What ID does a New York notary need to see?

For an in-person signer, satisfactory evidence of identity under 19 NYCRR 182.5 means one of a few things: a current government-issued photo ID with a physical description and signature, or at least two current signed documents from an institution, or your own personal knowledge of the signer, or the oath of credible witnesses.

The trap on the exam

The exam loves the word “current.” An expired license fails, no matter how real it looks. Two documents only count when both are current and bear the signer’s signature. The single-witness route works only when that witness is personally known to both you and the signer, not a stranger vouching for a stranger.

A real example

A signer hands you a driver’s license that expired last year. It’s a real government photo ID, but it fails the “current” test, so it isn’t satisfactory evidence on its own. You’d need a current ID, two current signed documents, someone you both know to swear to her, or your own personal knowledge of who she is.

Remember it as Government photo ID that is current, with a description and signature. Expired doesn’t count.

What the law says

19 NYCRR 182.5 defines satisfactory evidence of identity for in-person signers as a valid, current, government-issued photo ID bearing a physical description and signature; or at least two current documents bearing the signature; or the notary’s personal knowledge; or the oath of one witness personally known to both notary and signer; or the oaths of two witnesses who know the signer and present qualifying ID.

Source: NY DOS License Law, 19 NYCRR 182.5 (p. 17)

Walker's Notary is an independent study course. We are not affiliated with the New York Department of State. This answer traces to the current License Law publication; always confirm against the official source before you rely on it.