What is a credible identifying witness for a notary?

Asked by: Carrie Baumbach  |  Last update: October 2, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (37 votes)

When a signer lacks identification documents, some states permit Notaries to identify the signer through one or two credible witnesses. A credible witness is an individual who personally knows the signer and can vouch for the signer's identity to the Notary.

What is a credible witness in a notary?

California requirements for credible identifying witnesses

A credible witness must know the signer well enough to swear or affirm five facts to the Notary: The signer is named in the document. The credible witness personally knows the signer. The signer doesn't possess a qualifying identification document.

Who is considered a credible witness?

A credible witness is a witness who comes across as competent and worthy of belief. Their testimony is assumed to be more than likely true due to their experience, knowledge, training, and sense of honesty.

Does a notary have to personally know the credible witness?

California is the only state that doesn't allow notaries to rely solely on personal knowledge to complete a credible witness signing.

When using a credible witness for identity verification, what should the notary include in the notary journal?

If identity was established based on the oath of a credible witness personally known to the notary public, then the journal must contain the signature of the credible witness or the type of identifying document used to establish the witness' identity, the governmental agency issuing the document, the serial or ...

Using a Credible Witness to Identify a Signer

15 related questions found

What is the best form of identification for a notary?

Now, notaries accept a wide range of IDs. For starters, a government-issued form of ID like a driver's license has become a standard. Similarly, a passport can also work as one of the most acceptable forms of ID.

When a credible witness is used, the credible witness's primary function is to?

Final answer:

The primary function of a credible witness in a trial is to give testimony.

What happens if a witness is not credible?

If the judge believes the witnesses, the judge will rule favorably for the convincing witnesses. If the witnesses appear to be uninformed or dishonest, the judge will likely rule the other way. And if a jury finds a witness to lack credibility, that witness hurts their own side.

What invalidates a notarized document?

Missing or Incorrect Notary Seal

States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal. Without a proper seal, legal and financial institutions may reject the document.

What is required by a notary of the person signing the notarized document?

Notaries in California must carefully verify the signer's identity. Acceptable identification includes state-issued driver's licenses, passports, or federal IDs, all of which must be current or issued within the last five years. If a signer lacks these, credible witnesses with valid identification can be used.

How do you determine the credibility of a witness?

-In General

Did the witness have the ability to recall those events accurately? Was the testimony of the witness plausible and likely to be true, or was it implausible and not likely to be true? Was the testimony of the witness consistent or inconsistent with other testimony or evidence in the case?

Is a friend a credible witness?

The simple answer is yes. A lot of non-lawyers will assume that because a witness has close ties to someone, they must be too biased to testify. This is not true at all.

Which of the following methods are acceptable for identifying a signer?

There are three primary methods of identifying signers, each with its own set of guidelines, procedures and challenges:
  • Identification Cards.
  • Personal Knowledge.
  • Credible Identifying Witnesses.

What happens if a notary does not witness signature?

In fact, most state notary laws prohibit a notary from notarizing a signature if the signer is not present. Violating the personal presence requirement may result in monetary loss for the client and lead to a lawsuit against the notary or a claim against the notary's bond.

Can a witness signature be anyone?

To be a valid witness, a person must be at least 18 years old, be of sound mind, be a neutral third-party (not a beneficiary, agent, or a spouse of the beneficiary or agent), have a valid ID and provide contact information, and potentially pass a background check (depending on the state).

When checking the document, the notary must look for?

5 things Notaries should always check before the signer leaves
  1. Is the main body of the document complete with no blank spaces? ...
  2. Is the Notary certificate complete? ...
  3. Have you proofread the Notary certificate to make sure it is correct? ...
  4. Are your signature, seal and commission information correctly affixed and legible?

What is the most common mistake made by a notary?

One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.

What is one thing you should never do when it comes to documents?

When it comes to handling documents, one thing you should never do is mark the document with a pen or highlighter. This is because using a pen or highlighter can make the document look unprofessional, messy, and it can also damage the document itself, making it difficult to read or scan accurately.

Can a notary notarize a document already signed?

No, notarization rules vary by jurisdiction. Some states, like California, require the notary to witness the signature, whereas others, like Texas, allow acknowledgment of a pre-existing signature.

What is a credible witness for a notary?

In California, Notaries are allowed to use credible identifying witnesses to identify the signer of a document under certain situations. A credible witness is an individual who personally knows the signer and can vouch for the signer's identity to the Notary.

Who determines the credibility of witnesses?

Ultimately, the judge decides whether the witness is qualified to be an expert and on what issues.

What are the characteristics of a credible witness?

In this context, "expertness" is the extent to which the witness appears to be:
  • Competent.
  • Intelligent.
  • Authoritative.
  • Well-trained.
  • Experienced.
  • Skilled.
  • Informed.
  • Professional.

Who is a credible identifying witness?

A Credible Identifying Witness (aka Credible Witness) is a method of Identity Verification whereby a witness validates another person's identity. A credible witness is used when the signer does not have a U.S. Social Security number and, therefore, cannot generate Knowledge-based Authentication (KBA) questions.

When verifying the facts of a notarization, the notary must?

The signer must physically appear before the notary and provide valid ID. The notary verifies the signer's identity and ensures they are willing to sign. The signer signs the document in the notary's presence. The notary completes the notarial certificate wording.

What is the oath for a credible witness?

“Do you solemnly (swear) (affirm) under penalties of perjury that you personally know this person as (name of person whose signature is to be notarized), that he/she is the person named in the document, that you believe that the person has no acceptable form of identification, that it would be very difficult or ...