Acceptable Forms of Identification

In Texas, notaries are mandated to verify the identification of every signer, as outlined by state guidelines. Acceptable forms of identification include: a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID card from any US state, a USA passport, US military identification, a driver’s license or ID card issued in Mexico or Canada, a foreign passport with a stamp from the Citizenship and Immigration Services, or inmate identification issued by the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) for incarcerated signers. These regulations, established by the State of Texas, are not discretionary and can be referenced on the Secretary of State’s website for further clarification.  However, it's essential to note that certain forms of identification are not accepted under these guidelines. These include Social Security cards, work identification badges, membership club cards, gym identification cards, student identification cards, Medicare cards, and driver’s licenses without photo ID, including temporary licenses. Notaries and signers alike must adhere strictly to these stipulations to ensure the validity and legality of notarized documents.

Are there any options if you do not have identification?

The notary may also use either a credible witness or personal knowledge to identify a signer.

1. Credible Witness - If the notary does not personally know the signer, the notary may take the oath of a "credible witness" who personally knows the signer. The notary must place the credible witness under oath (simply asking them to identify the signer is not sufficient) and have the credible witness sign an entry in your notarial record book and complete a credible witness form. 

2. Personal Knowledge - This may be used as a form of identification, but it must only be used if the notary knows the signer personally. The notary cannot mark a certificate "personally known" unless they know with a strong certainty who the signer is.

Identification for a minor

In Texas, in order to notarize a minor’s signature, the signer must be identified through 1 of 3 methods: A) The minor signer is personally known to the Notary; B) The minor signer can be identified by a credible witness who personally knows the minor and the Notary; or C) The minor signer must present a current form of ID issued by the federal or a state government that includes the minor signer’s photograph and signature.