Ohio Notary Practice Exam

What aspect does satisfactory evidence NOT include?

1. Visual identification

2. A sworn statement of a credible witness

3. Personal knowledge of the signer

4. A vague description of the signer

The correct answer is: A vague description of the signer

Satisfactory evidence in notary practice refers to the identification methods that a notary public must use to verify a signer's identity before performing a notarization. This includes clear and reliable forms of identification that ensure the notary can confirm the individual's identity. The option that does not fit within acceptable forms of satisfactory evidence is a vague description of the signer. For a notary to perform their duties responsibly, they need precise and clear identification, which a vague description fails to provide. Vague descriptions lack the necessary details to adequately confirm an individual's identity, making them unreliable in a legal context. In contrast, visual identification, a sworn statement from a credible witness, and personal knowledge of the signer are all recognized as valid ways to establish satisfactory evidence. These methods provide concrete and dependable means for the notary to verify who is signing a document, thereby ensuring the integrity of the notarization process.