What characteristics must an acceptable identification document have?

An acceptable identification document must be issued by a state or federal agency, or a consulate, have a photograph of the individual, and be currently valid. This requirement is in place to ensure that the identification is reliable, authentic, and can be easily confirmed or verified by the notary public. A document that is issued by a government body carries a level of trustworthiness that is critical in a notarial context, as it serves to confirm the identity of the signer.

The necessity for a photo helps in visually verifying that the person presenting the ID is indeed the individual described in the document. Furthermore, having a valid identification ensures that the document has not expired and can reliably be used to ascertain identity at the time of signing. In contrast, documents issued by private companies may not fulfill the same level of scrutiny or reliability expected in notarial acts, and a photocopy does not provide the same assurances as an original document. Each of these factors plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the notarization process.