What is satisfactory evidence of identity?
Short answer
"Satisfactory evidence" is the legal standard requiring a notary to be reasonably certain the signer is who they claim to be — established through personal knowledge, acceptable ID, or credible witnesses.
Full explanation
The phrase appears in most state notary laws and in the Model Notary Act. It is a standard, not a checklist: the notary must be able to explain, later and under scrutiny, why they were reasonably certain of the signer's identity. That is why journals matter — the entry records which method was used and what evidence supported it.
Common mistake to avoid
"Reasonably certain" is not the same as "probably." If you have doubt about identity, you have a duty to stop.
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Notary Answers™ by QuitaDell Enterprises — educational information about notarial procedure, not legal advice.
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