When Mary, a notary, takes an identification card, she must have reasonable reliance on satisfactory evidence to identify the signer. Which of the following is satisfactory evidence?
California Government Code § 1185(b) defines satisfactory evidence as either a current identification document meeting the statutory criteria in § 1185(b)(1)–(3) — including a U.S. passport, California driver’s license, or other approved paper ID — or the oath/affirmation of one credible witness personally known to the notary, or two credible witnesses who are not personally known to the notary. The witness route is only valid if the notary administers the oath or affirmation and records the identifying details required by § 1185(b)(4).
A state prison inmate identification card is not considered satisfactory evidence.
The oath or affirmation of a credible witness must be known to the notary.
A birth certificate and Social Security card are not valid for identification; only government-issued IDs are acceptable.
Explanation
Satisfactory evidence includes specified paper identification documents that meet the required standards, such as “A passport issued by the Department of State of the United States.” It also includes the oath or affirmation of a single credible witness personally known by the notary public, or the oaths or affirmations of two credible witnesses not known by the notary public.