Florida Notary Practice Exam

When identification is insufficient, what can a notary accept from a witness?

1. A sworn written statement from one credible witness

2. A sworn written statement from two credible witnesses

3. A signed affidavit from the signer

4. A photograph of the signer

The correct answer is: A sworn written statement from two credible witnesses

A notary public may accept a sworn written statement from two credible witnesses when identification is insufficient, as this option provides a higher level of assurance regarding the identity of the signer. This practice is aligned with notarial procedures that require a definitive means of verifying identity to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the notarization process. When two credible witnesses provide a sworn statement, it bolsters the legitimacy of the identification because each witness is attesting to their personal knowledge of the signer. These witnesses must be credible, meaning they should not have a conflict of interest in relation to the transaction, and they need to be willing to provide their own identification to affirm the identity of the signer. In contrast, a sworn written statement from one credible witness would not provide as much verification as two, since there is less validation from an additional source. Similarly, a signed affidavit from the signer might not constitute sufficient evidence if the signer cannot be identified through valid ID. A photograph of the signer does not serve as a reliable form of identification on its own and could be easily manipulated, thus offering little security to the notarization process.