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Digital IDs: Acceptable for notarizations?

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Updated 2-14-24. In the past few years, states such as Colorado and Wyoming have explored the use of digital driver’s licenses and identity cards. But if you encounter signers fwho present an ID on their cell phones rather than a physical ID, is it acceptable as proper identification for a notarization?

It depends on different factors, and not all states allow digital IDs for notarizations. Here’s what you need to know.

What Colorado did with digital IDs

Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order in October 2019 authorizing and legalizing digital versions of the state’s IDs, which are accessed through the “myColorado” mobile application. Initially, digital IDs did not replace their paper counterparts, and the state’s residents were encouraged to keep their physical IDs as a backup at least until the end of 2020.

The new digital IDs allow Colorado residents to use a digital driver’s license or ID card on their mobile devices as legal proof of identity with all state agencies.

However, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office has asked Colorado Notaries to refrain from accepting digital IDs as proof of identity for notarizations until the Secretary of State's office issues an official policy on the matter. No guidelines have been issued as of 2024.

The executive order also directs the state’s Office of Information and Technology and the Division of Motor Vehicles to work with the federal government to make sure the digital IDs are REAL ID compliant.

Can Notaries in other states accept digital IDs?

According to the California Secretary of State’s office: “California Notaries Public may accept a digital driver’s license or digital identification card issued in Colorado beginning December 1, 2019, to establish satisfactory evidence, providing the digital identification is current or issued within the past five years, contains a photograph and description of the person, (is) signed by the person, and bears a serial or other identifying number as required by California Civil Code § 1185(b)(4).”

As of December 2020, Louisiana Notaries have the option to accept digital identification downloaded on a mobile device through a state-approved application  as a form of signer ID. 

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office also indicated that Colorado’s digital IDs would be considered “satisfactory evidence” of a signer’s identity and could be used in Ohio. The identification will be legal in Colorado and therefore, can be relied upon in Ohio.

Other states, especially those with specific lists or requirements for identity documents, may not be so accommodating. It will depend on how the state Notary regulators interpret their statutes. For example, Florida’s new law to implement digital IDs took effect on July 1, 2021 but it is not yet clear if Florida Notaries will be able to accept those digital IDs as proof of a signer's identity. If you are commissioned in one of these states, you may want to reach out to your Secretary of State’s office for clarification.

Some states, such as New York and New Jersey, do not have specific laws regarding acceptable ID. They leave it up to the individual Notary to decide whether to accept a specific ID. If you are commissioned in one of these states, it will be your judgment call whether a digital ID is satisfactory proof of identity.

In July 2020, a Wyoming digital ID law took effect allowing residents to obtain a digital driver's license and identification card to supplement the use of physical IDs. A digital driver’s license and ID card are housed on the bearer’s portable electronic device and may be displayed in any situation in which a physical driver’s license or identification card would be used, including identification before a Notary.


Related Articles:

How do I determine if an ID is acceptable for notarization?

The 3 ways Notaries can properly identify signers

8 Comments

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Larry Greer

16 Dec 2019

Does this digital ID also include the back of the ID? How do these work with an I-9 form? Usually you need to provide a copy of the ID used to satisfy this form? So the signer would need to print out their ID or be able to transmit it to the administrator of the form so THEY can print it?

Roberta Arnone, Esq.

16 Dec 2019

I think it would be helpful to get a quote from the NNA's approved Notary insurance provider of E & O coverage, Merchants Bonding Company, on the issue of whether to accept digital identification in states where the law is currently silent. A Notary who has taken the steps to protect his own commission by paying for an E & O policy, is entitled to know whether his/her acts fall within the protections of Notary insurance. Wish this NNA update would have included guidance from Merchants on recommended best practices.

Deborah

16 Dec 2019

Like receiving the emails keeps notaries updated

CivilLawNotary

16 Dec 2019

“Louisiana in July became the first state to make digital licenses available to anyone who wants them, and at least 14 other states either have developed a program, run a pilot or are studying the possibility, according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.l https://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/sl-digital-licenses-privacy-security.html

Natalia

03 Jun 2023

Why would California be so specific about Colorado IDs?

National Notary Association

05 Jun 2023

Hello. California Notary law specifies what type of IDs a Notary can accept as proof of a signer's identity. For more information, please see here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2015/11/id-card-acceptable-for-notarization

lsadanyiell@gmail.com

09 Feb 2024

While the governor did, in fact, pass the above referenced law, as of December 2023, CO SOS still hasn't adopted the use of the Digital ID for Notaries to use as a primary ID. This is directly from CO SOS: "The Secretary of State has still not approved the use of the MyColorado App ID as the primary form of ID for notarizations. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause." We have had many inquiries about this and it is a little troubling because our notaries are thinking they can use the digital ID as a direct result of this article. IF you are a CO notary, please DO NOT use the Digital ID as a primary ID. Doing so could put your commission on the line.

National Notary Association

14 Feb 2024

Hello. We appreciate you contacting us about this topic. Please note that the article does say that the Colorado Secretary of State’s office has asked Colorado Notaries to refrain from accepting digital IDs as proof of identity for notarizations until guidelines are officially adopted. To help draw attention to this information, we have moved this information to its own separate paragraph in the article and edited it for additional clarity. We hope this helps address your concerns.

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