The most common reason I have to pack my stamp back up isn't a missing page or a wrong signature. It's a driver's license that quietly expired last month, sitting in a wallet nobody thought to check. So let's check it now, before I'm sitting at your kitchen table.
Every notarization starts the same way: I have to be sure you are who the document says you are. That's the whole point of a notary. Your ID is how I do it, so it's worth two minutes of attention the night before.
What ID Does a Notary Accept?
The short version: a current, government-issued photo ID with your name, photo and signature. The ones I see most often:
- An Idaho driver's license or Idaho ID card
- A driver's license or state ID from another state
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A U.S. military ID
- A foreign passport
What usually won't work on its own: a work badge, a student ID, a credit card, a Costco card, or a photo of your license on your phone. If you're not sure about yours, text me a description (not a picture of the card) and I'll tell you before the appointment.
Can I Use an Expired ID?
Please don't plan on it. A current ID is the safe bet every time. There's very limited room for some recently expired IDs, and it's a judgment call I'd much rather make on the phone with you than at the signing. If yours has lapsed, call me first. A passport sitting in a drawer is often the quickest fix.
What If My Name Doesn't Match My ID?
This comes up after a marriage, a divorce, or when a document uses a middle name the license doesn't. Generally, the name on the document needs to match your ID or be contained within it. “Mary Smith” on a document with “Mary Ann Smith” on the license is usually fine. The reverse usually isn't. Tell me about a mismatch when you book so we can sort it out ahead of time.
What I can and can't do: I can check your ID and notarize your signature. I can't give legal advice, change your documents, or tell you which name a document should legally use. If the name on the paperwork needs to change, that's for whoever prepared it or an attorney.
What If I Don't Have Any ID at All?
It happens, especially with an older parent in a hospital or care facility whose wallet went home with a family member. In some cases a credible witness can help: someone who knows you personally, has their own valid ID, and isn't part of the document. It doesn't fit every situation, so call me and we'll figure out the right path together. Sometimes the simplest answer is someone bringing the ID from home.
Your ID Checklist for the Night Before
- Find your ID and look at the expiration date.
- Every person signing has their own ID, not just one per household.
- The name on the document matches the ID, or is contained within it.
- The ID is the physical card or passport, not a photo or copy.
- If a credible witness is needed, they're coming and bringing their own ID.
- Documents are still unsigned. I covered why in common mistakes that make a document not notary-ready.
How Long Does the ID Check Take?
About a minute or two per person. I look at the ID, compare it to you and the document, and note the details in my records. Then we get on with the signing. If you want the full picture of what happens next, here's what to expect at a notary appointment.
I come to you, at home, at work, or at the bedside, evenings and weekends included. See the documents I handle on my services page, book a time online, or read what other clients have said.