What If My Identification Is Invalid And I Don't Have Other Acceptable Identification? If you DO NOT have valid identification as defined by Civil Code §1185, you may be identified by either one or two credible identifying witnesses who must produce acceptable identification.

 Only one credible identifying witness is required provided that individual is personally known by the notary and is
  able to produce acceptable identification.

 Two credible identifying witnesses are required if neither of them are personally know by the Notary.
  They must also produce acceptable identification.

 The witnesses must personally know you and take an oath attesting to your identity.
  The witnesses may not have an interest in or be named in the document. 

What Are "Credible Identifying Witnesses?"
When a signer is unable to present proper identification, the signer may be identified on the oath or affirmation of one or two credible identifying witnesses. If there is only one credible identifying witness, he or she must be personally known by the Notary, otherwise two credible identifying witnesses are required.

The witness, whether personally known or unknown by the Notary, must present acceptable identification as defined by Civil Code §1185. In either case, each witness must swear or affirm that the following is true.

	The document signer appearing before the Notary is the person named on the document.
	The document signer is personally known to the witness.
	The witness believes that it would be difficult or impossible for the document signer to obtain acceptable identification.
	The document signer does not have any acceptable identification.
	The witness has no financial or beneficial interest in the document and is not named in the document.

For example, if the identification reads "Jackson James Jones," the Notary may accept the signature, "Jackson Jones", "Jackson J. Jones" or "J. Jones." However, the Notary may not accept more of a name than appears on the identification. For instance, the Notary may not accept the signature "Jackson James Jones" if the identification reads "Jackson J. Jones." Best practice? Sign your name exactly how it appears on your identification.

What If My Identification Has My Maiden Name But The Document Contains My Married Name? The name on the identification MUST match what is on the documentation (or follow the "less but not more rule").

If you cannot present acceptable identification, you may be identified by one or two credible identifying witnesses (as defined above). Remember, a marriage license is not considered acceptable notarization identification as defined by Civil Code §1185.

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