To boost your knowledge of Notary standards of practice, the NNA presents a situation based on a real-life Notary case and asks the question: What would you do?
A husband and wife contact you and ask if you can notarize their signatures on documents to purchase a condominium. However, when you meet with the couple and they ask you to notarize the wife’s signature, she apologizes. She doesn’t have her official ID but offers you a photocopy of it as an alternative method of identification.
While looking at the photocopy, you notice the identifying information is dated from 30 years ago and expired. To make matters more confusing, the signer looks quite a bit younger to you than what you expect from the date of birth indicated on the ID copy.
The signers apologize because the ID photocopy isn’t very good, and the wife explains she looks different because it’s old identification information. They ask if you can go ahead and complete the notarization for them anyway since this is an important purchase for them.
What would you do?
Is the photocopy satisfactory as proof of identity, and does the signer’s explanation that it’s an old copy seem reasonable? Or are the discrepancies a red flag? How would you handle this situation? Would you agree to the notarization, refuse the notarization, or choose another option?
Share your answers in the comments section below. We may mention your response in next week’s Bulletin article, when we offer the recommended answer to this notarial challenge.
David Thun is the Editorial Manager at the National Notary Association
Additional Resources:
NNA Notary Hotline