Paper Identification Documents

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Identity of the signer can be established by the notary public’s reasonable reliance on the presentation of any one of the following documents, if the identification document is current or has been issued within five years (Civil Code section 1185(b)(3) & (4)):

1. An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
2. A United States passport;
3. Other California-approved identification cards, consisting of any one of the following, provided that it also contains a photograph, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number:
(a) A passport issued by a foreign government provided that it has been stamped by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
(b) A driver’s license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses;
(c) An identification card issued by another state;
(d) A United States military identification card with the required photograph, description of the person, signature of the person, and an identifying number. (Some military identification cards do not contain all the required information.);
(e) An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody; or
(f) An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California.

 

In the event that the signer does not have a valid paper identification as listed above than the "Oath of Two Credible Witnesses" can be utilized.

 

Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses

 

The identity of the signer can be established by the oaths of two credible witnesses whom the notary public does not personally know. (Civil Code section 1185(b)(2)) The notary public first must establish the identities of the two credible witnesses by the presentation of paper identification documents as listed above. Under oath, the two credible witnesses must swear or affirm that each of the following is true (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1) (A)(i)-(v)):

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1. The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the person named in the document;

2. The credible witness personally knows the signer;

3. The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification;

4. The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to establish the signer’s identity; and

5. The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the document signed.