Acceptable Forms of Identification for Notary Services

Everyone will need a document notarized at least once in their lifetime. Actually you may be surprised how many documents require a notary seal. When in need of a notary, make sure you know the basics, such as that you must show up in person, have a valid identification and know what type of notarization you need. No matter if you choose to visit your local notary office or use a mobile notary service this may be a valuable information to know prior calling to schedule an appointment.

Here is a list of acceptable forms of identification for receiving notary services:

• Driver’s License or Identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
• Passport issued by the U.S. Department of State.
• Passport issues by foreign government, if stamped by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
• Driver’s License issued by a territory of the United States, another state, Canada or Mexico.
• Identification card issued by a territory of the United States or a state other than Florida.
• Identification issued by any branch of the U.S. armed forces.
• An inmate identification card issued on or after 1/1/91 by Florida Department of Corrections for an inmate who is currently in custody of the Department.
• A sworn, written statement from a sworn law enforcement officer that the forms of identification for an inmate in an institution of confinement where confiscated upon confinement, and that the person named in the document is the person whose signature is to notarized.
• An identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

A Notary Public may not notarize a signature on a document unless he or she personally knows, or has satisfactory evidence, that the person whose signature is to be notarized is the individual who is described in and who is executing the instrument. A notary public shall certify in the certificate of acknowledgement or jurat the type of identification, either based on personal knowledge or other form of identification, upon which the notary public is relying.

A Credible Witness is a person who’s identity is proven to the notary and who personally know the signer.

• Must have an acceptable identification;
• Must sign sworn written statement, and
• Must sign the document that is being notarized.