Identification Rules

Quite simply: please bring identification.

• Acceptable forms of identification must, with very limited exception, be presented to the notary public by every principal signer and witness of any kind.

• A thumbprint must also be given, for the sake of thoroughness, by every signer.

RULES OF DATES - APPLY TO ALL FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION

For a form of ID to be acceptable, it must be:

• Current and unexpired

or

• Expired, but issued within five years of the date of notarization

ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION IN CALIFORNIA

GROUP I

• California Driver License or ID card issued by the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles

• A United States Passport issued by the Department of State

• An inmate ID card issued by the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation

• The inmate must be in custody at the time of notarization.

• Any form of Inmate ID issued by a Sheriff's Department

• The inmate must be in custody at the time of notarization.

GROUP II

Group II documents must contain ALL of the following:

• Serial Number

• Photograph

• Personal Description

• Signature

(Group II ID Documents)

• Out of state Driver License or ID card

• Canadian Driver License (NOT an ID)

• Mexican Driver License (NOT an ID)

• A passport issued by a foreign government

• Identification from a federally recognized Tribal government

• California Agency/Office issued Employee ID Card (NOT federal ID)

• Consular Identification Card (Matricula Consular NOT accepted: It has no signature)

• US Military Identification (if it adheres to the above criteria)