What ID Do You Need for a Notary in California?
Bring a California driver's license, California ID card, or U.S. passport. It can be expired, as long as it was issued within the last five years. Other government IDs also work, and if you have no acceptable ID, credible witnesses can identify you instead.
Not sure about your ID? Call (951) 249-3965 before your appointment and we'll tell you.
Acceptable Forms of ID
Option 1
Primary ID
- California driver's license or ID card
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Inmate ID issued by the CDCR or a county sheriff (for signers in custody)
Option 2
Other Government ID
- Driver's license or ID card from another U.S. state
- Driver's license from Canada or Mexico
- Foreign passport
- Consular ID card, such as a matrícula consular
- U.S. military ID
- California state or local government employee ID
- Tribal ID from a federally recognized tribe
These must include a photo, a physical description, a signature, and an ID number.
Option 3
Credible Witnesses
- One witness who knows you and who the notary personally knows, or
- Two witnesses who know you and each show their own acceptable ID
Only when you don't have acceptable ID. Witnesses can't be named in the document or benefit from it.
Source: California Civil Code § 1185. Options 1 and 2 must be current or issued within the last five years.
Expired ID? Check the Issue Date
In California, an ID doesn't have to be current. It just has to have been issued within the last five years. For example, a license issued in March 2022 that expired last month is still acceptable until March 2027.
This comes up a lot with hospital patients and care facility residents who haven't renewed recently. An older card is often still fine.
What Won't Work
- Social Security card or birth certificate
- Temporary paper license from the DMV
- Digital ID on your phone
- Photocopies or photos of an ID
- School, work (private employer), credit, or insurance cards
- Any ID issued more than five years ago and now expired
Frequently Asked Questions — Notary ID Requirements
Can I use an expired ID for a notary in California?
Yes, if it was issued within the last five years. California law accepts an ID that is either current or was issued within the past five years, so a recently expired card usually still works. Check the issue date, not the expiration date.
Does my ID need to be a REAL ID?
No. A standard California driver's license or ID card is just as acceptable as a REAL ID for notarization.
Can I show my digital driver's license on my phone?
No. Please bring the physical card. Mobile or digital IDs are not on California's list of acceptable identification for notarization.
Is a temporary paper license acceptable?
No. The paper temporary license issued by the DMV has no photo and cannot be used. If you still have your previous card and it was issued within the last five years, bring that instead.
My family member is in the hospital and their ID is at home. What can we do?
If someone can bring the ID from home, that's the easiest fix, and an expired ID issued within the last five years still counts. If there's no ID at all, credible witnesses may be an option. Call us before the appointment and we'll figure out what will work.
Who can be a credible witness?
A credible witness must personally know the signer and must not be named in the document or have a financial interest in it. Either one witness who the notary personally knows, or two witnesses who each show their own acceptable ID.
Can you notarize for me if you know me personally?
Not based on knowing you alone. California does not allow notaries to identify signers by personal knowledge. Everyone must show acceptable ID or be identified by credible witnesses.
What if the name on my ID doesn't match the document?
The name on your ID needs to match the name you sign under. If they differ, such as after a recent name change, call us before the appointment so we can sort it out ahead of time.
Related Services
Hospital Notary — mobile notary for patients at hospitals in Southwest Riverside County.
Care Facility Notary — for residents of assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care.
Jail & Detention Center Notary — inmate IDs are accepted for signers in custody.
Power of Attorney Notary and Advance Directive Notary — at your home, hospital, care facility, or office.
Have your ID ready? Call or reach out to schedule a mobile notary appointment in Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, or Menifee.
Reviewed by Geoff Smith, California Notary Public ·