A California notary public can establish a signer’s identity using the following forms of identification. Keep in mind these forms of identification must either be current, or have been issued within the past 5 years.

An identification card or driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles

An inmate identification card issued by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, if the inmate is in custody in California state prison

Any form of inmate identification issued by a sheriff’s department, if the inmate is in custody in a local detention facility

A valid consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship, or a valid passport from the applicant’s country of citizenship

A driver’s license issued by another state or by a Canadian or Mexican public agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses

An identification card issued by another state

A United States military identification card (caution: current military identification cards might not contain all the required information)

An employee identification card issued by an agency or office of the State of California, or an agency or office of a city, county, or city and county in California

An identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government

What happens if a signer doesn’t possess one of the forms of identification mentioned on this list? In that case, two credible witnesses will need to vouch for the signer.

Credible witnesses must personally know the signer. In accordance with California law, these individuals are required to present a valid form of identification, take an oath, and sign the notary journal. A credible witness must neither be named in, nor benefit financially from the document being signed.New Paragraph