How do you identify a person via personal knowledge?

• A. You personally know them (childhood friend, coworker). If you have any doubt about their identity, use satisfactory evidence to identify them.
• B. You can rely on their word.
• C. You can identify by the handwriting on a previous document.
• D. You can identify by a verbal description alone.

Answer: (A)

Personal knowledge of the signer is a valid way to identify them for a notarization. If you personally know the person—like a childhood friend or coworker—you can identify them without additional documents, as long as you have no doubt about their identity. If there is any doubt, you must obtain satisfactory evidence of identity before proceeding. Relying on the person’s word alone isn’t enough for identification, and handwriting on a previous document or a verbal description alone doesn’t reliably prove who the person is. Identifying someone through personal knowledge, with careful attention to any doubt, is the appropriate practice.