What must the notary use to confirm identity in a remote notarial transaction?

In a remote notarial transaction, the notary is required to confirm the identity of the individual signing the document through concurrent audio-visual interaction. This means that both the notary and the signer must be able to see and hear each other in real time during the notarial act. This method ensures that the notary can adequately verify the individual’s identity and that the act can be performed securely and authentically.

Utilizing audio-visual technology allows the notary to obviate the potential issues related to identity misrepresentation that might occur if verification were done through other means. It is a critical part of ensuring that the notarial process is valid and that the signer is who they claim to be. This approach is particularly necessary for remote transactions, where physical presence is not possible.

Other methods of identity verification, such as recognition technology or solely relying on document verification, do not provide the same level of assurance as live interaction can, as they may lack the immediacy or robustness that concurrent audio-visual communication offers. Additionally, social media verification does not meet the legal standards required for identity confirmation in notarial acts, as it cannot adequately verify identity in a formal and legal context.