When is a verification on oath of a credible witness used?

• A. When you do not know the signer and they have no acceptable ID
• B. When the signer is known and has ID
• C. When the signer is signing a deed
• D. When the document is not in English

Answer: (A)

When a notary cannot identify the signer by looking at them or by checking acceptable ID, a verification on oath of a credible witness is used to establish identity. In this method, two credible witnesses who personally know the signer appear before the notary and swear (or affirm) that the signer is who they claim to be and that the signing occurred. The witnesses’ oath provides the identification basis the notary lacks.

This approach is specifically for situations where the signer is not known to the notary and lacks valid ID. If the signer is known and can present acceptable ID, there’s no need for credible witnesses. The act being performed (like signing a deed) isn’t the trigger; it’s the lack of identifiable ID combined with the signer being unknown to the notary that calls for this procedure. Language issues don’t by themselves require this method.