Before Your Appointment
Identification Required for Notarization
California law requires satisfactory evidence of a signer’s identity for notarization. Please have acceptable identification available at your appointment.
Depending on the type of identification, the ID generally must be current or have been issued within the preceding five years and must satisfy the requirements of California Civil Code § 1185.
Common Forms of Acceptable Identification
The following may be acceptable when they satisfy the applicable requirements of California law:
- California driver's license or California identification card
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- Driver's license or identification card issued by another U.S. state
- Driver's license issued by an authorized Canadian or Mexican public agency
- Valid foreign passport from the signer's country of citizenship
- U.S. military identification that satisfies California's statutory requirements
- Employee identification issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or by a California city, county, or city and county
- Identification issued by a federally recognized tribal government
- Valid consular identification issued by a consulate from the signer's country of citizenship, when it satisfies California's statutory requirements
- Qualifying inmate identification for a signer who is in custody, as permitted by California law
Important: Not every identification document is acceptable merely because it contains a photograph. Certain forms of identification must contain specific identifying information required by California law.
If you are unsure whether your identification is acceptable, please contact LA Notary On Call before your appointment.
Documents That Are Not Normally Acceptable as Identification for a California Notarization
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Credit or debit card
- Ordinary student ID
- A photocopy or photograph of an identification document where the law requires presentation of the qualifying identification itself
A birth certificate or marriage certificate establishes a vital record — it is not a form of identification that by itself establishes a signer’s identity for a notarization.
This information is provided for appointment preparation only. LA Notary On Call provides notarial services and does not provide legal advice. LA Notary On Call is not a law firm.