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FAQ
Q: What types of
identification documents are
considered proper for notarization
purposes in California?
A: In California, a notary may
accept the following documents for
identification purposes:
- U.S. passport issued by the
U.S. Department of State.
- A California driver’s
license or identification card
issued by the California
Department of Motor Vehicles.
Note: The above documents
are considered “satisfactory
evidence” if they are “current”
and have “been issued within
five years”, and the Notary
reasonably relies on them.
Calif. Civil Code §
1185(b)(3)(A) and (B).
- Passport issued by a foreign
government.
- A driver’s license issued by
a Canadian or Mexican public
agency authorized to issue
driver’s licenses.
- A driver’s license issued by
a state other than California.
- An identification card
issued by a state other than
California.
- An identification card
issued by any branch of the
Armed Forces of the United
States.
- An inmate identification
card issued on or after January
1, 1988, by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation,
if the inmate is in custody.
- An employee identification
card issued by an agency or
office of the State of
California, or by an agency or
office of a city, county, or
city and county in California.
- An inmate identification
card issued prior to January 1,
1988, by the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation,
if the inmate is in custody.
Note: For the above
identification documents to be
valid, they must meet the
following criteria:
- Current or have been
issued within five years
- Contain a photograph
- Contain a physical
description of the person
named
- Must have a serial or
other identifying number
- If it is a foreign
passport, it must be stamped
by the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services
- Must be signed by the
person named
Calif. Civil Code §
1185(b)(4)(A)-(G).
Q: Are there other
documents I could use as
proof of identification for
notarization purposes in
California?
A: Not really. Only the
documents we listed above
are permitted by the
California Civil Codes. The
Codes also permit the use of
witnesses to vouch for the
identity of the signer(s) in
certain limited situations.
Please contact us if you
have any questions regarding
using witnesses to vouch for
your identity. The general
public frequently mistakes
certain documents to be
proper identification
documents when they are in
fact not considered proper
(or “satisfactory evidence”)
in California:
- U.S. Military Common
Access Card (CAC), which
does not contain the
bearer’s signature
- Matricula Consular I.D.
Card (e.g., from Mexican
Consulate)
- Permanent Resident Cards
(commonly called “Green
Cards” and formally known as
Form I-551). Currently,
California notaries are
allowed to accept the Green
Card as an identification
document only for notarizing
immigration forms.
- Border Crossing Cards
- Social Security Cards
- Credit cards with or
without photos
- Temporary Driver’s License
- Driver’s license without
photo
- Marriage license
Q: What do I need to do
to be commissioned ass a
notary public in California?
A: Please visit the
following link:
California Secretary of
State. |
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