The Signer Who Cannot Produce Identification
Priya is a commissioned Illinois notary working at a shipping and business-services store. A man identifying himself as 'Mr. Alvarez' brings in a quitclaim deed and asks for a jurat. He has no driver's license, no state ID, and no passport. He explains that his wallet was stolen two days ago and offers three alternatives: a Costco membership card with his photo, a coworker waiting outside who 'knows him well' and can vouch for him, and a sworn statement from him that he is who he says he is. Priya has never met Mr. Alvarez before. The deed concerns property worth roughly $180,000, and the grantee is not present. Priya wants to be helpful and is unsure which, if any, of the three alternatives satisfies Illinois requirements.
1. Evaluate each of the three alternatives Mr. Alvarez offers against Illinois identification requirements for a notarial act.
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None of the three satisfies the requirement.
Costco membership card: A notary may rely on a current, government-issued identification card bearing a photograph and signature. A warehouse-club membership card is not government-issued, so it does not qualify, even though it bears a photo.
Coworker vouching: A credible witness may be used in some circumstances, but the standard requires a witness who personally knows the signer and can attest to identity - and the notary's reliance must be reasonable. A coworker who merely 'knows him well' and is not personally known to the notary is a weak foundation for a $180,000 conveyance. The notary should not treat casual acquaintance as sufficient.
Signer's own sworn statement: A person's self-attestation of identity is not independent verification. Accepting it would make the identification requirement meaningless.
2. What should Priya do, and what is the risk if she proceeds anyway?
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Priya should decline to perform the notarial act until Mr. Alvarez produces satisfactory identification - for example, a replacement state ID, a passport, or another current government-issued photo ID. She may explain the requirement and invite him to return. She should not perform the jurat on a promise to bring ID later.
If she proceeds, the risks are concrete: the certificate will falsely imply that identity was satisfactorily verified; the deed may be challenged, and the grantee may suffer loss; and Priya may face civil liability to persons harmed by the improper notarization, as well as discipline against her commission. For a high-value conveyance with an unknown signer, the prudent notary resolves doubt in favor of declining.