I am a Notary in Massachusetts. Sometimes I get calls to go to a nursing home to notarize a resident’s documents. Often, they don’t have a current driver’s license or other ID. However, the staff there knows the patients, and there are nursing home patient records and photos in their charts. Can I accept those as satisfactory identification for notarization? — M.M., Massachusetts
The answer to your question about satisfactory identification is no. Patient records, even with a photograph, are not acceptable forms of identification for a notarial act under Massachusetts law. In Massachusetts, Notaries may accept identification documents that are current and issued by a state or federal government and contain a photograph and signature of the individual.
Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors
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