Documents Required

Identifying Documents

 

The Washington State notary statutes identify several options for documents that a notary can use to verify a signer's identity:

 

• A passport
• A driver's license
• A government-issued identification card
• Another form of government identification that contains the signature or photograph of the individual and is satisfactory to the notary

 

A notary can accept any identifying document that is either current, or expired for less than three years. As an example, a notary confirming an individual’s identity on March 1, 2024, could use a driver’s license that is current or that expired anytime from March 2, 2020 through February 29, 2024. Also note, there is nothing requiring these documents to be from any specific jurisdiction; a signer could use an Oregon driver’s license or a Canadian passport, as long as it is not more than three years expired.

 

Source: This information is adapted from the "Washington State Notary Public Guide" distributed by the Washington State Department of Licensing. The publication is intended to provide general guidance concerning rights and responsibilities of a notary in the state of Washington. It is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice. For access to the full publication, click here.