Ohio Notary Practice Exam

What must a notary do if they do not personally know the individual seeking notarial services?

1. Refuse to notarize the document

2. Only use a third person known to both

3. Obtain satisfactory evidence of the person's identity

4. Ask for a witness

The correct answer is: Obtain satisfactory evidence of the person's identity

If a notary does not personally know the individual seeking notarial services, they cannot simply refuse to notarize the document (choice A) as this may be considered discriminatory. Option B suggests using a third person known to both, which is not a mandatory requirement in such cases and may not always be possible. Similarly, option D, asking for a witness, is not a standard requirement for verifying identity in notarization. Therefore, the best option would be to obtain satisfactory evidence of the person's identity (choice C) to ensure the validity and integrity of the notarized document. This can include a government-issued ID, passport, or other forms of identification. By doing so, the notary can fulfill their responsibility to verify the identity of the individual seeking notarial services without relying on potentially unreliable sources.