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REAL ID: What It Means for You and Notarial Acts

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has set aย REAL ID enforcement deadline, and time is ticking. You can check the countdown clock on the official DHS website:ย REAL ID Countdown. But what does this mean for everyday citizens and professionals, especiallyย notaries? Letโ€™s dive into the importance of REAL ID, its requirements, and how it affectsย notarial acts.


What Is REAL ID?

Theย REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, sets security standards for state-issued driverโ€™s licenses and identification cards. Beginningย May 7, 2025, every travelerย must present a REAL ID-compliant licenseย (or an alternative acceptable identification, like a passport) to board a domestic flight, enter federal facilities, or access certain government services.

A REAL ID-compliant license or ID is distinguished by aย gold or black starย in the upper right-hand corner.


How to Get a REAL ID

To obtain a REAL ID, youโ€™ll need to visit your stateโ€™s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and provide:

โœ…ย Proof of identityย (e.g., valid passport or birth certificate)
โœ…ย Social Security Numberย (e.g., Social Security card or tax document)
โœ…ย Proof of residencyย (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement)

Requirements may vary slightly by state, so check with your local DMV.


REAL ID and Notarial Acts

Notaries play a vital roleย in verifying identities for legal documents, real estate transactions, affidavits, and more. A common requirement for notarization is aย valid, government-issued identification.

What Does REAL ID Mean for Notaries?

  1. REAL ID is not required for notarizationย โ€“ Notaries can still acceptย any valid government-issued ID, whether REAL ID-compliant or not.
  2. Some states accept expired IDsย โ€“ If the state allows, a notary may accept an expired driverโ€™s license within a certain period (e.g., within 5 years).
  3. Foreign passports are still valid for notarizationย โ€“ REAL ID only affects U.S. citizens for domestic travel; foreign passports remain valid for notarial purposes.
  4. Military IDs & Passports remain acceptedย โ€“ These are REAL ID-compliant and widely used for notarization.

Why This Matters for Traveling Notaries & Clients

Forย mobile and traveling notaries, knowing ID requirements is crucial when verifying a signerโ€™s identity. If a clientย only has a non-compliant license, thatโ€™s still valid forย notarial actsโ€”butย not for flying domestically after the deadline.

If youโ€™re notarizingย documents for clients who travel frequently, advising them about REAL ID could help them avoid last-minute travel disruptions.


Key Takeaways

  • REAL ID enforcement starts May 7, 2025.
  • A REAL ID is required for domestic flights but NOT for notarization.
  • Notaries can still accept non-REAL ID driverโ€™s licenses, passports, and other valid government-issued IDs.
  • Clients needing notarization should be aware of identification requirements before scheduling an appointment.

Notaries should stay informed aboutย REAL ID lawsย to help their clients navigate these changes smoothly. Whether youโ€™re notarizing loan documents, legal affidavits, or travel-related paperwork,ย educating clientsย about proper identification ensures a seamless notarization process.

For more details and to check your REAL ID status, visitย DHS REAL ID.

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