State-issued driver's license

• State-issued identification card

• U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State

• U.S. military ID

• State, county and local government IDs

• Permanent resident card, or "green card," issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services*

• Foreign passport*

• Driver's license officially issued in Mexico or Canada*

• Digital driver's license*

• ID deemed acceptable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security*

• Inmate ID issued by the State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, if the inmate is in state or federal custody*

• Inmate ID issued by a county sheriff, if the inmate is in the custody of the county sheriff*

• State-issued driver's license

• State-issued identification card

• U.S. passport issued by the U.S. Department of State

• U.S. military ID

• State, county and local government IDs

• Permanent resident card, or "green card," issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services*

• Foreign passport*

• Driver's license officially issued in Mexico or Canada*

• Digital driver's license*

• ID deemed acceptable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security*

• Inmate ID issued by the State Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons, if the inmate is in state or federal custody*

• Inmate ID issued by a county sheriff, if the inmate is in the custody of the county sheriff*

Elements of an Acceptable ID for Notarization

Louisiana and Wyoming are currently the only states permitting their Notaries to accept digital driver's licenses as a form of identification. A digital driver's license can be used in lieu of a physical driver's license. In Colorado, digital ID cards are not acceptable as proof of identity for notarizations until the Secretary of State's office issues an official policy on the matter.

The answer depends on the state laws where the notarization is taking place. Some states require "current" ID and some states accept expired IDs if they were issued within the past five years. For example, Virginia allows Notaries to accept expired IDs from signers who live in an assisted living facility granted the ID has not been expired for more than five years from the time identification for the notarization is required. Because the laws in many states do not specify whether an ID has to be current, valid or unexpired, the NNA recommends accepting unexpired IDs as a professional best practice.

If you're in a state that does not accept expired ID, there may be alternative methods of identifying a signer that your state does allow, such as using a credible witness. Read the Notary Bulletin for more detailed information about whether an expired ID is acceptable in your state.

Getting a high-quality fake ID is easier than ever before, which makes spotting a fake ID more difficult. However, there are warning signs that you can look out for. If a photo doesn't closely resemble the signer or the card looks altered in any way, consider it a red flag and inspect the card thoroughly. Make sure the photo and physical description match the signer. Confirm all of the security measures your state includes on ID cards are present too.

Not all of these warning signs mean you're dealing with an impostor, though. People often change their name, gain or lose weight, cut or dye their hair and some have had cosmetic surgery or gender reassignment surgery. Learn how to handle name discrepancies and check out Notary Basics: How To Deal With Unreliable Or Suspicious ID for more details.

Generally speaking, Social Security cards, birth or marriage certificates, credit cards, school IDs, library cards and temporary driver's licenses are not acceptable forms of ID for notarization purposes.

While some states are very strict about the forms of ID that can be used and others have general ID rules, many states leave it up to the Notary's judgment. Before making a decision, consider that you may need to defend your notarization in the future.

Notary Errors and Omissions Insurance will absorb the costs of claims and lawsuits resulting from the Notary’s unintentional errors, up to the policy limit. Not only will E&O Insurance pay out damages to an injured party after a court verdict or out-of-court settlement, but it will also absorb attorney’s fees, court costs and other defense costs up to the policy limit. In some circumstances, your policy can be used to repay a loss on your bond. Even if the claim isn’t valid, you could still be faced with court costs for defending yourself. Without Errors and Omissions coverage, these costs would come out of your pocket.

Notary Errors and Omissions Insurance will absorb the costs of claims and lawsuits resulting from the Notary’s unintentional errors, up to the policy limit. Not only will E&O Insurance pay out damages to an injured party after a court verdict or out-of-court settlement, but it will also absorb attorney’s fees, court costs and other defense costs up to the policy limit. In some circumstances, your policy can be used to repay a loss on your bond. Even if the claim isn’t valid, you could still be faced with court costs for defending yourself. Without Errors and Omissions coverage, these costs would come out of your pocket.

To deter identity theft and fraud. A Notary ensures that the signers of documents are who they say they are and not imposters. The Notary makes sure that signers have entered into agreements knowingly and willingly.

A notarization is a certificate filled out by the Notary, certifying certain facts about the signer and document. The Notary does not verify the accuracy or validity of the document.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, the cost of notarial acts is regulated by the PA Department of State. Separate from the notarial act, a notary public may charge an administrative or convenience fee, and in the case of mobile notaries, a travel fee, technology fee, where applicable. These administrative, convenience, and travel charges are not regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and as such, may vary from notary to notary.

An e-Notary which is IPEN has the ability to digitally sign and notarize documents, but all parties to the notarial act must still be physically present in the same room as the notary, and ID verification must take place in person, not on the computer. A virtual notary or “Remote Online Notary” (RON) has the ability to digitally sign and notarize documents and any or all parties to the notarial act may be elsewhere; their presence before the notary facilitated by state-sanctioned video and audio software. ID verification takes place digitally, and the parties may be anywhere in the world, as long as they are each calling in on a separate device (two people cannot appear before the RON on the same tablet, even if they are in the same room as each other). The RON must be in Pennsylvania.

There are different types of notarizations, such as acknowledgments and jurats. An acknowledgment states that you signed the document willingly, while a jurat is when you swear or affirm that the document's contents are true.

A signing agent (sometimes called a loan signing agent or a notary signing agent) is a mobile notary who is contracted by various entities, usually mortgage companies, title insurance companies, or signing service companies. The signing agent meets with borrowers to witness the signing of their loan documents. The most common loan documents involve a borrower refinancing their mortgage, but there are many other types of documents a signing agent may encounter.

Go to the notary armed with the document that needs to be notarized and at least one form of photo identification. Sometimes a notary must witness the person signing the document, whereas, in other situations, the person may sign ahead of time. When in doubt, wait until you are in the presence of the notary before signing.

Always check with the notary before going, though, to determine any other requirements and make sure you arrive prepared.

A notary, also called a notary public, is a public official who certifies the authenticity of signatures to important documents. A notary must verify the identity of the person signing the document, who must do so under his or her own free will.

A notary also may have to administer an oath, if required by the document, and make sure all the identifying details (name, address, etc.) in the document are correct. In some states, a notary may have the authority to certify copies and even be a wedding officiant in states such as Florida, Maine, and South Carolina.

Overall, a notary's role is to help combat fraud or identity theft that could arise during such transactions and to give all parties assurances that the documents have been executed properly.

You may need a notary to certify that the signatures on documents such as deeds, transfers of sale, mortgages, and other contracts are legitimate and, therefore, legally binding.