Hawaii Notary Public Practice Exam 2025 - Free Notary Public Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the notarization process, the primary method for identifying a signer is through the verification of identity using valid identification. This involves the Notary Public checking official forms of ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, which have a photo and signature of the individual. This step is crucial to ensure that the person appearing before the notary is indeed the individual who is supposed to be signing the documents, thus preventing fraud and ensuring the integrity of the notarization process.

Unlike the requirement for identification, providing a social security number is not a standard prerequisite for identification in the notarization process, as not all signers may feel comfortable sharing this sensitive information, and it is not necessary for the verification of identity itself. Knowing the signer personally is not a reliable or formal method of identification, as the notary should be impartial and not base their verification on personal relationships. Additionally, a letter from a legal authority does not serve as an adequate means of identification for a signer; valid photo identification is the accepted method, as it provides concrete verification of identity.