Special offer

Notarizing a copy of a Driver's License

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

California Notary Law clearly states that a Notary Public can only certify a copy of a Power of Attorney or a Line of his/her journal.

So, why this blog? Well, I had a client who needed his driver's license notarized, and I had to say NO. I offered a Copy Certification by Document Holder, but the instructions he had clearly stated that the company would not accept the copy certification. Some states allow for such notarization, for that reason they even give instructions that the Notary should write: "I, _____(name of notary)__, a Notary Public in and for said state, do certify that on ___(date)__, I carefully compared, with its original, this copy of _(type of document_, and have determined it to be a complete, full, true, and exact copy. (official signature, official seal, and commission expiration date of notary)" on the same page where the photocopy is.

Unfortunetaly, and just as my previous blog, I had to say NO to such notarization and directed the client to call the company and ask if they would accept the copy certification because California law does not allow for the kind of notarization they ask.

I suppose I'll know what the company had to say if the client returns. :)

Good night!

Comments(4)

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Sounds like the guidelines for being a notary are much more rigid that I had assumed. I thought a notary could acknowledge a signature on any document.

Oct 26, 2009 05:11 PM
C C
Covina, CA

As long as a document has the Notarial Wording (Acknowledgment or Jurat), the answer is YES, the document can be notarized. Of course is not that simple, the client still needs to present identification, acknowledge the contents of the documents are true, etc. You know, legalities of notarization.

However, in the case I wrote before, the company was asking the notary to write the "certification wording" on the paper containing the copy of the driver's license, then sign and stamp it certifying the copy is a true copy of the original. Such notarization is allowed in some states, but not in California. According to the National Notary Association: "A Notary may certify the copy (of a driver's license) if law permits Notary-certified copies. An alternative in states not authorizing Notary-certified copies, is to perform a "copy certification by document custodian," whereby the holder of the original document certifies the copy in a written statement, and the Notary executes a jurat underneath the signed statement." http://www.nationalnotary.org/resources/index.cfm?text=howtofaqs

Oct 27, 2009 02:59 AM
Anonymous
CBella

I just notarized my loan mod documentation with a UPS Store notarizer.  And it was my very first time going through such a process.  I have an alarming question: was it normal and an okay practice for the notary person to log my driver license # and home address and have me do a thumbprint in his journal book?? Thanks for your time in responding back!

Feb 08, 2013 07:11 AM
#3
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

#3. The answer is: yes.

Claudia, I absolutely agree with you: we can not write on a document. Did you hear from that client again?

 

Feb 27, 2014 03:11 PM