To verify a signer's identity, a notary may rely on which of the following?

• A. The signer providing a witness
• B. Personal knowledge of the signer
• C. The signer producing a self-declaration
• D. The signer declining ID

Answer: (C)

Verifying identity hinges on getting trustworthy evidence about who is signing. In some situations, a signer can affirm their own identity to the notary by producing a self-declaration. This means the signer states, under oath or affirmation, that they are who they claim to be, and the notary records that assertion as part of the notarial act. The self-declaration serves as a direct, voluntary assertion from the signer and, when supported by proper documentation in the record, can provide the basis for proceeding with the notarization.

Declining ID would not verify identity, and relying on a witness or on personal knowledge alone, while valid in some circumstances, introduces additional requirements (such as the witness’s own knowledge or availability). A self-declaration specifically captures the signer’s own assertion of identity, which the notary can rely on within the established verification framework and notarial record.