California Notary Public ExamNotary Public Duties and AuthorityHard
A Notary Public is presented with a document for an acknowledgment. The signer's identification, a driver's license, appears to be altered, with a different font used for the birth date. The signer claims it's a printing error. What is the Notary's duty regarding this identification?
- AAccept the ID, but make a detailed note in the journal about the suspected alteration.
- BRefuse to accept the identification and decline the notarization.
- CContact the DMV to verify the authenticity of the driver's license before proceeding.
- DAccept the ID if the signer verbally confirms their birth date and identity.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Refuse to accept the identification and decline the notarization.
A Notary Public must refuse to accept identification that appears altered, expired (with limited exceptions), or otherwise invalid. Accepting an altered ID would be a serious violation of Notary duties, as it compromises the integrity of the identification process.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Journaling the alteration does not make it acceptable; the ID must be valid.
- C. Notaries are not authorized to contact the DMV or other issuing agencies to verify identification; their role is to accept or reject based on appearance and statutory requirements.
- D. Verbal confirmation does not validate altered identification.
Valid Identification Requirement
Notaries Public must obtain satisfactory evidence of a signer's identity using approved, unexpired, and unaltered identification documents.
- ID must be current (or expired within 5 years for certain IDs, if legible).
- Must not show any signs of alteration or tampering.
- Notary must personally verify the ID, not rely on third-party verification.
Memory trick: ID clear and true, for me and for you, or the notarization is through.