As a Notary Public in the state of California, we are required to identify signers of the document presented to us for the completion of a certificate of acknowledgment or a jurat. The items below qualify as satisfactory evidence of your identity.
Identification Documents
One of the items listed below qualifies as an acceptable form of identification, provided it is current or was issued with the last 5 years. The ID must contain a picture, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number. There are two other options listed below this section if you do not have one of these items.
- An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- A United States Passport.
- An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody in a California state prison.
- Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department, if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility.
- A valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship, or a valid passport from the applicant’s country of citizenship.
- A driver’s license issued by another state.
- An identification card issued by another state.
- A United States military identification card (with the required information as stated above).
- An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California.
- An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government.
Oath of a Single Credible Witness
The identity of the signer can be established by the oath of a single credible witness whom the signer and the notary public both personally know. The identity of the witness will need to be established using one of the acceptable Identification Documents listed above. Under oath, the witness must swear or affirm that each of the following is true:
- The signer of the document is the named person in the document.
- The credible witness personally knows the signer.
- The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification.
- The signer does not have any of the identification documents listed above to establish the signer’s identification.
- The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed.
Oath of Two Credible Witnesses
The identity of the signer can be established by the oaths of two credible witnesses that the notary public does not know. Their identities will need to be established using one of the acceptable Identification Documents listed above. They will also have to swear or affirm under penalty of perjury to the same list as the single witness listed above.