expired identification as it was valid recently.
- CRequire an additional form of identification to supplement the expired one.
- DProceed with the jurat but make a note in the journal about the expired identification.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Refuse to perform the jurat until a current, valid identification is presented.
California Notary Public law requires identification documents to be current and unexpired. An expired identification card, regardless of how recently it expired, cannot be accepted for a notarial act.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Expired identification is not acceptable for a notarial act in California.
- C. Even with additional identification, the primary identification must be current and unexpired.
- D. Noting expired identification in the journal does not make it a valid form of identification.
Valid Identification for Jurat
For a jurat, the Notary Public must satisfactorily identify the signer using specific forms of identification that are current and unexpired.
- ID must be current (unexpired).
- Common forms include state ID, driver's license, passport.
- Notary must personally know the signer or use satisfactory evidence.
Memory trick: Don't notarize if the ID's expired, that's the rule, no ifs, ands, or buts, or you'll be fired!